According to a recent study, traces of metal have been found in popular feminine hygiene products. This discovery has sparked concern among health experts, who warn of potential long-term risks for women regularly using these items.
The most common question being asked right now is “How do period products contain metal?” The answer: the use of raw materials. Resources such as cotton plants can often be exposed to unfiltered water, debris, and many other factors while being processed. Popular brands, such as Tampax, include these chemicals in their products to “help with odor control.”
In a recent study, scientists microwave digested tampons from different brands to analyze and compare the concentrations of the broken-down metals found in them. The study concluded that all 16 metals tested (including arsenic and lead) were found within the tampons.
These findings not only cause concern for many, but also “affect women on a physical level, above all else,” PPCHS junior Anabelle Gomez said. Gomez feels that “this issue can do great damage to a woman’s health, considering how often feminine hygiene products are used.”
Since most women can agree that tampons should not contain metals, many people are considering the health effects that come along with this issue. As the women’s body absorbs many products it is exposed to, “this can [then] contribute to [many concerns such as] irradiation and toxicity,” co-president of Promote Her Period (PHP), Fiona Findley expresses.
This club is able to help spread awareness about this issue on Charter grounds. This situation can not only change a woman mentally, but also cause life-threatening effects such as damaged body systems and organs like the liver, kidney, and brain as well.
“Our priority is to make sure that all people in need receive period products,” senior PHP co-president, Kayla Carrasco reveals. This occurrence has caused women to feel restricted with the products they use, as “safer alternatives like organic pads and tampons or chemical free products are usually more expensive,” Findley says. Knowing this, Carrasco explains that PHP plans to “have educational meetings, posts, and workshops to inform [the] school body about this topic.”
Although more research needs to be done on this topic, PHP social media manager, senior Sofia Goris, feels that “the government can make an impact to this issue by ensuring rigorous testing to meet safety and health standards.” Different policies can also enforce companies to test and check their products before they are put on the market and once again inform consumers of the materials being used.
The menstrual cycle will forever be a part of women, but the continuous changes within the products they use will create a new and everlasting impact on the community.
