Studies
demonstrate diapers, tampons and sanitary pads are full of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalate chemicals with known negative
health effects, which may have a greater absorption into the body as
they are placed against permeable membranes and kept at temperatures
near 100 degrees Fahrenheit
Used
internally, tampons serve as a direct route to the bloodstream for
contaminants, including dioxins, furans and pesticide residue; most
cotton fibers used are genetically engineered (GE) and while the risks
are unknown, inserting GE cotton into your vagina many times each month
is likely no different from ingesting GMO food
Tampons create a
favorable environment for bacterial growth; micro tears in the vaginal
wall can allow bacteria to enter your body and accumulate, increasing
your risk for toxic shock syndrome
By switching to
my Premium Personal Care line for women or organic cotton diapers for
babies, you may reduce your overall exposure to toxic chemicals known to
accumulate in your body and trigger long-term dangerous health
conditions
Many women don't consider how feminine
hygiene products are made. If the brand says cotton on the label, most
automatically think it's safe. Since feminine hygiene products are
classified as medical devices, companies do not have to release
materials used in the product. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) only regulates tampon absorbency, so all must meet the same
guidelines.
Any chemicals, fragrances or plastics used in the manufacturing of
the product do not have to be disclosed. However, these products sit
right up against your skin, the largest organ in your body and also the
thinnest. Less than one-tenth inch separates your body from potential
toxins. What’s worse, the skin around your vaginal area is highly
permeable.
Medication patches are used to deliver drugs through the skin, which
is why I'm fond of saying, “Don't put anything on your body that you
wouldn't eat if you had to.” When chemicals come in direct contact with
your skin they are absorbed straight into your bloodstream, without the
benefit of being filtered through your gastrointestinal tract.
According to Girls Helping Girls Period,1
approximately 70 percent of menstruating women use tampons, amounting
to more than 16,000 tampons during her lifetime. But, there's been very
little research to confirm or refute their safety.
Alexandra Scranton, Women's Voices for the Earth’s director of science and research, says tampons2
"are not just your average cosmetics because they are used on an
exceptionally sensitive and absorbent part of a woman's body.”
Tampons, Pads and Diapers Polluted With Phthalates and VOCs
A recent study published in Reproductive Toxicology3 confirms the results of a previous study4 from 2014 demonstrating how the feminine care industry sells products containing harmful chemicals, including pesticides, fragrances, dyes and preservatives.
In this most recent study,5 researchers measured three volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and four phthalates in commercial sanitary pads and diapers.
The air inside the packaging was also measured and contained as high as
5.9 parts per billion (ppb) of VOCs.
The researchers found a considerable variability in measurements of
VOCs and phthalates between brands. Researchers and advocates believe
this uncovers a significant gap in regulation of diapers and is
characteristic of societies’ discomfort discussing women's reproductive
health. However, the authors believe:6
"The physical location of the exposure site, the high absorption
rate of the genitalia for chemicals, and the long-term exposure period
demand a thorough investigation on the potential impact of the exposure
to VOCs and phthalates."
Sanitary pads and diapers are made of synthetic plastics, and while
the study did not name the brands tested, products were collected from
Japan, Finland, France, Greece and the United States. The researchers
found the VOC methylene chloride in two brands of sanitary pads,
toluene in nine, and xylene in all 11 brands tested.
In testing for phthalates, they found two types in all 11 brands of
sanitary pads and all four brands of diapers. All four brands of
diapers tested also contained the VOCs toluene and xylene. Scranton, who
was not a part of the study, pointed out there were significant
differences between the brands, when it came to the levels of the
compounds found.
She believes these differences indicate there are a variety of ways
to manufacture pads and diapers, and there is something intentionally
being done during manufacturing to increase the levels of toxins.7
For instance, there was nearly a 6,000fold difference in levels of VOCs
between brands and a 130fold difference between the highest levels of
phthalates in sanitary pads and the lowest.
Women Exposed to Toxins at Least 7.5 Years of Their Lives
Used internally, the absorption of chemicals from tampons serves as a
direct route to the bloodstream. In the 2014 report by Women's Voices
for the Earth, researchers found contaminants in tampons could include
dioxins, furans and pesticide residue, as well as meltdown polymers,
super absorbent shells and chemically stiffened fibers.8
Depending upon the number of hours a tampon is used, the average
16,000 tampons used in a woman's lifetime may amount to between 7.5 and
10 years. This is a phenomenal amount of time to have products
manufactured with toxic substances directly against permeable
membranes.
The manufacturer’s aim is to produce a low-cost, highly absorbent
material to satisfy their consumers and increase financial gain. This
aim ultimately led to toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a complication from infection with Staphylococcal or Streptococcal infection.
The commercial tampon hit the shelves in 1930 and by 1970
manufacturers were in a race to give tampons an edge over sanitary pads.9 Deodorant tampons, plastic domed applicators and ultra-absorbent products were manufactured and released.
In 1978, Procter & Gamble began selling Rely, made of a fully
synthetic, hyperabsorbent food-grade thickener. By May 1980 the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had 55 cases of TSS reported,
with the number continuing to mount.10
By June 1981 researchers had identified continuous use of tampons as
a risk factor and found a link between the ultra-absorbent Rely tampon
and the outbreak of cases.
However, even after Rely was taken off the shelves, women continued
to suffer from TSS, and reports of TSS and allergic reactions have led
to a growing movement for transparency and disclosure of ingredients in
both the U.S. and abroad.
