Toxic metals found in tampons could put women at infertility, cancer risk

Researchers from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health detected toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium in both organic and nonorganic tampons.

Public Health Berkeley reports that university researchers studied 30 tampons from 14 brands and found 16 metals that could put women at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, infertility, and even dementia.

Although co-author Kathrin Schilling admits that toxic metals are ubiquitous and “we are exposed to low levels at any given time”.

According to lead author Jenni A. Shearston, due to the sensitivity of the vagina and the widespread use of tampons, the situation has a “large potential” to pose a real public health concern.

The tampon study: 16 metals that can damage internal organs

In 14 tampons across 18 product lines, the study outlined, they measured the amount of 16 metal (loids) in 30 tampons in total.

“We detected all 16 metals in at least one sampled tampon, including some toxic metals like lead that has no ‘safe’ exposure level.”

Berkeley continued that the concentrations varied depending on the country, though they only studied tampons from the US and UK along with store versus name brand and non-organic and organic options. Lead, they found, was most present in non-organic tampons whereas organic tampons came with arsenic.

These metals have been shown to potentially damage internal organs, and even the brain as well as the nervous and endocrine systems. They can impact maternal health and fetal development, also, Berkeley reports.

Researchers don’t know if these metals are causing adverse effects. Further studies would need to be conducted to evaluate how much the vagina absorbs and if the body also intakes other chemicals. But, as the findings concern so many women monthly, more studies should be performed and fast.

“I really hope that manufacturers are required to test their products for metals, especially for toxic metals,” Shearston told Berkeley. “It would be exciting to see the public call for this, or to ask for better labeling on tampons and other menstrual products.”

How did the 16 metals get into the tampons?

According to UC Berkeley, tampons can absorb metals during the manufacturing process. Or, they might be present due to additives such as whiteners and antibacterial agents.

As per Shearston’s statement, they don’t even know if brands are required to evaluate a tampon’s toxicity level. But they do understand that a vagina has “a higher potential for chemical absorption” than the skin on our bodies.

So as half the world’s population has been menstruating monthly for years with more than half of them, 52-86% using tampons for days, the potential public health concern besides disease is infertility.

They might not know how these metals are impacting the body, but tampons were only invented in 1931. They became widespread in the 1960s, so we might not fully understand their effects or what the best practices are. But metals such as arsenic and lead are toxic, and we’re exposed to them more so than we’d like . Organic doesn’t change that. So health aside, keeping toxic materials out of the body would be the ideal scenario.

“It would be exciting to see the public call for this,” Shearston said.

The study titled Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s was published in Science Direct .