A recent study from UC Berkeley has revealed that many commercially available tampons contain over a dozen toxic metals, including lead and arsenic, raising significant concerns for the millions of women who use these products. Published in the journal Environmental International on July 3, the findings underscore the need for strict regulatory measures mandating metal testing in menstrual products.
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UC Berkeley
Researchers highlighted the high absorption rate of vaginal skin, which increases the risk of chemical exposure for women using tampons.
“Despite the potential public health concern, there has been little research on chemicals in tampons,” said lead author Jenni A. Shearston, a postdoctoral scholar at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. “To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure metals in tampons, and alarmingly, we detected all tested metals, including toxic ones like arsenic and lead.”
While it is unclear if the detected metals cause adverse health effects, Shearston noted that future research would explore the extent of metal leaching and absorption from tampons.
The study examined 30 tampons from 14 brands purchased at major retailers, analyzing 16 metals: arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc. Lead was found in all samples, and at least one tampon contained all the tested metals.
Most metals, except mercury, were present in measurable amounts. Zinc and calcium appeared in the highest concentrations, while arsenic was found in the lowest. Toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and vanadium were consistently detected, with lead being the most prevalent.
No level of lead exposure is considered safe. Even trace amounts of lead from tampons entering the bloodstream could have harmful effects, as lead can replace calcium in bones and remain in the body for decades. Arsenic and cadmium also pose severe health risks, with inorganic arsenic linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders, and cadmium primarily harming the kidneys and cardiovascular system.
The study found variations in metal concentrations based on regional purchase locations and whether tampons were organic or non-organic, with non-organic tampons showing higher lead levels and organic tampons higher arsenic levels. No single category consistently had lower concentrations of all metals.
“Although toxic metals are ubiquitous and we are exposed to low levels continuously, our study shows that metals are also present in menstrual products, potentially increasing women’s exposure,” said co-author Kathrin Schilling, assistant professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Chronic exposure to these metals has been linked to severe health issues, including dementia, infertility, diabetes, various cancers, and harm to maternal and fetal health.
The sources of tampon contamination remain unclear but could include environmental absorption by cotton or intentional additions for pigmentation or antibacterial properties. The study did not disclose specific brands tested.
Major tampon brands, such as Tampax (Procter & Gamble), Kotex (Kimberly-Clark), and Playtex (Edgewell Personal Care), did not respond to requests for comment.
The authors hope the study raises awareness and leads to improved safety standards. “There have been historical taboos around menstruation that impact scientific research,” Shearston said. “I hope manufacturers will be required to test their products for metals, especially toxic ones, and that the public will demand better labeling on tampons and other menstrual products.”
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