Toxic tampons? Researchers say tampons may have toxic levels of dangerous metals such as lead.

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 It was found in a recent study that tampons may not be as safe as women previously thought. The study published in the latest volume of Environmental International revealed that toxic metals were found in 14 popular brands of the convenient sanitary wear. 

Interestingly, even organic tampons were problematic. The study found that the more natural alternatives contained a well known carcinogen. 

Besides lead (Pb), these other dangerous metals were found in the tampons: arsenic, cadmium, chromium and vanadium. Cadmium is a metal used in the production of rechargeable batteries, plastic stabilizers, coatings, solar cells, and pigments. It is highly toxic and is known to cause cancer and can negatively affect the body's cardiovascular, renal (kidneys, bladder, etc), gastrointestinal, respiratory and reproductive systems.*

The study was conducted by a group of nine (9) researchers, majority from the Department of Environmental Health Science at the Columbia University, with the lead author affiliated to UC Berkeley's Department of Environmental Science, School of Public Health.

Here's what they did:

The researchers tested 30 tampons from 14 popular brands which included brands touted as organic. The sanitary wears were purchased between September 2022 and March 2023 from stores in the United States, United Kingdom and Spain, as well as two (2) major online retailers. No, they didn't say what brands were purchased. 

Here's what they found:

The researchers discovered that concentrations of lead were present in non-organic tampons, but arsenic, a dangerous carcinogen was found in the organic ones. And here's the kicker, it didn't matter which type of tampon or which type of brand, all of them, all 30 tampons had traces of toxic metals at varying levels.

“We selected several different products and tested them for a panel of 16 different metals. And we found concentrations of every single one of the metals we tested. For some of the metals, like lead, which is toxic, we found a presence in every single one of the tampons we tested. So we found a lot of metals,” said lead author Jenni Shearston, a postdoctoral student at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

These were the sixteen (16) metals they tested: arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium and zinc.

Lead was the largest concentration found.

Dangerous metals such as lead, are known to increase the risk of dementia, infertility, diabetes and cancer. They can damage the liver, kidneys, brain, and cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems. Arsenic, a known carcinogen can cause cancers including skin and lung cancer, as well as infertility.

Dr. Mitchell Kramer, chair of OB-GYN at Huntington Hospital Northwell Health, told news network TODAY.com that the study is "groundbreaking" and indicated that there was need for tampon manufacturers to conduct more testing on their products.

"It certainly requires more evaluation. … I think it has potentially some significant impact moving forward in terms of how tampons are produced and the effect on the users," she said.

That said, it is unclear what the potential health impact, if any, may be of using tampons containing these metals since the study itself did not conclude that the levels of the metals found in the tampons are at unsafe levels.

Also a press release from UC Berkeley itself, tried to allay any fears of the general public:

"[I]t’s unclear if the metals detected by this study are contributing to any negative health effects...Future research will test how much of these metals can leach out of the tampons and be absorbed by the body; as well as measuring the presence of other chemicals in tampons."

However, it should be concerning because of how the tampons are used. Tampons are inserted into the vagina. The skin of the vagina, the vaginal mucosa, is very absorbent, the least contact with certain chemicals can cause irritation in that area. There is therefore a serious cause for concern, for the greater possibility of absorption of these metals, and the potential effects on women's health, especially after long term exposure.

How did it get in there?

But the question still remains how are these metals getting into the tampons? Well, the lead researcher/author of the study, Jenni Shearston, has a theory --contaminated cotton. Noting that metals can enter the cotton in different ways, she says:

“One of them is that cotton, for example, is a pretty decent accumulator of metals. So it could absorb metals that might be naturally present in soil or water, [it] might absorb metals from fertilizer. So that’s one way that some metals could get into some of these products... Also, if it happens that the raw material, like cotton, is grown near a pollution source, for example, near a road or near a lead smelter, some of the metals from those pollution sources might float down and land on the cotton."

She also noted that it is possible that these metals are being added to the tampons during the manufacturing process, as either an antimicrobial agent, a pigment or a whitener.

In their study, the researchers said they hoped more attention would be given by regulators in ensuring manufacturers are required to test their products for toxic metals.

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References:

1. * Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). U.S. Department of Labor. Safety and Health Topics: Cadmium, https://www.osha.gov/cadmium
2. Women's Health: Are tampons safe? New study finds lead and arsenic in tampons. But don't panic, experts say, Today.com, https://www.today.com/health/womens-health/are-tampons-safe-rcna160870.
3. Dangerfield, Katie. Tampons may have ‘toxic levels’ of lead and arsenic in them, study warns, Global News, https://globalnews.ca/news/10610086/tampons-toxic-levels-metals-lead-arsenic-study/