The information of researchers discovering poisonous metals in big-brand tampons got here as a shock to many ladies final month—however to not me. I’ve been anxious concerning the security of interval merchandise, in addition to their environmental affect, for many years. I based Natracare as a direct response to these considerations—extra on that later.
The researchers—from the College of California at Berkeley—discovered 16 metals, amongst them lead and arsenic, in 30 tampons from 14 manufacturers and 18 product traces bought throughout the U.S. and Europe. Metals might simply be absorbed when positioned in direct contact with the vagina, as famous within the examine, printed within the journal Environmental Worldwide.
Extra analysis is required to see if (or to what diploma) the metals leach out, however clearly such findings are regarding for ladies’s well being. The interval merchandise trade, nevertheless, has lengthy exhibited an absence of transparency and an obvious absence of precautionary ideas in design and materials choice.
Over time, the trade has seen quite a few scandals, exposés, and alarming findings, such because the life-and-death outcomes of Poisonous Shock Syndrome (a doubtlessly deadly bacterial an infection that may consequence from a tampon left in place too lengthy); the reveal of dioxin residuals from the frequent use of chlorine bleaches within the pulping trade; phthalates in plastics and synthetics; the discovery of PFAS “eternally chemical substances” in interval underwear; and unstable natural compounds (VOCs, or chemical substances emitted into the air from sure supplies) in a spread of merchandise.
And now metalloids?
I first grew to become deeply involved about menstrual merchandise within the early Nineteen Eighties. Throughout my faculty years in Sweden, I regularly biked alongside the River Mölndalsån and seen how the water would flip totally different colours, apparently attributable to air pollution from a close-by manufacturing unit processing pulp to create interval care merchandise. A couple of years later, I watched the documentary Disposable Danger, which uncovered the well being and environmental risks attributable to dioxin residues from the chlorine bleaching course of primarily used for interval merchandise. Main interval product producers have been requested for remark, however as one would anticipate, the collective trade response was alongside the traces of, “Nothing to see right here.”
I used to be appalled to search out an trade so seemingly dismissive of the information offered—and with no different decisions obtainable for me to keep away from these byproducts, it now felt private. What precisely have been we putting towards our most delicate pores and skin and within our our bodies? The obvious lack of concern and transparency surrounding the processes and components used to make interval care merchandise made me offended. Anger generally is a nice motivator for change—and I instantly started researching the supplies and know-how that will be required to appropriate these points in a spread of interval merchandise to rival these dominating the business market.
The Bristol Analysis Library in Bristol, England, grew to become my second house, as I had zero expertise within the trade. I had graduated with a design diploma and a grasp’s in schooling, and I had two kids below three years of age. The educational curve was steep and lonely. The extra I delved into the development of pads and tampons, the extra points I found. I realized that one thing that regarded like cotton was as an alternative principally viscose or polypropylene; that the biggest element of a menstrual pad was as much as 90% petroleum-derived plastic; that super-absorbent polymers are indestructible and emit vapors that could be irritating to delicate pores and skin; and that plastic is everlasting in its air pollution because it escapes by wind dispersal or sewage overflows into rivers and seas, changing into microplastics that relentlessly journey up the meals chain.
Because of my analysis and learnings, I based the interval care model Natracare within the U.Ok. in 1989. In 1992, I set about launching the model in North America. There was no web, so model constructing got here right down to snail mail and worldwide telephone calls. We ultimately obtained an internet site up in 1996, which helped to stage the taking part in area and get our well being and environmental schooling factors out for all to see.
At this time, the considerations raised across the detection of heavy metals in tampons—possible related to using dyes, fragrances, components, plastics, and so on.—are alarming. In addition they, maybe, illustrate the attain of uncontrolled industrialization into our soils and watercourses.
Sewers right this moment are overloaded with interval merchandise which are flushed down the bathroom. With heavy rains, sewage is often discharged into lakes, rivers, and oceans. Plastic objects (together with interval care merchandise) that find yourself within the ocean will proceed to interrupt into smaller and smaller microplastics, including to the plastic smog of 170 trillion items already blanketing the ocean. Plastics additionally hurt marine life and pollute our lovely coastlines.
In the end, individuals who bleed deserve secure, pure choices for his or her intervals. Within the U.S., I actively supported congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s Tampon Security and Analysis Act of 1997, now known as the Robin Danielson Menstrual Product and Intimate Care Product Security Act of 2023. (Congress hasn’t handed it.) I’ve pressed regulatory authorities to require tampon producers to check for dioxin residuals, and I proceed to strongly advocate for rules that require them to check for chemical substances of concern and heavy steel residuals. Such a framework exists for cosmetics, so why not tampons?
It may be accomplished. Natracare tampons are often examined to make sure they’re freed from heavy metals, PFAS, VOCs, pesticides, synthetics, and plastics contaminants—and the third-party check outcomes are made publicly obtainable. Natracare merchandise are licensed compostable in line with ASTM D6400/EN 13432 (the U.S. and European business compost check requirements), accredited by Made Secure—a health- and ecosystem-focused product certification program—and produced to the World Natural Textile Customary (GOTS).
At this time, I applaud the UC Berkeley researchers for his or her examine of metalloids in tampons. Their findings are tremendously useful. They won’t solely improve the stress for higher regulatory measures, but in addition give shoppers the data they should make higher decisions.
Learn extra:
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary items are solely the views of their authors and don’t essentially replicate the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
