These products are made from cotton and it is actually the cotton contained in these products that are the potential problem. Best Organic Tampons. The suit claims the substance is unfit for human consumption, but the toxicologist stated that the lawsuit is based on gross misinterpretations of the available data to claim a human cancer risk. In an email statement to theSkimm, the FDA said it has not received any medical device reports related to titanium dioxide and menstrual products. And added that it requires manufacturers to evaluate their period products safety in a number of ways. But if we are exposed to these same substances via a different route than how they are intended, or at a higher dose, they can be toxic. Menstrual pads get even more complicated with top layers, middle layers of absorbent foam, super absorbent polymers, various waterproof backings, more fragrance, lots of coatings to wick fluid and aid absorption, lotion ingredients like petrolatum, adhesives made with styrene, more titanium dioxide to make it look whiter, as well as colored dyes for pretty designs. The reality is that these products are under-researched so we just dont know what impacts they may be having on our health, because neither researchers or companies are asking the questions that need to be asked. I have been researching health impacts of pads and tampons for nearly a decade, so I love having all this new ingredient info. Lets look at what can happen with an acute TiO2 exposure: The last route absorption is the route of question when it comes to the TiO2 in tampons. 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.. "I highly recommend these tampons," wrote one customer. But this amount varies by product. It's used in sunscreen, all kinds of cosmetics, medications, and you'll find it in food. These videos were chemophobia, Gunter declared, and fear mongering. So there are lots of ways to be exposed to this chemical. "Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring substance that is often used in food and other topical products to create a whiter and brighter look," Dr. Gohar says. It neutralizes smell as well. To be blunt, they are worried about the possibility of something happening that has never been demonstrated to happen, Marino said. Skimm'd by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Maria McCallen, and Kamini Ramdeen-Chowdhury. If you don't want to take any chances with this ingredient, try these organic products instead. I will share what I know about titanium dioxide in tampons! Unfortunately, this question doesnt have a simple answer. As Dr. Eyvazzadeh points out, we just don't know either wayno matter how certain Becky on TikTok seems. One reason is that the FDA evaluates whether a tampon enhances the growth of the bacteria that causes TSS before the product can be legally marketed. TiO2 It is mined from the Earth and then processed into an inorganic solid white compound most commonlyused as a pigment in paints, food coloring, sunscreenand cosmetic products. The main difference between regular and organic tampons are the materials used when making them. Inhaling titanium dioxide may also result in adverse respiratory reactions, Dr. Gohar says. People have gotten into a debate over whether or not organic tampons and pads shorten the length of menstrual cycles. The tampons themselves are made from 100% organic cotton and have been produced using sustainable and ethical processes. I used this exact brand. The Beach Is My Happy Placeand Here Are 3 Science-Backed Reasons It Should Be Yours, Too. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. "While most cosmetic products will disclose whether or not titanium dioxide is an ingredientsome states require itit is important to note that the FDA does not currently require brands to disclose this information.". I wanted to do more research before just jumping and following this narrative blindly. We should be able to make a period product that does not lead to cysts! Just bear in mind: If you have any specific health concerns to weigh, it's critical to reach out to your gynecologist or primary care physician to make the right choice for you. Dr. Ryan Marino, a medical toxicologist and assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, told Gizmodo in an email that inhaled titanium dioxide (primarily related to industrial exposure) is considered possibly carcinogenic. Experts that spoke to Gizmodo also insisted that there is no evidence that titanium dioxide in tampons, other topical products (sunscreen), and food is unsafe to humans as it currently used. Titanium dioxide exposure would not be on that list. Other human studies, however, have not found any clear link between lung cancer and titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide might be one of these. The toxic substance produced by the bacteria can cause organ damage (including kidney, heart, and liver failure), shock, and even death. Organic farming typically uses more sustainable practices, plus by not treating cotton with pesticides, fewer harmful chemicals have been released into the environment. "I have been using these for a few years now and I love them," raved one shopper. Pain Inserting a Tampon? This means that farmers could use this herbicide to kill the weeds in their fields without worrying about it harming the cotton crops. A TikTok with more than 3 million views is raising questions about just that.
titanium dioxide in tampons? : r/Periods (The FDA says that manufacturers can have no more than 1 percent TiO2 in food.). 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]. 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.. Never ever in my life have had an ovarian cyst. $17.50 ($0.24/Count) Sold by Utopia Distributors and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. Since many of us have been loyal to the same feminine care products that we've been using since we first got our periods, you may have some questions before switching products. https://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text186.html, [2] EFSA (2021) Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive.
The FDA has found that regulated amounts of titanium dioxide are considered safe. "But it's the dose, it's the route that makes the 'poison,' and so just because something might cause lung cancer, for example, doesn't mean it's going to cause an issue in a tampon. Let's take a moment to review cotton production and the concept of GMO (genetically modified organism) farming. the she-quel and creator of URJA Intimates skincare products for the vulva and vagina.
Are There Toxic Chemicals in Your Tampons? Considering each pack comes with 32 tampons, their price isn't even that bad for an all-organic product! It wasnt that long ago (read: 2020) that a New York law requiring ingredients to be listed in period product packaging went into effect. Mostly organic produce. "You will want to make sure they are composed of 100% organic cotton, free of chemicals, rayon, and synthetics, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, not bleached with chlorine, dioxin free, and free of additive chemicals.". "Very pleased with these," wrote one reviewer. However, titanium dioxide isn't just a popular ingredient in food. The thread is so soft and they absorb perfectly. We spoke to ob-gyn James A. Gohar, MD, co-founder and CEO of Viva Eve, to set the record straight on this substance in question, including whether it poses any risk to your reproductive health (or otherwise) and which tampon products are safest. However there is not enough proof showing titanium dioxide coloring in tampons to be harmful. As of the time of publication of this article, Morgans TikTok as well as others on the subject with the hashtag #titaniumdioxide were still on the platform racking up views. The only tampons cleared or approved by the FDA are designed for single-use. There is some evidence to suggest that titanium dioxide may have a carcinogenic effect in some formats. Is this an emergency? According to the brand, the tampons feature a unique design that keeps "fluids locked in the core for added security. So, why would they use an ingredient that can be considered cariogenic and cause reproductive issues with tampons? Walmart customers love these super plus organic cotton tampons from Lola so much, they have given them an impressive 4.3-star rating. "Most tampons list their ingredients on the back of the package," Dr. Gohar says. 6 min read. Organyc 100% Certified Organic Cotton Tampons. I can wear them for as long as necessary and there is no leakage. We will keep fighting for the need for safer products and more thorough research! $12.59. Titanium dioxide is common chemical. Just because someone had health problems after they used something doesnt necessarily mean an ingredient in that thing caused the problem, Wallace said. One of the tricky things about titanium dioxide is that it can be consumed in a myriad of ways, making risk calculation difficult. Ultimately the end product produced from the cotton may also contain some amount of the chemical. 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. 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. Regarding risk of cancer, there is an oft-cited study that shows that chronic high-level exposure of inhaled TiO2 could be linked to lung cancer in rats. While experts agree more studies need to be done on titanium dioxides potential impact on reproductive health, one person's video is motivating millions of people to take control of their health and question what they consume every day. The nice thing is that finally companies are at least required to tell you what is in their products. I started switching to organic food, so why not beauty/hygiene products as well? Wallace told Gizmodo in an email that anecdotal stories like the one in Morgans TikTok go viral all the time because they are sensational and get a lot of shares and comments.
No evidence titanium dioxide in tampon strings causes cancer