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Today's tampons contain a blend of cotton, rayon and synthetic
fibers. Most cotton is genetically engineered (GE), and while the risks
are unknown, inserting GE cotton into your vagina several times each
month is likely no different from ingesting GE food. Pesticide
contamination and any number of undisclosed chemicals and by-products
also contribute to your risk of exposure to toxins.
It's important to remember, regardless of what they're made of,
tampons create a favorable environment for bacterial growth and micro
tears in the vaginal wall, allowing bacteria to enter your body and
accumulate. TSS can be life-threatening and is not predictable.
Read more about some of the other mystery ingredients in tampons,
why your tampons are white, how to identify the symptoms of TSS and how
to reduce your potential for experiencing the condition, in my previous
article, “This Life-Threatening "Tampon Syndrome" Has Increased 5 Times Over Recent Months.”
Babies Exposed to Toxins by Diaper Manufacturers
Dr. Leo Trasande, professor in the department of pediatrics,
environmental medicine and population health at New York University and a
renowned leader in children's environmental health, comments on the
effects of these chemicals in this short video. (He was not part of the
study.)
Samples of diapers for the featured study were gathered recently and
indicate the focus on phthalates in children's toys has not reached
the manufacturing process for diapers.
Trasande believes11
very few studies have looked at infant exposure to these chemicals but
points out exposure directly to the genitals is worrisome, since
phthalates have a history of inhibiting male sex hormone testosterone.
Phthalates have also been associated with abnormal genital
development in boys with prenatal exposure. Although health advocates
have asked for stricter regulation on baby diapers for years, they are
not considered medical devices by the FDA and therefore do not need to
undergo medical testing to prove their safety.
The cost of using disposable diapers does not end there. It's
estimated a baby will use between 6,500 and 10,000 diapers before potty
training at around 30 months of age. This can cost nearly $3,000 per
child if you use disposable diapers and wipes.12
This generates 7.6 billion pounds of garbage and accounts for the
third largest consumer item in landfills. It takes hundreds of years
for disposable diapers to decompose when exposed to the sunlight and
air, but since they are dumped into landfills and covered, experts are
unsure how many years it could actually take, or how much of the toxins
used in manufacturing reaches groundwater supplies.
Exposure to VOCs and Phthalates Have Short- and Long-Term Health Consequences
Many of the smells you associate with new carpet, new cars and some
cleaning supplies are a sure sign the products are releasing toxic VOCs
linked to headaches, nausea, nerve problems and irritation of your
eyes, nose and throat. In the long term, VOCs have been linked to an
increased risk of cancer in animal studies and reduction in lung
function in humans.
Unfortunately, these chemicals are not only found in tampons,
sanitary pads and diapers, but also in makeup, perfume and plastics. In
other words, VOCs are in a number of products you likely use every day,
and contribute to a rising problem with indoor air pollution that may
be as dangerous, or more, than outdoor air pollution.
In one study13
with over 6,000 participants, researchers found women who used
commercial cleaning solutions as seldom as once a week for 20 years
experienced accelerated decline in lung function equivalent to those
who had smoked a pack a day of cigarettes for 20 years.
Phthalates are endocrine disruptors and found in everything from
cosmetics to shower curtains, food and household cleaners. They're used
to make plastics more flexible and durable, but are not strongly bound
to the product. With heat, they tend to leach out and dissipate.
Tampons and diapers increase your risk of exposure, as they spend hours
up against your body, at nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system have been linked with
testicular cancer, low sperm counts, genital malformations and
infertility in a number of animal species. Pregnant women exposed to
phthalates also experience an increased risk of miscarriage.14 Other studies found pregnant women with high levels of phthalates delivered babies at higher risk of developing asthma.15 Phthalates
are also found in paperboard, cellophane and plastics that come into
contact with food. Despite overwhelming demonstration of toxic effects
on adults, children and developing babies, the use of endocrine
disrupting chemicals is perfectly legal.
Consider Using Reusable Applicators and Organic Cotton Protection
Switching to organic cotton protection for your menstrual periods
and for your baby’s diapers reduces your exposure to ubiquitous
chemicals known to accumulate in your body and trigger dangerous health
conditions. By reducing your exposure you potentially reduce your risk
of disease.
Dame is one company committed to innovating feminine care, including
the development of a reusable tampon. Celia Pool, cofounder of Dame,
explained the criteria they used to create the product:16
“We ensured the design was familiar and intuitive, so women did
not have to compromise on the convenience of established rituals. For
example, we knew that hygiene could be a significant barrier to entry,
so we worked with leading microbiologists and medical engineers and
used the best medical grade, antimicrobial materials on the market.
As a result, the consumer only has to rinse the applicator in
cold water after use to keep it clean. These are simple steps,
requiring minimal habit change, but that in turn contribute to
significant environmental change.”
Along with phthalates, dioxins, furans, VOCs and a number of other
chemicals, the products are bleached to make them white. It is not
necessary to take chances with questionable materials. My Premium Personal Care
line includes organic cotton tampons, panty liners and sanitary pads
with organic cotton, without chlorine, synthetic materials, perfumes or
scents.
Also consider switching to organic cotton cloth diapers for your
baby. They are a great way to save money, reduce waste and save
multiple trips to the store. Pocket diapers have a waterproof, reusable
outer cover accommodating a hemp liner and allowing you to customize
absorbency. Organic cloth diapers are eco-friendly, sustainable and
versatile.17
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