Should You Be Concerned About Lead in Tampons?

There always seems to be a potential health scare related to the products we consume or use daily, and now tampons have been added to that list. A recent study discovered that various brands of tampons contain toxic metals, including lead, arsenic, and cadmium.

On average, individuals use about 20 tampons per period, and over a typical 40-year span of menstruation, that amounts to more than 9,000 tampons. So, should you be worried?

Tampons are mainly made from cotton, and researchers suggest that the metals could originate from the soil in which the cotton is grown. Additionally, some brands use added chemicals to manage odor or provide antimicrobial properties, which may also introduce these metals.

This is concerning because the vaginal tissue may absorb chemicals more readily than skin in other parts of the body. However, researchers are currently unsure if the metals are actually absorbed into the body; they have only confirmed their presence in the products.

The study did not specify which brands were tested, but it did reveal some key findings:

• Tampons sold in the U.S. contained higher concentrations of metals compared to those in Europe.
• Non-organic tampons showed elevated levels of metals.

The FDA is currently investigating the study’s findings, but further research is needed to determine whether the presence of metals in tampons poses any significant health risks.