Arsenic and Lead Found in Tampons: Are Heavy Metals in Tampons Really a Risk

If you use tampons, you may be concerned to hear that they may contain heavy metals. A study found that samples from 14 brands of tampons contained heavy metals, such as lead and arsenic.

While these findings are concerning, there's no evidence so far that these metals leach from the tampons and get into your body.

Here's what is known about heavy metals in tampons, and what you can do if you're concerned about the exposure.

Do tampons have arsenic or lead in them?

Yes, there's evidence that tampons contain traces of heavy metals like arsenic and lead. Researchers evaluated 30 tampons from 14 tampon brands manufactured in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Europe. They tested various absorbency strengths as well as both organic tampons and nonorganic ones.

They found that all of the tampons contained at least some metals. The metals with the highest concentrations were zinc and calcium, which are not considered toxic heavy metals.

Several toxic heavy metals were found in all samples, including:

• Lead

• Arsenic

• Cadmium

The average level of lead in tampons was 120 parts per billion (ppb). For context, the FDA sets an allowable limit of lead in drinking water at 5 ppb. But it's important to note that lead in drinking water goes directly into your body. It's not known whether the lead in tampons can leave the cotton to be absorbed into your body.

Levels of arsenic found in tampons were substantially lower than levels of other metals, and are about a third of the FDA allowable amount in drinking water.

How does metal get into tampons?

Tampons are made from cotton, rayon, or a blend of the two. Cotton plants can absorb metals that occur naturally in soil or from soil contaminated by pollution. That metal ends up in the cotton that's used in tampons. Metals may also be added during the manufacturing of tampons for whitening, antimicrobial effects, and other purposes.

"We can't say for sure if the metals are coming from manufacturing processes, the soil, fertilizer, or water," said the lead author of the tampon study,Kathrin Schilling, PhD, assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

What are the risks of heavy metals in tampons?

At this time, there isn't an answer to this question. It's not clear if tampons can cause health problems.

The study didn't test whether metals stay trapped in the tampons or if they're released when used. It's not known if metals are absorbed into the vaginal lining or get into the bloodstream during tampon use.

"It hasn't been studied how metals affect the body through the vaginal route," Schilling said. The concern is that the walls of the vagina are highly permeable, which could allow metals to be absorbed more easily. Lead has been shown to be absorbed through the skin and through wounds.

The study has drawn attention to the issue and the lack of research on how much exposure to heavy metals people get from tampons, and how this exposure may impact their health.

In fact, the FDA has started an independent review of the health effects of metals in tampons.

Other research on heavy metal exposure through food, air, and water shows that it's associated with a range of health issues, including gastrointestinal and kidney problems, nervous system disorders, skin lesions, vascular damage, and compromised immune function.

What are the safest tampons to use?

It's not possible to say which tampons are safer than others. Every tampon that was tested in the recent study had a number of heavy metals. "We cannot say to choose one brand of tampons over the other," Schilling said. And absorbency levels don't seem to be a factor. Higher-absorbency tampons don't have more metals than lower-absorbency tampons.

If you're hoping that organic is better, that may not be the case. Organic tampons also contain heavy metals. In fact, organic tampons, on average, had higher levels of some toxic metals like arsenic, chromium, and vanadium. Organic tampons did have lower levels of lead than nonorganic tampons.

Are there safer alternatives to tampons?

It's still not clear how risky tampon use may be. If you're concerned about the metal exposure, consider switching to other menstrual products or alternating tampons with other products to reduce your use of tampons. Here are some other options to use during your period:

• Pads: Pads are worn inside the underwear. It's not known whether pads contain heavy metals, too. But since they're worn outside of the body, they aren't likely to expose you to harmful levels of heavy metals. Though lead can be absorbed through the skin, studies showing this were done on people who had heavy occupational exposure to lead.

• Period underwear:Period underwear is worn like regular underwear. It has extra layers of fabric that absorbs menstrual blood.

• Menstrual cups:Menstrual cups are reusable and worn inside the vagina to collect menstrual blood. You empty it, wash it, and use it again.

• Menstrual discs: These are circular discs that are placed where your vaginal canal meets your cervix to collect blood. They're typically used once and can be worn during intercourse and for up to 12 hours.

What are the best practices for buying and using tampons?

While hundreds of millions of people use tampons safely, there's a small risk of infection if they're not used properly. Here's how to use them safely:

• When buying tampons, choose the absorbency that matches with your blood flow. If your tampon leaks, you should buy the next most absorbent size. If the tampon is dry when you pull it out, try a smaller size.

• The FDA recommends changing tampons every 4 to 8 hours. Don't keep it in for more than 8 hours.

• Wash your hands with soap and water before inserting a tampon to reduce the amount of harmful bacteria that could be introduced into your vagina.

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