Arsenic, lead and other heavy metals have been found in tampons in a new study by the University of California. The researchers compared tampons from 14 brands across the US, Europe and UK, and tested for 16 metals – including mercury, nickel, zinc, copper and iron. They found all the metals they were testing for in each brand.
Despite tampons being on the market for 90 years – they were first launched in 1934 – this is the first study into whether heavy metals exist in period products. The researchers decided to investigate as tampons are made from natural materials, such as cotton, rayon and viscose, all of which are exposed to heavy metals during the agricultural or manufacturing processes.
Women have reacted with worry but are also unsurprised, given how little research and care is done for other women’s health products. “Sadly, very little independent research has been done on menstrual products, like tampons and menstrual pads,” notes Le’Nise Brothers, author of You Can Have A Better Period and a registered nutritionist specialising in women’s health, hormones and the menstrual cycle.
Brothers is concerned about the length of time women are relying on these products: women menstruate for around 40 years, meaning they could use around 11,000 tampons in their lives. “These products are being used next to one of the most permeable and sensitive parts of the body,” she says. “We know that pharmaceutical drugs such as HRT and some forms of antibiotics are administered vaginally because the way they are absorbed enables the drugs to have both local and systemic effects… it is concerning to know they can potentially contain heavy metals that may be absorbed into the body through the vagina.”
But should this stop us using these products? And what are the experts using?
Which tampons contain metal?
The researchers anonymised the brands included but found all types, including store-own, branded, organic, non-organic and those with both plastic and paper applicators, contained metal elements in varying amounts.
Maybe that is to be expected, given these elements exist in our natural environment. And even more so as there is not a set standard of testing the safety of sanitary products. In the UK, tampons are not viewed as medical devices so are not regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Instead, they must follow the General Product Safety Regulations for raw materials, finished products and instructions for use, but metal testing is not part of these requirements.
The Absorbent Hygiene Product Manufacturers Association (AHPMA) also has a Tampon Code of Practice for members, although this is voluntary and mainly offers guidelines on how brands should advise about usage, safety and communication.
None of the brands the i approached admitted to knowing that there were any metals in their tampons, although Tampax, one of the UK’s most popular tampon brands, did not issue any comment on the study or its process.
Lil-lets, another leading provider of tampons, said: “We welcome any research that helps further advance the safety of menstrual products. Lil-Lets products and raw materials meet regulatory requirements that are tested for trace chemicals and metals to globally-recognised standards.
“Heavy metals and trace chemicals are not added to our products in the manufacturing process, and we know the words ‘chemical’ and ‘metals’ can seem scary, but it’s important to note that they are present everywhere in our environment, even in food, water and air.”
Superdrug said its store-own tampons pass all of its internal safety tests. “Based on the rigorous testing and quality control measures we have in place within our supply base, we are confident our tampons do not pose a health risk to users. We do not intentionally add silver metal or ions to our tampons. If found, any traces would be due to those found in nature.”
Boots said that all of its own-brand tampons are “sourced from expert suppliers and adhere to UK and EU product safety regulations, as well as Oeko-Tex Standard 100″. This is the benchmark for textile safety.
Although the study found metals even in organic tampons, the organic brands the i spoke to say they contain no trace of metals. “We test our tampons for metals, including lead and arsenic,” says the founder of Daye, Valentina Milanova. “We prioritise the safety and quality of our products and conduct rigorous testing to ensure they are free from harmful substances.
“We see it as our responsibility to maintain the highest possible safety standards so our customers can trust in our products. We publish the results from these tests on our website. We also make the quality and safety standards we follow public, so other companies can copy and follow them if they choose to.”
Dame, another organic period product brand, says it complies with the Oeko-Tex 100 standards and sends its tampons for independent laboratory testing. “Even though we have the Oeko-Tex 100 certificate, we still send tampons into testing so that we’re confident about the quality and safety of our products,” says Dame’s co-founder, Alec Mills.
Should you use tampons?
The AHPMA says products are safe to use. “Our members, who produce most of the products sold in Europe, the UK and the US, are committed to upholding the highest safety and compliance standards,” it tells the i. “All their products adhere to regional and national regulatory frameworks and are safe for their intended use, providing consumers with a sense of security and confidence.
“It’s crucial to understand that heavy metals and trace chemicals are not intentionally added to tampons and are not a part of modern absorbent hygiene products. Still, they can sometimes be found in products as residuals of the manufacturing process and/or because they are present in the environment. These naturally-occurring traces do not pose a risk to human health.”
However, experts agree that it is understandable if you have concerns – and whether or not you feel comfortable continuing with tampons is personal.
“Women should feel safe when it comes to their period products and the fact they have to worry about products that should be safe for them is very sad,” says Dr Shirin Lakhani, GP and women’s sexual health specialist. “Despite many women across the world using tampons every month, not enough research has gone into the safety of period products and, when it comes to medical research, women are often left out of the conversation.
She adds: “We don’t know enough just yet and need more research into it to make informed decisions. My main piece of advice is not to panic just yet.”
While Dr Lakhani says you can continue to use tampons, she recommends changing them regularly – ideally every few hours – for vaginal safety. “I would also suggest researching other forms of menstruation products, such as period cups or period pads,” she says.
Brothers is also an advocate of alternative menstrual products. “I advise my clients to move away from mass-market tampons and menstrual pads and make the switch to organic or washable versions. For those who don’t mind inserting something into the vagina, I recommend menstrual cups and discs made from medical-grade silicone. My favourite brands are Saalt and Nixit.
“For those who are looking for something different, I recommend period underwear and menstrual pads, both disposable and washable. For period underwear, I recommend Nixi Body and Wuka. For menstrual pads, I recommend &Sisters, TOTM and Grace and Green.”
This study may have raised more questions than it answered, but it has also put pressure on manufacturers to issue more thorough tests on products. “It’s now important that tampon brands publish independent research into their products because many consumers will be sceptical of any claims that aren’t verified by a third party,” says Brothers.
Dr Lakhani says it shows the need for more research. “Period products shouldn’t be sold with ingredients that will hinder women rather than help them, and manufacturers should be required to test their products for substances that can cause damage, such as these toxic metals. It should never be up to the woman to have to do this research themselves.”