It’s estimated that 52-86% of people who menstruate use tampons for their menstrual cycles, every 29 days on average, according to a study published by Science Direct. It’s a statistic that makes sense because other than disposable pads, they’re the only highly accessible option for people who menstruate. However, recent information shows that tampons might not be as safe to use as they were initially assumed to be, as evidence has been published to show that tampons contain potentially harmful metals in them. Corporations and manufacturers have to put more work into making the tampons they produce safe to use, without the risk of metal exposure.
A study published in the Environment International section of Science Direct in July of 2024 stated that in 16 tampon brands tested, every single one of them contained potentially harmful metals; including arsenic, lead, zinc and cadmium. Having such dangerous material in a product that millions of people have to use is not only a result of ignorance but also the incompetence of the corporations distributing this product to the public without bothering to research the potential dangers of their products.
According to an article published by the Florida Department of Health, there is no known safe exposure level for lead. Paired with the fact that tampons are placed in a very high absorption area, this raises concerns for people who use them. When being regularly exposed to lead for such long periods, women run a higher risk of lead-exposure-based complications in the long run.
While it’s not yet known how dangerous metal exposure from tampons is, specific metals are found to increase the risk of diseases such as dementia or cancer, can damage the brain, liver, and kidneys and can cause issues with infertility. Kathrin Schilling, assistant professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and study co-author stated that while the levels of danger are unknown, the exposure is undeniable.
No matter how dangerous the threat of metal exposure in tampons is, the threat is still apparent when it shouldn’t have been a worry.
Out of all of the tampons tested for metals, it was found that they were present in every single one, and according to the Environment International study, none of them had noticeably lower amounts of them. A lot of people who menstruate primarily use tampons, or live lifestyles where they’re the most convenient option. Having to stop using them altogether should not be something that they have to do; they shouldn’t have to uproot their routines and potentially waste the tampons they already have because of the concern of metals in them.
An article published along with the Science Direct study highlights that it’s the first study of its kind. Jenni A. Shearston, a postdoctoral scholar at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and UC Berkeley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, as well as lead author of the study, supports this notion in the UCBPH article.
“Despite this large potential for public health concern, very little research has been done to measure chemicals in tampons,” Shearston said. “To our knowledge, this is the first paper to measure metals in tampons.”
This is a disquieting fact when it’s considered that such a large population uses tampons, only for no organizations to study how safe they are. The mistreatment and ignorance when it comes to women’s health is nothing new, but it’s dangerous that tampons have been on the market for so long without any studies done on whether they contain potential metal content.
There’s been an inherent neglect to study women’s health since women’s health could be studied, so it isn’t a surprise that tampons could potentially be so dangerous. Millions of people who menstruate are at risk for serious health complications because of a basic necessity that they have to use. It’s the responsibility of corporations and manufacturers to study and innovate so that their products are both effective and safe to use. Corporations need to take action to make tampons safer because millions of people should not have to worry about their menstrual products causing potential harm.
How do you feel about hazardous materials in menstrual products? Let us know in the comments.
