get healthing in your inbox with the morning checkup and weekender newsletter!

women's health

chemicals in tampons and pads: know the dangers and make safer choices

understanding the medical repercussions of using pads and tampons – and chemicals found within them – is necessary in taking care of your health as a woman.

by raby nguer

published aug 02, 2024

7 minute read

join the conversation

7 minute read

join the conversation

health canada recommends that a woman with a history of toxic shock syndrome should not use a tampon during her period. getty images

choosing between wearing a pad or tampon is a decision that comes with every menstrual cycle, and which option is better suited for the environment you’re in. on top of that, understanding the medical repercussions of using pads and tampons – and chemicals found within them – is necessary in taking care of your health as a woman.

tampons and pads are made with a combination of absorbent fibres which are either natural or synthetic. these fibres consist of cotton and rayon. rayon is a material which can absorb well and is biodegradable, and cotton is a breathable material. both of these materials are found in the pad that you put on your underwear or the tampon that you insert into your body.

while rayon is useful for fluid absorption, it is made using a process that results in the production of a harmful chemical dioxin. the environmental protection agency (epa) states that people exposed to high levels of dioxins may be at risk for infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (pid) and damage to their immune system.

although dioxin has been reduced in tampons throughout the years (to nearly undetectable levels) due to new bleaching methods, the chemical can still be found in feminine hygiene products, even those that are 100 per cent cotton. according to the epa, due to the decades of pollution, dioxin can be found in the air, water and ground, and because of this small amounts of the chemical can be present in the wood or cotton pulp materials used to create the tampon.

even though dioxin levels in tampons and pads are lower today, the chemical can still build up in the human body because it gets absorbed and stored in fatty tissue. as a result, women using these products for the majority of their adult life are at risk for harmful exposure.

in addition to rayon and cotton, other common ingredients in pads and tampons are:

rayon: fibres that absorb fluid
cotton: fibres that absorb fluid
polypropylene: fibres that help fluid flow to the core
polyethylene: fibres make it easier to remove tampon
polyester: material to sew tampon together
glycerin: coating that helps fluid travel through material
paraffin: wax that helps keep string clean
ethoxylated fatty acid esters: coating that helps fluid travel through material
peg-100 stearate: coating that helps fluid travel through material
titanium dioxide: thread whitener

women should also be aware of tampons that contain polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene due to concerns about potential exposure to harmful chemicals. although these materials themselves are not volatile organic compounds (vocs), the manufacturing process and additives used in plastics can sometimes result in residual chemicals.

vocs are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids, and prolonged exposure to high levels of vocs can have various health impacts, including headaches, nausea, and in severe cases, liver and kidney damage, as well as potential carcinogenic effects.

study finds metals in tampons

the university of berkeley conducted a study testing toxic metals in tampons, and the data they collected was alarming. different to pads, tampons are regarded as a bit more concerning because of the fact that they are inserted into the vagina, and that area of the body has higher potential for chemical absorption, different to other body parts.

the researchers at berkeley evaluated 16 different metals found in over 30 tampons from 14 different brands. these metals consisted of:

arsenic
barium
calcium
cadmium
cobalt
chromium
copper
iron
manganese
mercury
nickel
lead
selenium
strontium
vanadium
zinc

metals such as these have been found to heighten the risk of developing diabetes, infertility, dementia and cancer. in addition, they can also damage the kidney, liver, brain and the cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems.

according to the berkeley study, there are numerous ways metals could make their way into tampons. cotton, which is the head of the tampon, is a compound that absorbs metals from air, water and soil. during the manufacturing process, these tampons could be exposed to any one of those elements. metals might also be added intentionally by these manufacturers to whiten the tampons and add an antibacterial agent.

unfortunately, the tampons that were tested in this report are used by a large percentage of women on a monthly basis. berkeley’s research shows about 50 to 80 percent of those who are on their period use a tampon.

toxic shock syndrome: causes, symptoms and prevention

when using pads and tampons that contain toxins, medical issues can arise as a result of these chemicals entering your body, such as toxic shock syndrome (tss). tss is a rare, life-threatening complication of certain types of bacterial infections.

when you use a tampon, bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus (staph) has the potential to become trapped in your vagina and enter your uterus through your cervix. this can happen when an individual does not frequently change their tampon. bacteria can also grow if your period flow is light, but you are wearing a super absorbent tampon.

