Toxic tampons?! Don’t let the click bait headlines scare you.
While it is indeed alarming that the recent study out of Berkeley University revealed that tampons from many brands contain toxic metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, there is so much more to this story than what’s being reported.
If you’ve read the stories and you’re a tampon user, it’s understandable if you’re worried. But you needn’t throw out your tampons just yet! Let’s take a collective deep breath, look at the facts, and ask some more questions about this study. And if you’re feeling totally confused about tampons, we have some advice on what to look for.
Toxic Tampons: The Study
The tampon study that came out was led by researchers from UC Berkeley, Columbia University, and Michigan State University. They found that tampons from various brands contain toxic metals such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium. The study analyzed 30 tampons from 14 different brands and discovered that all tested tampons contained measurable concentrations of 16 different metals, including these toxic ones.
Given that the skin of the vagina has a higher potential for chemical absorption than skin elsewhere on the body, the findings raise significant public health concerns. According to the study, with 50–80% of those who menstruate using tampons for several hours at a time each month, the potential for harmful exposure is substantial.
Further, it’s being reported that this potential metal absorption raises concerns due to their association with severe health issues, including dementia, infertility, diabetes, and cancer.
And just when you thought you were safe choosing organic tampons, this study tells us that while lead was found in higher concentrations in non-organic tampons, arsenic levels were higher in organic tampons.
WTAF, right?
While the study stops short of claiming manufacturers are purposefully dastardly, they do suggest that tampons are contaminated either during the production process or absorption from the environment.
The researchers emphasize the need for regulatory measures to ensure manufacturers test their products for these metals and improve labeling to inform consumers. Spoiler alert: many companies do and there are regulations. Keep reading below!
The Problem with the Study
The study, along with click-bait-fear-based articles that are circulating, is that the whole story is not being told.
The study does not reflect real-world conditions.
In order to extract metals in tampons, researchers used 70% nitric acid (pH1.2) and heat (180F). By contrast, the real-world conditions of a vagina is pH 4.5 and 99F temperature.
Let’s just say that if your vagina is 180F, you should visit your gyno pronto!
A real-world study would have involved a pH and temperature that reflected the user body averages. This would have been far more relevant, accurate, and interesting to see if they discovered any toxins and heavy metals under those conditions.
It’s also important to note that the study itself stresses that further research is necessary to determine how much of these metals can leach out of tampons and be absorbed by the body, as well as to investigate other potential chemicals present in these products. Just saying that “under these conditions, which are not real-world conditions, we were able to extract toxins” is not enough to panic.
The study is incomplete.
While the study is interesting, it is incomplete or, at least, evokes more questions.
For example, during menstruation, the body is in a state of letting go and shedding, actively releasing and not suppressing or absorbing. While the walls of the vagina are permeable, are vaginas more or less susceptible to absorbing toxins during menstruation?
In order to know if the body is absorbing heavy metals from tampons, blood tests are also needed to understand if those toxins are entering the bloodstream.
Tampons: Making Informed Choices
This study is not enough to indicate that there is any problem with heavy metals in tampons since they did not use real-world conditions. At best, the real-world conclusions are inconclusive. Nonetheless, it’s important to keep in mind a few factors to keep informed and make the best choices for your tampon use.
Understanding the Therapeutic Window: The concept of the therapeutic window highlights the balance between a product's efficacy and safety. For tampons, this means that they should be effective for their intended purpose without introducing harmful substances. It also means that products can have some toxins present without being toxic, provided they are within safe limits. Simply said, the presence of chemicals in tampons (or any product) is not necessarily toxic. Because of the conditions used in this study, they have not proven anything that is within the real-world therapeutic window.
Examine Ingredients: Transparency is key. Opt for brands that provide a complete list of ingredients and have them tested and certified. This includes not only organic certifications but also certifications that confirm the absence of harmful chemicals and metals. Researching these ingredients can help you understand if there are any risks associated with them.
Look for Certifications: When choosing tampons, look for products that have certifications from reputable organizations. Certified organic tampons, for instance, are typically free from synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
Research and Advocate for Better Standards: As a consumer, you can advocate for better labeling and testing requirements. Support brands that prioritize safety and transparency with ingredients.
Understanding Certifications for Tampons
This tampon study has generated a lot of attention because of its findings about toxic metals in tampons. It’s important to understand that cotton, like other plants, can absorb metals such as lead from the soil as it grows. And because chemicals are absorbed from soil, anything that grows in soil can have chemicals.
While chemicals are everywhere in the natural world, joni products are certified free from harmful levels of toxins and fragrances. This means that any naturally occurring levels of metal or chemicals in joni tampons are within the therapeutic window.
As a consumer, choosing tampons that have been independently tested and verified to be free from harmful levels by a reputable organization can provide you with the assurances you need for your body.
Dr Jen Gunter and Dr Andrea Love have written great articles to dive deeper and understand what the study is truly saying.
You can also visit the joni blog to learn more about our products. We aim to provide all the information you need to make the best decision for yourself.
joni Tampons
We prioritize high-quality ingredients in our organic tampons and have our products rigorously tested and certified to ensure they meet our stringent safety standards. Our commitment is to provide you with a product that is both safe and effective.
We believe in transparency with our ingredients so you can make the best informed choice for your body. Our ingredient list is simple and does not contain titanium dioxide, fragrances or any other harmful levels of chemicals. In fact, joni tampons are 100% organic cotton. And that’s it.
We also have all the certifications listed above to validate our products. OEKO-TEX, for example, is a popular certification for textiles that tests for potentially harmful substances, from raw materials through to the finished product—and re-testing occurs every three years. USDA Organic certification may only be displayed on products that are 100% organic.
We’re also proud to have ECO-CERT certified, which also oversees responsible production, recyclable packaging, and the responsible use of resources.
While the discovery of toxic metals in tampons is concerning, being an informed and proactive consumer can help you make safer choices. Look for certified products, understand the ingredients, and support brands committed to transparency and safety. By doing so, you can mitigate the risks and protect your health while using tampons.