Scientists have issued a warning after finding toxic heavy metals in dozens of mainstream tampon products. Lead in particular (2024) Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s Study

[Michael Harrop]

• https://www.newsweek.com/toxic-metal-lead-tampons-brain-cognitive-function-1922931
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004355

Tampons are used by between 52 to 86 percent of menstruators in the U.S., with the average woman using thousands of tampons throughout their reproductive years. Not only that, but tampons spend long periods of time in contact with the delicate skin of the vagina, which is more absorptive than other tissues in the body. As a result, any contaminants in the tampons have a higher chance of entering our bloodstream.

"Despite this large potential for public health concern, very little research has been done to measure chemicals in tampons,"

"There is no safe exposure level to lead," the researchers wrote. "Any proportion of lead that may leach out of a tampon and reach systemic circulation might contribute to negative health outcomes."

The metal has been associated with a range of neurological and cardiovascular conditions, as well as problems with our kidneys, our blood, our immune system and our reproductive health.

"Of particular note, even low-level exposure to lead can result in neurobehavioral impacts in adults and children, including decreased cognitive function such as impaired attention, memory, and learning ability,"

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Highlights​

• 16 metal(loid)s were evaluated in different kinds of tampons.
• Several toxic metals, including lead, were detected.
• Tampon use is a potential source of exposure to metals in menstruating people.
• The highest concentration was found for zinc (geometric mean = 52,000 ng/g)
• A geometric mean lead concentration of 120 ng/g was found in our samples.

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Abstract​

Background​

Between 52–86% of people who menstruate in the United States use tampons—cotton and/or rayon/viscose ‘plugs’—to absorb menstrual blood in the vagina. Tampons may contain metals from agricultural or manufacturing processes, which could be absorbed by the vagina’s highly absorptive tissue, resulting in systemic exposure. To our knowledge, no previous studies have measured metals in tampons.

Objectives​

We evaluated the concentrations of 16 metal(loid)s in 30 tampons from 14 tampon brands and 18 product lines and compared the concentrations by tampon characteristics.

Methods​

About 0.2 – 0.3 g from each tampon (n = 60 samples) were microwave-acid digested and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine concentrations of arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc. We compared concentrations by several tampon characteristics (region of purchase, organic material, brand type) using median quantile mixed models.

Results​

We found measurable concentrations of all 16 metals assessed. We detected concentrations of several toxic metals, including elevated mean concentrations of lead (geometric mean [GM] = 120 ng/g), cadmium (GM = 6.74 ng/g), and arsenic (GM = 2.56 ng/g). Metal concentrations differed by region of tampon purchase (US versus European Union/United Kingdom), by organic versus non-organic material, and for store- versus name-brand tampons. Most metals differed by organic status; lead concentrations were higher in non-organic tampons while arsenic was higher in organic tampons. No categoriy had consistently lower concentrations of all or most metals.

Discussion​

Tampon use is a potential source of metal exposure. We detected all 16 metals in at least one sampled tampon, including some toxic metals like lead that has no “safe” exposure level. Future research is needed to replicate our findings and determine whether metals can leach out of tampons and cross the vaginal epithelium into systemic circulation.

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[Michael Harrop]

Metals in tampons? These findings can sound scary, but experts say there isn’t reason to worry. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/11/well/tampons-arsenic-lead-heavy-metals-toxic.html

Levels of the toxic chemicals detected, including arsenic and lead, were very low, and two prior studies by the same group of researchers did not find significantly higher blood levels of the metals in women who use tampons compared with those who don’t.

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