when a woman has a light flow, the tampon can stick to the walls of the vagina and cause small cuts to the vagina, allowing for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.

according to cleveland clinic, anything that is left in your vagina for too long could increase the risk of contracting tss. women can also contract tss from a pad, however it is less prevalent.

tss can come with a multitude of symptoms ranging from:

vomitating
diarrhoea
myalgia
mucositis
hepatic damage
confusion
rash
sore throat
red eyes
sensitivity to light
kidney failure

treatments of tss may include antibiotics to treat the infection, going to a hospital and doing an iv drip to get rehydrated, medicine to help control your blood pressure, oxygen and surgery to remove the infection from cuts or wounds.

health canada recommends that a woman with a history of tss should not use a tampon during her cycle as part of a list of prevention tips to minimize health risks from feminine hygiene products:

if you’ve ever had toxic shock syndrome (tss), don’t use tampons.
pick the lowest absorbency tampon for your needs. in canada, tampons have standardized absorbency labels, meaning tampons with the same absorbency will absorb the same amount of fluid, no matter the brand.
follow the instructions that come with tampons carefully.
only use tampons when your period starts; don’t use them in anticipation of your period or for other discharges.
always wash your hands before and after inserting a tampon.
change your tampon every 4 to 8 hours and don’t wear one overnight.
ensure you remove every tampon after use.
alternate tampons with pads or liners for external protection.

exploring organic alternatives to pads

organic pads and tampons allow for a woman to feel safer and healthier during the menstrual cycle. below are a few canadian brands that make natural pads and tampons for women who are looking for healthier alternatives when it comes to menstrual products.

tree hugger cloth pads

winnipeg, manitoba, canada

tree huggler cloth pads is an organization which implements healthier alternatives to pads. their pads include material such as minky, bamboo and cotton. the brand has three different types of pads sets, and these sets consist of a heavy flow pad set, light flow pad set and night/postpartum pad set.

these diverse sets of pads can allow women to choose which sort of pad is better suited for their menstrual cycle. these pads have a waterproof backing, and can also be thrown in the washing machine and be reused.

la looma

st. bruno de montarville, quebec city, canada

la looma is a menstrual pad organization that focuses on selling healthy and environmentally-friendly products to women and children. one of their products being pads. their pads are 45 per cent cotton, 36 per cent hemp and 19 per cent organic cotton.

their pads options range from nighttime pads, daytime pads and pantiliners. the brand has a zero-waste initiative and believes that reusable pads are a way to stay environmentally friendly.

alea protection

greater montreal area, quebec, canada

alea protection is an organization that focuses on providing canadians with safe and environmentally-friendly pads and tampons. different from the other organizations, alea protection does not only focus on pads, but also tampons.

all of alea protection’s pads and tampons are made in line with the global organic textile standard (gots). gots certified cotton ensures that there are no harsh chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides or any genetically modified organisms (gmos) in the process of making the pads and tampons.

the next step in safer menstrual products

although pads and tampons were designed to help women who are menstruating, the data and studies have found major dangers within both products. the potential for significant repercussions on a woman’s health is more than enough for brands and governments to take action.

in 2021, tampax said farewell to their fragrance tampons. according to women’s voices for the earth, scents and fragrances contain many different chemicals, and are known to cause cancer, infertility, allergic reactions, birth defects and other medical problems. by eliminating fragrance in their tampons, tampax reduces the risk of exposing women to potentially harmful chemicals, including vocs that may be present in some fragrances. it’s a step in the right direction and opens the door for further analysis of their products for other chemicals that can cause serious health issues.

in addition to providing helpful information and prevention tips, health canada also oversees the production and sale of feminine hygiene products in order to make sure they “are safe, effective, and of high quality based on requirements for licensing, quality manufacture, and post-market surveillance.”

with health canada implementing requirements for tampon companies to meet, such as proper labelling of absorbency and information about tss and its symptoms, and major brands taking steps to improve the safety of their products, women can begin to feel more confident in their menstrual products and options in the market.

raby nguer

chemicals in tampons and pads: know the dangers and make safer choices

understanding the medical repercussions of using pads and tampons – and chemicals found within them – is necessary in taking care of your health as a woman.

can delaying menopause reduce risk of chronic disease?