Lately, there’s been an influx of discourse about heavy metals found in period products, thanks to a recent paper examining metal concentrations in tampons. The researchers found that every product tested had heavy metals, which explains why there’s been such an outcry from the public. Although the amount of metals varied between period products, the fact that each contained some form of toxic metal is, understandably, shocking.
We know that heavy metals are toxic for us and we know that women’s health has historically not been high on the priority list. That context makes these findings even scarier and more frustrating. But, as with many issues, there’s more to this story. This isn’t an issue we can ignore or resign ourselves to seeing at surface level, so let’s break down this research and talk about the nuance involved.
The heavy metal problem.
Heavy metals – such as manganese, mercury, and zinc – are a group of naturally chemicals occurring in the environment. They are widespread in nature, non-biodegradable, and found in water, soils, and rocks. Despite this, numerous consequences stem from heavy metals and result in environmental and health issues.
Heavy metal poisoning is a very real problem. Though adverse effects from exposure to things like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic are widely known, their usage and concentrations in the environment continue to increase.
Researchers found all tested products were contaminated with heavy metals.
Although there were varied levels of other tested metals, all tampons tested for this recent study had lead. Lead has no safe exposure level and can be retained in the body for long periods. Consequently, the researchers suggest any proportion of lead that may leach out of these products could have negative health outcomes.
Furthermore, there were differences between organic and non-organic tampons which may be partly because of the differing metal concentrations between organic and non-organic products. Researchers give the example of arsenic being more abundant in 100% organic cotton products because of the use of natural fertilizers in organic cotton fields.
So, heavy metals are well-known pollutants because they can be highly toxic, build up in the body, and survive for a long time in the atmosphere and environment. Therefore, heavy metals are a huge environmental concern and pose a high risk to public health. That alone makes the heavy metal findings in period products alarming, to say the least. But is this issue thanks to a lapse in women’s healthcare or is it because these metals are naturally occurring?
This is a women’s health issue, but it goes beyond that.
Research in this area is only recently expanding and that’s a problem in and of itself. From period product companies only recently using actual blood to test products to foundational studies being replicated only using women test subjects there is so much of a gap between health care and women’s health care.
That becomes even scarier when something that is used on the most sensitive part of our bodies suddenly seems dangerous. We should be concerned that something like period products are underresearched and lack regulation. But there’s more to this than a lapse in care for people who use these products.
How are period products regulated?
In the US, the FDA classifies menstrual products as medical devices and regulates their safety. Yet, the FDA only recommends that tampons and other period products do not contain any pesticide residues and dioxins, which are toxic byproducts from manufacturing processes (like waste incineration and paper bleaching) that are heavy environmental pollutants.
Overall, the regulations in the US, EU, and UK protecting consumers from period product contamination are almost nonexistent. There are no requirements for manufacturers to test their products for harmful chemicals, including metals. In 2020, New York State began requiring the disclosure of period product ingredients, a first of its kind in the US.
Furthermore, although pads and tampons are classified as medical devices by the FDA and the term “organic” is defined by the USDA, personal care products – including period products – are not well defined or seriously regulated. There aren’t the same controls in place for period products as there are for, say, food.
Do corporations mean to do us harm?
It would be so easy to write this problem off as another example of corporations knowingly doing us harm. Because of how research surrounding toxic contaminants being found in women’s health products comes off the initial reaction is to believe that this is another case of toxic products being sold to us without other options. There are plenty of cases of corporations having information and withholding it from the public, after all.
However, when you look at contaminants found in the human system as a whole, the perspective on this story then shifts. Modern life introduces a wide array of chemicals to us, regardless of individual products people are using. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t worry, but because of that fact the concern then becomes “how can we shift modern life from being toxic and harmful?” instead of “companies are intentionally poisoning us”.
Industry demands a lot, and consequently, it spreads a lot of things. We need to recognize that these chemicals are intertwined with modern life – they’re universal and abundant. Yes, there are things that industry has spread and contaminated us and our environment with but another thing to consider is how we got to that place to begin with.
Why are there heavy metals in period products?
There are several ways metals could contaminate period products, one of which is the unintentional addition during the manufacturing process. The raw materials used – typically cotton, rayon, or viscose – may be contaminated through the use of fertilizers, contaminated water, wastewater, or atmospheric deposition, or the movement of particles, aerosols, and gases into the environment through precipitation.
A second method of contamination is through the intentional addition of metals. Metals – like calcium, cobalt, nickel, and zinc – may be added as antimicrobial agents designed to release from the tampon when it absorbs liquid. These metals, along with iron and manganese, may also be added for odor control. Plus, patents suggest that manufacturers may add calcium, strontium, and zinc as lubricants to aid in smooth insertion.
Some things aren’t created, they’re just perpetuated.
