While you may have heard about reusable tampons, the FDA has not cleared or approved these products. You know why? We are starting to recognize the health concerns of this class of chemicals. I am not into social media. Subscribe to receive Consumer Updates email notifications. by theorganicbunny on August 3, 2022. According to the suit, 80 percent of the tampons' ingredients are "not cotton," and 60 percent of the ingredients are "not organic," as . "Similar to choosing organic vegetables, it's an alternative, but not necessarily better or safer for women to consume. It's also is often used to make things like paint, and most relevant for our purposes, it's used to make pads and tampons appear whiter. So there are lots of ways to be exposed to this chemical. "I love these non-applicator tampons," raved one reviewer. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the Read our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. "So, if titanium dioxide is giving you anxiety that you just can't shake," there are plenty of period care products and trustworthy tampon brands you can try without the chemical, Dr. Gohar says. 4.7 out of 5 stars. With all these questions, we turned to experts for answers. This summer's viral TikTok on titanium dioxide in tampons focused on the brand This is L., which was acquired by Procter and Gamble in 2019. Since tampons are inserted inside our bodies for hours at a time, it makes sense that people would have safety concerns, but Dr. Ross says there is no reason for concern. We also reached out to Proctor & Gamble, which makes the L. tampons, for comment multiple times with no response. In its report, the EFSA reported that they couldn't rule out the possibility that titanium dioxide caused damage to DNA ("genotoxicity")and thus couldn't establish a safe level of daily intake. Keep in mind that sometimes titanium dioxide might also be listed as white pigment or pigment white 6 so look for those terms as well. Very pleased with these. If you prefer to use cardboard applicators, check out these tampons from Oi. Glyphosateis from a class of chemicals known as endocrine disrupters. Only tampons that have been cleared by the FDA can be legally marketed in the U.S. And it would be a stretch to correlate a possible connection in rats to a true cause-and-effect in humans. Unfortunately, this question doesnt have a simple answer. Shoppers are fans of the tampon's compact design that fits in the palm of their hand, allowing them to discreetly carry one to the bathroom. "They come in two different sizesregular and superwhich are very convenient depending on the day. There are several health concerns regarding TiO2. Also Im not looking for attention. Experts resounding answer: We dont have enough data. "could no longer be considered safe" as a food additive, ban TiO2 as a food additive earlier this year, classifies tampons and pads as medical devices, are recommended, but not required, to list their ingredients, may cause cancer based on studies done on animals, government sets limits on exposure for workers, not found any clear link between lung cancer, titanium dioxide can cause alterations to the reproductive system, 26 percent of the global population are of reproductive age. The decision was based on available scientific research which, although not totally conclusive, found that an accumulation of titanium dioxide in the body could possibly contribute to genotoxicity (i.e., damage at the DNA level that may lead to cancer). They are comfortable and easy to use, just make sure you press down completely on the applicator before removing (it sort of 'clicks' together). This lack of data is incredibly frustrating, given that 26 percent of the global population are of reproductive age and presumably using pads and tampons on the regular to manage their cycles. AT AMAZON. This is the case for period care products, even those made with organic cotton. 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The tampons come in both regular and super sizes, and customers say a regular size is a great option for light flow days. $17.50 ($0.24/Count) Sold by Utopia Distributors and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. Ease and comfort all around! While most options on this list are more expensive than other tampons you can find in the aisles of your favorite drugstore, Just's tampons are as affordable as they are eco-friendly. However, as of 2022, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) still . Made with a 100% cotton core, the company's feminine care products are produced without any dyes, fragrances, or chlorine bleaching. Consider this important information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)and please share this information with other people who may use these products. Here are 11 organic tampons that reviewers love. Stressing itll rupture or cause my ovary to twist while my husband is hours away.
Do Organic Tampons Contain Titanium Dioxide? - TOTM But no matter what your period product preference, you shouldn't be worried about whether it can harm your health.
