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. "There's been this historical taboo around menstruation," she said. "That doesn't just impact us in our social lives. It also impacts scientific research, and I think it's one of the reasons we haven't had as much research on menstrual products." Dr. Mitchell Kramer, chair of OB-GYN at Huntington Hospital Northwell Health, said the study is "groundbreaking" and indicates a need for tampon manufacturers to conduct more testing on their products. "It certainly requires more evaluation. … I think it has potentially some significant impact moving forward in terms of how tampons are produced and the effect on the users," Kramer said. That said, it's unclear what the potential health impact, if any, may be of using tampons containing these metals. "We don't know if any of these metals are absorbed vaginally, which is key when it comes to exposure," said Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, an OB-GYN and author of the book, "Let's Talk about Down There: An OB-GYN Answers All of your Burning Questions … Without Making You Feel Embarrassed…