Although there should be outrage over how lacking women’s healthcare is, the bigger message of this story is an environmental one not one of public health. The environment is continuously exposed to varied amounts of chemicals from natural and anthropogenic sources.
Thanks to the excessive use of agricultural chemicals, municipal wastewater, industrial effluents, and sewage used in irrigation our food chain is constantly inundated with essential and non-essential materials.
Lead, for example, is found in relatively small amounts in nature but thanks to human activities like manufacturing, mining, and fossil fuel burning lead levels are increasing. This is purely speculation, but I’m curious if this could play a part in why lead was found in every tested tampon.
Plus, these perpetuated chemicals exist not only as individuals but also as joint mixtures. These mixtures are made of different groups of chemicals ranging from trace metals to pesticides to pharmaceuticals and personal care products. We just don’t have complete enough knowledge to know how these things are interacting and what that means for food security, water quality, and human and environmental health.
Are there any regulations in place to protect against heavy metal contamination?
To protect human health from adverse effects of heavy metals, especially in drinking water, international organizations set standards using individual metals. These safety standards are set with the assumption that there is minimal interaction between metal or chemical species and, even if there are interactions, it isn’t significant. Unfortunately, we just need more research to know if these standards are outdated or if they are indeed adequate.
The reality is that we live in an industrial world.
We live in an industrial world and, as a result, all living things have trace amounts of things like arsenic and lead. We are constantly being exposed to low levels of toxic heavy metals. So, for my own sanity, I can’t be constantly worried about what I’m being inundated with – and I suggest you do the same.
Sure, we should all strive to live as healthfully as possible, but because the modern world is ubiquitous with contamination the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. Sometimes we just need to accept that we don’t have all of the information or resources we need and therefore must do with what we have.
Humans are inherently inclined to inflict change, without always understanding the implications. We do need greater humility in humanity, but do I think period product companies are intentionally trying to contaminate users? Not necessarily.
As with everything, “the dose makes the poison”. The researchers from the paper in question go even as far as to note that EU regulations for textile fabrics allow concentrations of lead, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic to be less than 1 mg/kg, and the levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic found were all lower than this standard.
What risks do metals found in period products pose?
Previous research measuring heavy metal exposure from period products found negligible non-cancer-related risks and cancer-related risks were found to be below a commonly used reference level, meaning the probability of cancer is very small.
Although many figures point to risks being insignificant, there are still calculated risks. A few tested products were approaching protective guidelines and researchers hypothesize that the simultaneous use of several period products will increase risk levels.
The amount of absorption and compounding risks when using multiple products definitely needs more conclusive research for us to grasp the full gravity of this problem. Even in low quantities, long-term and chronic exposure may cause health problems.
Toxic metals are definitively found in tampons, but future studies are needed to assess whether metals can leach out of tampons and become bioaccessible for absorption. So, we can’t yet truly speak on the potential health harms or jump to conclusions. There is a very real lack of data regarding this issue.
There are things that can still be done.
I’ve heard many people say something along the lines of “great, now we just have to free bleed” so the problem will get fixed. Or even some saying this problem can never be fixed. I think this approach is too passive and ends up being just as destructive.
Ideally, we would get regulators to mandate heavy-metal testing for period products to bolster women’s health. That would take pressure off of consumers, but as we know bureaucracy can be slow-moving. So, until then, there are things we can do to mitigate risks.
Are there nontoxic period product options?
Honestly, it’s hard to definitively say what options are truly nontoxic. Staying informed and making the best choices possible may be the best option to mitigate risks. But, as with most things, third-party testing and due diligence are powerful tools you can utilize to find those better options.
For example, we can choose products that don’t have plastic, including polyester and polypropylene, and avoid fragrances and colorants. We can look for products with simpler ingredients or less harmful additives. Or we can opt for alternative products – like period underwear or menstrual cups – if tampons and pads don’t appeal to you anymore.
Focus less on nontoxic and more on what makes sense for you.
For some, that may mean picking reusable products because you’re more concerned with the impact of single-use products. Others may feel menstrual cups are too difficult to use and therefore opt for a tampon that is third-party tested for contaminants, like Natracare’s products. In our world, it’s extremely difficult to check every box so stay knowledgeable and choose what makes sense for you.
We’ve left an impact on our world, but instead of going doomsday let’s shift perspective.
Metals being found in period products is concerning, for sure. Yet, we don’t need to succumb to pessimism or anxiety. We shouldn’t distrust everything and everyone! In the end, there is still work to be done. We can cultivate a world where these concerns are a thing of the past.
Baseline, we need more meaningful studies exploring the potential reproductive and additive effects of these compounds in period products. But overall we can do better and we can find solutions to this problem and to many others. Let’s shift perspective and stay proactive in caring for our environment and each other.