When news broke that researchers identified the presence of lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals in tampons, panic broke out — understandably. After all, many women go through thousands of tampons throughout their lives, and they’re literally inserting them into their bodies. Obviously, the prospect of inserting an item that contains lead and arsenic into your vagina repeatedly can be a terrifying one.
But it may not need to be — because while the study did establish that tampons had measurable concentrations of the 16 heavy metals that were assessed in this particular research, the study did not prove that these metals can actually make their way from the tampons into a user’s body.
Shortly after the study in question was published in Environment International, experts began sharing their takes on social media. And while the panic had already begun as a result of the study’s release, these expert takes offered a comforting bit of context.
Toxic metals in tampons: Is it actually something to worry about?
An Instagram post from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, for example, broke down the findings (and the crucial context we need to consider). The infographic breaks down the background of the study, explaining that even organic tampon options contained lead, arsenic, cadmium, and other metals, which may have been taken up by the soil during the tampon manufacturing process — but the infographic points out that the study did not attempt to understand whether or not those metals can be absorbed into the bloodstream via the vagina. It also points out that the tampons were soaked in acid overnight and heated up before being observed, which is not what real world conditions look like.
The bottom line? There’s no need for panic around the results of this study, according to Laurel Bristow, Associate Director of Audience Development, Rollins School of Public Health.
“The study was on a very small selection of tampons and used methods to extract the metals that are not the same as the conditions of a vagina. This study gives us no information about what risks, if any, exist for people who use tampons,” says Bristow, who points out that the “digesting” of the tampons in acid and heating them up does not resemble what’s actually happening when someone uses a tampon. “You can potentially find a lot of compounds in a lot of products if you degrade them enough,” she adds.
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Bristow adds that she was “not really” surprised by these findings. “All the metals are naturally occurring and could be present in tampons (even at incredibly small levels like we saw in this study) for a lot of reasons. Including cotton plants absorbing them from the soil they’re grown in,” says Bristow.
Frustratingly — but not surprisingly — this is likely the first study to measure metals in tampons, according to an abstract for the research. But while the researchers flag concerns about exposure to these metals (and cite their ability to increase a person’s risk of cancer, dementia, and infertility, among other health concerns), they also concede that more research is needed in order to understand whether or not tampon use can actually contribute to any of these issues.
Reactions to these findings feel so typical of our current health landscape, particularly where women’s health issues are concerned. There’s a lot of fearmongering…and not a lot of clear answers. One way we as consumers may grapple for control over our health outcomes may involve shopping for organic products when possible…but as this study shows, that’s not always a “safer” bet.
“In this study the organic tampons had higher levels of arsenic than the non organic ones, which just goes to show ‘organic’ isn’t necessarily ‘better,” says Bristow, who suggests seeking out fragrance-free products instead.
This study is important, and an overdue look at what’s really in personal care products women use — but it’s also so important that health information is communicated to women in such a way that they gain a clear understanding of said findings and the risks they may pose. That’s why digging deeper into what findings like this one tell us — as well as what they don’t tell us — is so important.
This is, of course, hardly the first time a product women frequently use has been the source of fear. Think back to not so long ago, when news emerged that our beloved Stanley cups contain lead. In that case as well, few people waited for a clear, science-backed explanation of whether that lead could actually find its way into our bodies before sounding the alarm.
“From a scientific perspective I think we have a good understanding of how lead enters the body and the risk or poses. The issue is that we need to communicate that understanding to the public better, so that people don’t fall victim to these scare tactics,” says Bristow. “I think women have been socialized to be the caregivers for their families and as a result, they are a target for scare tactics when it comes to health and well-being. I think it’s incredibly unfair that influencers and marketers capitalize on these fears to try to influence women.”
As of right now, if you’ve been using tampons, rest easy. Ultimately, there’s nothing you can do about previous use, and based on what research has shown, there’s no real reason to believe the arsenic and lead found in these products are actually posing health risks to consumers. More research is needed in order for us to truly understand the implications of these findings, but for now, we don’t have any evidence that tampons are dangerous. Although if you want to change it up? Tampons are not your only option.
“I always think it’s worthwhile to look into the safety of products,” says Bristow. “But I don’t think this study indicates that tampons pose any risk to people.”
Zara Hanawalt is a freelance journalist and mom of twins. She's written for outlets like Parents, MarieClaire, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Motherly, and many others. In her (admittedly limited!) free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, trying new restaurants, and traveling with her family.