The US Food and Drug Administration announced a tampon safety review following a July study that found arsenic, lead and 14 other “toxic” metals in menstrual products.
In a statement released Sept. 10, the agency said that while the study “found metals in some tampons, the study did not test whether metals are released from tampons when they are used. It also did not test for metals that are released, absorbed into the vaginal mucosa, and enter the blood flow during tampon use.”
The research, published in Environment International, tested 14 brands for arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium and zinc — the finding revealed “measurable concentrations of all 16 metals assessed.”
Image of a woman holding a tampon.
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The study authors noted that the unique biology of the vagina includes more “permeable” skin than other parts of the body, noting that “vaginally absorbed chemicals do not undergo first-pass metabolism and liver detoxification” — and instead, “enter the circulatory system directly.”
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The FDA says it is investigating that absorption risk.
“FDA therefore commissioned an independent review of the literature and initiated an internal laboratory study to assess metals in tampons. A comprehensive review of the published literature will provide a better understanding of the currently available data on the presence of chemicals in tampons and, more importantly, any associated health effects of these chemicals,” the agency said in a statement.
“The FDA’s laboratory study will measure the amount of metals that come out of tampons under conditions that more closely mimic normal use. These initiatives will allow the FDA to complete a risk assessment of the metals contained in tampons, based on a worst-case scenario of metal exposure.”
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The findings will be published when “they are available and reviewed,” the agency said — and in the meantime, it will “continue to monitor these devices as part of its approach to medical devices throughout the product lifecycle.”
The study did not name the brands they evaluated, but noted that they are available for purchase in the US, UK and Greece.
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The authors of the study said that “regulations in the US, EU and UK to protect consumers from potential contaminants in tampons are almost non-existent, and none of these governments require manufacturers to test their products for harmful chemicals, including metals.”
However, the FDA said in a statement: “Before a product is released to the market, the manufacturing company conducts biocompatibility testing, which is part of safety testing, and is reviewed by the FDA prior to marketing approval.”
And specifically for menstrual products, the FDA said “before tampons can be legally sold in the US, they must meet FDA requirements for safety and efficacy. Manufacturers must test the product and its components before, during and after production.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education