Will the metal detector gates at the airport in the near future beep if you pass through the security scan with a tampon? A recent American study shows that tampons contain all kinds of heavy metals, including lead. Reason to panic? Wait. First, read here what’s exactly the matter.
Studies about toxic substances in menstrual products are anything but new. Just scroll trough the last ten years of Period! blog posts :-). However, according to postdoctoral research leader Jenni Shearston of the American California Berkeley School of Public Health, this is the first research that has been conducted on metals in tampons. For the study (recently published in the scientific journal Environment International), 30 types of tampons from 14 brands were tested for 16 different metals: arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc. The tampons – with and without applicator – were purchased from retailers in the United States (US), Greece, and the United Kingdom (UK).
The results: all the tested tampons were found to contain lead – a toxic metal that can cause serious health damage. In one product, even all 16 metals were detected. Tampons sold in the US contain higher concentrations of lead than tampons bought in Europe. The concentrations of metals in store brands were higher than those in A-brands. Organic cotton tampons were found to contain less lead than non-organic tampons, but did contain more arsenic. Logically, tampons from other (European) countries – such as the Netherlands – will also fail the metal detection test. Tampons generally aren’t manufactured within national borders and from local raw materials.
Lead in your tampon: how?
Over the years, all kinds of toxic substances have been discovered in menstrual products. Mostly substances you’d rather not have in the (vaginal) environment. Such as pesticides (glyphosate), dioxins, plasticisers (phthalates), bleaches (chlorine), PFAS, etc. These aren’t necessarily added intentionally by the manufacturer, but can also be present in the raw materials used. For example, non-organic cotton is one of the most sprayed crops in the world, so there’s a good chance it’ll contain pesticides. In fact, many harmful substances, such as PFAS and microplastics, can now also be found ‘normally’ in our blood. Whether you menstruate or not.
It’s unclear how the metals found during the American study have ended up in the tampons. They could have gotten through the (contaminated) soil in the (cotton) plants used for production. But they could also have been added during the production process. Major players on the tampon market – in the US these are Procter & Gamble’s Tampax, Kimberly-Clark’s Kotex, and Edgewell Personal Care’s Playtex – haven’t yet responded to the research results. The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also hasn’t responded yet. By the way, exactly which tampon brands are involved in the study hasn’t been announced.
So, do we need to panic?
It’s rarely a good idea to panic. It’d be better to pay a bit more attention to which menstrual products you use. Your vagina is one of the body’s most absorbent pieces of skin. Through your vagina, harmful substances can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Lead, for example, is known to be a poisonous substance that isn’t good for your health. Choosing sustainable instead of discreet products is a step in the right direction, but unfortunately green menstruation is less easy than it may seem, due to the lack of regulations and an abundance of quality marks. Just read here.
According to the researchers, testing for metals should be the standard from now on. At Period!, we’ve been advocating for stricter legislation and regulations, and for a mandatory information leaflet, for years. Not just for tampons, but for all menstrual products – including menstrual cups and menstrual underwear. Currently, manufacturers aren’t required to include a conclusive list of ingredients because menstrual products are classified as medical rather than cosmetic. That’s strange, to say the least, for products that are worn so close to the skin and even internally. Don’t you think?
Reference: Jenni A. Shearston, Kristen Upson, Milo Gordon, Vivian Do, Olgica Balac, Khue Nguyen, Beizhan Yan, Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou, Kathrin Schilling,
Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s, Environment International, Volume 190, 2024, 108849, ISSN 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108849.
More about menstruation? Start here.
Period! is an independent, online magazine about all aspects of menstruation. Period! is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you’re suffering from medical complaints, always visit your doctor or GP. Editorial articles can contain affiliate links. Sponsored collaborations can be found in the category Spotlight. Do you have any questions? Check our Contact page.