FYI: Here Are The Best Non-Toxic And Organic Tampons On The Market ", One shopper wrote, "I used to use Tampax, but things changed as I got older and I needed something more absorbent and more comfortable. The FDA classifies tampons and pads as medical devices, and thus manufacturers of these products are recommended, but not required, to list their ingredients. . FDA-cleared tampons are made of cotton, rayon, or a blend of the two. Media inquiries? A viral TikTok video is spreading misinformation that an ingredient occasionally found in tampons titanium dioxide can cause cancer. As a result, it's not too difficult to shop for TiO2-free tampons if you're concernedand have the financial means to do so. "When properly tested, regular tampons are safe and free of harmful chemicals. The rule for food items is that the coloring agent can't exceed 1% of the food's weight. How well do you know the ingredients in the foods you eat or products you use every day? A recent TikTok video went viral with the false claim that the titanium dioxide used in L. brand organic tampons is responsible for miscarriages, cancer and a host of other medical problems.. We all deserve safe products and all you need to do is ask. So what do you do instead? For example, when the substance is applied via sunscreen, sufficient data have found titanium dioxide to be "generally recognized as safe and effective," per the FDA. I changed them every 2-3 hours, and even then I'd feel dry and chaffed or just felt them there. Alkaline water:Should you be splurging to make your body less acidic?
Questions About Titanium Dioxide in Tampons and Pads? Hundreds of Walmart shoppers have given the tampons a near-perfect rating, with many raving about how they're absorbent and comfortable. According to the company, TiO2 represents less than 0.1% of all the ingredients they use to manufacture their tampons. But the video is raising important questions: What is titanium dioxide? Thanks again for sharing your story its voices like yours that can make all the difference. I believe we all have a responsibility to better and more critically appraise social media content, particularly with regard to health and medical information. Case in point: exposure to titanium dioxide may destroy good gut microbes, cause gut dysfunction and increase intestinal inflammation, according to a February 2021 systematic review of animal studies published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.. Shoppers love that they are made from responsibly sourced, organic cotton and that their applicator is made from 92% of plant-based materials. One of the tricky things about titanium dioxide is that it can be consumed in a myriad of ways, making risk calculation difficult. The FDA discourages the use of reusable tampons. polyester, glycerin, paraffin, titanium dioxide. Wondering the Best Organic Tampons? Indeed, this white pigment lightens everything from paints, paper coatings and plastics to sunscreen, pharmaceutical tablets, flours and dairy products, according to the National Library of Medicine. Are We Seeing the End of Scented Tampons? That environment includes where you live, work, play, and pray. What we have now is some really interesting studies on titanium dioxide, showing that there's a disruption of the gut microbiome when you ingest it, Dr. Cohen said. our process. Before any tampons can be legally sold in the U.S., they must go through the FDAs review to determine whether they are as safe and effective as (substantially equivalent to) legally marketed tampons. Theres even a lawsuit alleging that the candy company Mars, which makes Skittles, didnt inform its customers about the potential taste the rainbow dangers of titanium dioxide in its product. And since the chemical is in the cotton plant it will also be in the cotton produced from the plant. Price at time of publication: $6.98 for 20 count. Gizmodo reached out to TikTok multiple times on Thursday to ask if it would take any action on content crying wolf about the dangers of titanium dioxide and tampons but did not receive a response. of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. "I stopped using tampons when I noticed they'd irritate my lady parts after use. Just last year the European Food Safety Authority concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe in food, because of genotoxicity concerns [2]. If you take a quick stroll through the aisles of a grocery store or drugstore, you'll find there's an organic option for just about everything these days, including produce, deodorant, and even tampons. The 12-page complaint says that despite the front-label promise that the tampons are entirely organic, they contain the non-organic ingredients polyester, glycerin, paraffin and titanium dioxide . Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. After August 7, the EU is banning it. It's unclear exactly how many brands use TiO2 in their menstrual products. She stressed that its important to remember that correlation in this case does not equal causation. Despite a small percentage ofTiO2 present in the product, low toxicity risk and an unsupported cause-and-effect exampleare both factors that led me to debunk this claim.
Is Titanium Dioxide in Tampons Safe? | Penileclinic.com New study explores the benefits,harms. But TiO2 is insoluble in water meaning that it cannot be dissolved into smaller particles. ", Price at time of publication: $13.98 for 36 count. No tampon should be used more than once. And its certainly worth asking: Is it worth a potential risk worth to have a tampon or pad thats just a little more white before you use it? He studied Global Health at Georgetown University and has a Medical Degree from Ben-Gurion University. Think: Many of them are animal studies. Alexandra Scranton, Director of Science and Research. But first. "The potential risks of titanium dioxide vary depending on the method of exposure," says Dr. Eyvazzadeh. And, spoiler: Its in plenty of other products you probably use in your day-to-day life. We will keep fighting for the need for safer products and more thorough research!
