Five popular tampon brands in the US — including two advertised as organic — have detectable levels of fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS, a new report has found.
- The investigation was carried out by the Mamavation community site, in partnership with environmental wellness blog EHN.org.
The Findings:
- The researchers had 23 tampon products tested by a U.S.-Environmental-Protection-Agency-certified lab and found levels of fluorine ranging from 19 parts per million, or ppm, to 28 ppm in five of the brands.
- The brands: Maxim Hygiene Organic Cotton Cardboard Applicator Tampons, OrganYc Complete Protection Tampons (made with organic cotton), Playtex SPORT Regular & Super Tampons, Tampax Cardboard Applicator Unscented Tampons and Up & Up (Target Brand) Regular Tampons.
Earlier Studies: The new investigation comes on the heels of earlier studies.
- Mamavation had earlier found fluorine in everyday products such as yoga pants and leggings and clean beauty brands' makeup.
- A past investigation also looked at PFAS indicators in period underwear and found 11 of 17 tested pairs had detectable levels of fluorine.
The Major Findings:
- 22% of the tampons sent to the EPA-certified laboratory had indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” 5 out of 23 tampons tested had indications of PFAS.
- 2 products with detections of organic fluorine were advertised as “organic” tampons, however, they were not GOTS-certified products.
- 3 products with detections of organic fluorine had plastic applicators and 2 had cardboard applicators.
- The levels of organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS, varied from 19 parts per million (ppm) to 28 parts per million (ppm).
- It’s unknown what the health impacts are to women who are exposed to PFAS “forever chemicals” inside the vagina or if those chemicals can leach into the body from the intimate use of a tampon.
The Danger: Tampons are an intimate menstrual product.
- They are often cotton “plugs” inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood during a monthly cycle. These menstrual products vary in design, ease of use, and have different sizes, but they are all used for the same purpose–to keep menstrual blood from escaping onto your undergarments and clothes.
- Exposure, therefore, is incredibly intimate.
- PFAS “forever chemicals” are problematic to human health and the environment.
- They are considered ubiquitous, persistent, and toxic. Many of these chemicals can last for years or decades in bodies.
What They said:
It’s disturbing for any tampon to have detectable amounts of fluorine present. We already know that PFAS has the ability to impact almost every organ of the body. The vagina is an incredibly vascular area and dermal exposure is often higher there than in other places of the body.
— Linda Birnbaum
Former Director / Scholar in Residence
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences / Duke University, University of North Carolina, & Yale University
While we know that PFAS can be absorbed through the skin we have very little information about how much would be transferred from tampons. It’s unlikely to be nothing. It’s unacceptable for a product potentially used by half the population and marketed for decades to have never provided relatively basic science that can tell us about the absorption of chemicals they use through this vaginal route of exposure.
— Pete Myers
Chief Scientist / Adjunct Professor of Chemistry / Co-Author
Environmental Health Sciences/ Carnegie Mellon University / Our Stolen Future
