New study finds lead and arsenic in tampons. Experts say don't panic.
Tampons are one of the most popular menstruation products in a growing market that now includes period underwear, menstrual cups and more.
Tampons are one of the most popular menstruation products in a growing market that now includes period underwear, menstrual cups and more. They’ve been around since the 1930s and are still the go-to for many, used by up to 80% of people who menstruate.
However, little research has investigated the potential contaminants in tampons and whether they pose a health risk. And a new, first-of-its kind study has many wondering: Are tampons safe?
The recent research out of UC Berkeley found that many tampons on the market, including organic and non-organic, may contain toxic metals, such as lead and arsenic. The researchers looked at tampons sold both in the United States and Europe.
“Some tampons had higher concentrations of one metal, lower concentrations of another,” Jenni A. Shearston, Ph.D., the lead author on the paper said. “There wasn’t a specific tampon that we tested that seemed to have ... a lower concentration of all the metals.”
Shearston said she and her colleagues began investigating tampons after noticing there was little about their components in the research literature.
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