EAST LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – A collaboration of researchers at Colombia and Michigan State Universities found 16 metals present in 14 popular tampon brands. The specific brands were not disclosed.
Co-author of the study, Kristen Upson explained that their work is just the start of determining the greater impacts. Upson is a National Institute of Health-funded researcher and Assistant Professor at Michigan State University in the College of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
She said the team reviewed what had been written previously, and found that no studies had been done to test tampons for metals. The group received funding from Colombia University to conduct their study over 2 and a half years, starting back in 2021.
The Testing was done by the senior author on the paper, Kathrin Schilling, a laboratory expert in metals at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health.
The group collected 30 types of tampons from 14 different organic, and inorganic brands common in the U.S.. They purchased tampons in stores in New York City, where the study was conducted, as well as online, initially focusing on tampons with higher absorbency.
They tested for 16 different metals and found lead, cadmium, and arsenic in all of them.
Upson said a part of what initially piqued her interest was in learning how metals could be introduced into the product in the first place.
She said they don’t know for sure, but metals could be introduced during the growing process for the materials. Most tampons are plant based, and made of cotton or rayon that could have absorbed the metals from the soil, air, or water.
Upson said its also possible the metals are introduced during the manufacturing process. She said metals could be added to the tampons for antimicrobial purposes, for odor control, lubrication for smooth insertion, or to help prevent leakage. Upson noted that although they detected metals, they were not listed on the tampon product ingredient list.
“It’s one thing to measure the metals in the tampon itself. It’s another thing to think about it in its actual use.” Upson said. “What we can say is that in this first study, we’re showing that we’re detecting metals in tampons, but what we need to do next is research to investigate whether people who are using tampons are then exposed to these metals.”
Upson explained that more research needs to done to figure out how much, if any, of the metals are absorbed by the body. She said the internal tissue of the vagina is more permeable and vascularized, meaning chemicals can be more efficiently absorbed and circulated. She emphasized that no data has been collected to know if any of those metals are being absorbed, or what the health impacts of that would be.
“There’s the interaction between the tampon and menstrual fluid, and the pH, and the microbiome. There’s just so many different factors that we need to investigate more to see what this means for tampon users.” Upson said. “This is the first study, and based on our results alone, we really can’t make any recommendations about tampon use, and we really do need additional research before we can make those recommendations.”
Upson said this also highlights a greater issue surrounding the lack of research into everyday products, particularly ones used by people who menstruate.
The group is now focused on getting the information to the public and encouraging more research into the effects of their findings.
You can read the full publication here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004355