Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s

Title	Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s
Authors	Jenni A. Shearston, Kristen Upson, Milo Gordon, Vivian Do, Olgica Balac, Khue Nguyen, Beizhan Yan, Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou, Kathrin Schilling
Magazine	Environment international
Date	06/22/2024
DOI	10.1016/j.envint.2024.108849
Introduction	Tampons, predominantly composed of cotton and/or rayon/viscose, are widely utilised by menstruating individuals in the United Kingdom. These products, designed for vaginal absorption of menstrual blood, may contain various metals originating from agricultural practices or manufacturing processes. Given the vagina's highly absorptive nature, there is a potential for these metals to be absorbed into the systemic circulation, leading to health implications. Prior to this investigation, the presence and concentrations of metals in tampons had not been systematically quantified. This study aimed to assess the concentrations of 16 specific metal(loid)s across 30 tampon samples, representing 14 brands and 18 product lines, and to evaluate how these concentrations vary based on tampon characteristics. Utilising microwave-acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), all 16 metals were found to be present in measurable quantities. Significant levels of toxic metals such as lead (geometric mean [GM] = 120 ng/g), cadmium (GM = 6.74 ng/g), and arsenic (GM = 2.56 ng/g) were observed. Variations in metal concentrations correlated with the tampon's region of purchase (US versus EU/UK), organic status, and brand type. Notably, non-organic tampons exhibited higher lead concentrations, while organic tampons showed higher arsenic levels. No single category consistently presented lower concentrations across all or most metals. These findings indicate that tampon usage could contribute to metal exposure, including elements like lead, for which no safe exposure threshold exists. Further studies are essential to validate these observations and to ascertain the extent to which metals can migrate from tampons, traverse the vaginal epithelium, and enter the bloodstream.
Quote	Jenni A. Shearston, Kristen Upson and Milo Gordon et al. Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s. Environ Int. 2024. Vol. 190:108849-108849. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108849
Element	Arsenic (As) , Barium (Ba) , Calcium (Ca) , Cobalt (Co) , Chromium (Cr) , Copper (Cu) , Manganese (Mn) , Mercury (Hg) , Nickel (Ni) , Selenium (Se) , Strontium (Sr) , Vanadium (V) , Zinc (Zn)
Industry	Textiles & Fabrics , Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics , Research & Laboratory