HOW TO PICK TITANIUM DIOXIDE-FREE TAMPONS! DON'T MISS THIS - YouTube And the importance of questioning what were consuming on the daily. "Minimal waste and perfect for everyone especially those that are extra sensitive. While paying $300 a month for health insurance. Including how tampons affect vaginal bacteria. Tampons are one method of absorbing menstrual flow during your period. But titanium dioxide's possible deleterious effects extend beyond ingesting it. The site is secure. Is this just a big conspiracy someone is trying to push? When Aunt Flo makes her monthly visit, some people prefer pads, while other swear by menstrual cups or tampons. Not surprisingly, because it is easier to spray weeds than it is to remove them by hand or machine, farmers started using more and more of this herbicide. But if you don't see the word titanium dioxide, that doesn't necessarily mean the chemical isn't in your tampons. Let's take a moment to review cotton production and the concept of GMO (genetically modified organism) farming. Wash your hands before and after using a tampon. Morgan explains that she learned about the purported dangers of these tampons after TikTok showed her a video of a girl using the same brand that had experienced two weeks of excessive bleeding and extreme pain, ovarian cysts, and irreversible uterine damage. Dr. Cohen agrees, saying its important to hold legislators to a higher standard in making sure that they follow through with legislation that really does make sense, like the New York policy.. None. Theres been a lot of alarmist concern, she said. (The FDA says that manufacturers can have no more than 1 percent TiO2 in food.). Then you can make your own decision. For all I know at this time, titanium dioxide in pads and tampons might be just fine, but Im not sure we have the science to prove it. Dr. Jennifer Gunter, an OB/GYN and frequent debunker of outrageous and fake advice online, is one of the doctors that came out this week to try to reassure individuals that their tampons were not toxic death sticks.. The European Food Safety Authority in 2021 expressed concern that TiO2 particles in food additives could accumulate over time in the body and ruled that it could no longer be considered safe as a food additive. So we talked to gynecologists to get the scoop on everything you need to know about organic tampons. Still, more studies in humans need to be performed to verify this finding. Plus, titanium dioxide is not water soluble, so it's unlikely to be dissolved and absorbed vaginally, according to the National Library of Medicine. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/titanium-dioxide-e171-no-longer-considered-safe-when-used-food-additive, how are all these experts not seeing a connection? Addressing a popular TikTok concern over titanium dioxide getting absorbed by the vagina, Gunter said that this doesnt happen because of titanium dioxides chemical composition. Estimated ship dimensions: 2.795 inches length x 4.37 inches width x 5.669 inches height. That being said, you may choose to avoid this particular potential exposure. ", Price at time of publication: $10 for 16 count. You can also register your story with the FDA Medwatch program their online form is here: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?action=consumer.reporting1 and on that form you can offer as much or as little information as you wish. So while on the one hand no study has positively linked titanium dioxide exposure to ovarian cancer, or miscarriages, or UTIs we also simply dont have the science to assure us that this kind of exposure is perfectly safe either. Once again we are reminded how important it is that we have ingredient information, and how woefully under-researched the potential impacts that ingredients used in menstrual products and intimate care products might be having on vaginal and vulvar health. And how can we learn more about the products were using? It neutralizes smell as well. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Andrea Chisolm, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who has taught at both Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. Titanium Dioxide, or TiO2, is a white coloring agent used in cosmetic products, toothpaste, deodorant, desserts and paint. WVEs Director of Science and Research, Alex Scranton, addresses your questions about titanium dioxide in tampons and pads in this session of #AskAlex.
TikTokers say titanium dioxide in organic tampons led to severe side Information reported to MedWatch helps the FDA to ensure tampons remain safe and effective. ", If you do decide to give organic tampons a try, Dr. Ross recommends checking the box for ingredients before buying. It makes items white. Probably, at this point in time, the best answer is, We dont know. Likely the amount of glyphosate in feminine hygiene products is relatively small. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. I wear zero makeup. And that's a really good thing to drive science [and] safer products. (If you reside outside of the U.S., please simply enter 00000 for zip code), ph:(406) 543-3747 | womensvoices@womensvoices.org | 2023 All rights reserved |, Introducing WVEs New Plan for a Thriving Future. As far as hypothetical exposure risk, the tampon would pose a more significant exposure as it is worn internally. The reality of life today is that you are bombarded with multiple chemical exposures. This is L. tampons are labeled as being made with organic cotton, and the company's marketing promises a simple product: "Only the ingredients you need for the confidence, comfort, and protection you . Never ever in my life have had an ovarian cyst. Theres also period underwear.