During a typical menstruation cycle in the United States, tampons are used by 52-82% of menstruates. These products, designed to absorb menstrual blood within the vagina, are widely used, prompting scientists to evaluate their safety. A recent study assessed the presence of 16 metals in tampons, analyzing 30 samples from 14 brands and 28 product lines. Each tampon was subjected to microwave-acid digestion and analyzed for toxic metal concentrations. At least one toxic metal was detected in every sample. While these findings are concerning, further research is needed to determine whether these metals can leach from tampons and cross the vaginal epithelium.
Shearston JA, Upson K, Gordon M, Do V, Balac O, Nguyen K, Yan B, Kioumourtzoglou MA, Schilling K. Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s. Environ Int. 2024 Aug;190:108849. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108849. Epub 2024 Jun 22. PMID: 38963987. Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
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