15826245f15f2e664c1e3a433543b5844be72 titanium dioxide in tampons

(The FDA says that manufacturers can have no more than 1 percent TiO2 in food.). Only tampons that have been cleared by the FDA can be legally marketed in the U.S. While you may have heard about reusable tampons, the FDA has not cleared or approved these products. Some worry it causes cancer, irregular periods. Peter Weiss, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN and expert in women's health. 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. The agency could not rule out potential damage to DNA,but this is much different than the agency stating there was an identified cause and effect. New study explores the benefits,harms. (no offense) The main difference between regular and organic tampons are the materials used when making them. Titanium dioxide, or TiO2, is a naturally occurring mineral comprised of titanium and oxygen. "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. You may want to talk with your health care provider about whether tampons are right for you. 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. There are a number of folks online recently worried about finding titanium dioxide as an ingredient in their tampons and pads and wondering if it is related to some health conditions they are experiencing like ovarian cysts, miscarriages, UTIs and more. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Skimm'd by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Maria McCallen, and Kamini Ramdeen-Chowdhury. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Before you start gathering all your tampons and scouring their ingredient lists, you should know that experts want you to chill and stop worrying: Your tampons are safe. For about the last twenty years the majority of cotton farmers have been using seeds that were modified to have resistance to a major herbicide known as glyphosate. 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. Protective wrap stands up to the roughest of travel and yet is easily unwrapped so no time is wasted. . Some are alleging that a common ingredient found in many tampon brands called titanium dioxide can cause excessive bleeding, infertility and even cancer. }(document, 'script', 'advocacy-actionwidget-code')); Womens Voices for the Earth However, as of 2022, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) still . We all know social media is a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation. WVE envisions a world free from the impacts of toxic chemicals, one where our planet and communities are thriving, one where our gender, race, sexuality, zip code, income level or job does not determine our health outcomes. According to the brand, these organic O.b. Missoula, MT 59807, Visit us in Denver Since the heaviness of your flow can fluctuate each day during your period, many women keep a variety of tampon sizes on hand. If something is white, it often has titanium dioxide. ", Price at time of publication: $10 for 16 count. Mostly organic produce. 1031 33rd Street Still, more studies in humans need to be performed to verify this finding. Research has shown that fabrics with titanium dioxide that are washed repeatedly release very little of the mineral, she said. [1] CCOHS (2019) Titanium Dioxide Classified as Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans. While there's concern over This Is L Incs tampons, the use of the ingredient in period products isnt new. if (d.getElementById(id)) return; These are by far the most comfortable, reliable, and absorbent. I will share what I know about titanium dioxide in tampons! Gunter also added that when products like titanium dioxide are put on fabric, the point is to have them stay on the fabric. There is accumulating data suggesting an association with the EDCs (including the glyphosate found in cotton) with several conditions including but not limited to: This is a complicated question. 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. This is misleading; the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the compound's use in food and cosmetics, and experts say no studies have proven a link between tampon strings and cancer in humans. An official website of the United States government, Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts, The Facts on Tamponsand How to Use Them Safely. Lets look at the concerns around todays feminine hygiene products, specifically national brand tampons and pads. 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. But it is becoming a controversial chemical. We all deserve safe products and all you need to do is ask. And that's a really good thing to drive science [and] safer products. I won't use any other brands after these. Tampons are not intended to be used at any other time or . (That's slowly changing after New York passed a law requiring ingredients lists on menstrual products sold in the state). (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. And is used as a coloring agent to brighten and whiten things like period products. "Most tampons list their ingredients on the back of the package," Dr. Gohar says. 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. Felt they had the same or better absorbency. However, there are no trials to validate this finding in humans. Let's look at the concerns around today's feminine hygiene products, specifically national brand tampons and pads. Experts resounding answer: We dont have enough data. But this amount varies by product. How Bad Is It Really to Wear a Tampon for Longer Than 8 Hours? Our tampons are safe and all the ingredients that we use are rigorously tested to meet strict safety and government regulations around the world, Erica Noble, spokesperson for Procter & Gamble, said. There are many substances, including medications, that we safely encounter or consume on a regular basis. If youre still super worried, and I hear you, then use something else, like pads or menstrual cups or whatnot, Lincoln, who has 2.8 million followers on TikTok, said. I wear zero makeup. The absorbent fibers used in FDA-cleared tampons sold today are made with a bleaching process that is free from elemental chlorine, which also prevents products from having dangerous levels of dioxin (a type of pollutant found in the environment). "[P]revious studies have shown that titanium dioxide can cause alterations to the reproductive system, including reducing the ovarian follicles and leading to the formation of ovarian cysts," she says. The FDA has tested and cleared traditionally used tampons for women to use safely and with confidence.". And do not smoke. In the video, which has received nearly eight million views and 1.5 million likes at the time of publication, user Rachel Morgan holds up a box of 100% organic cotton core tampons from the brand L., owned by Proctor & Gamble, and tells user to stop what theyre doing and check the ingredients on the back of the box. 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. No tampon should be used more than once. Understandably, some folks are pretty mad, some are very concerned. I have been researching health impacts of pads and tampons for nearly a decade, so I love having all this new ingredient info. 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. However there is not enough proof showing titanium dioxide coloring in tampons to be harmful. And then look up and vet the products that we do have available.. Organyc 100% Certified Organic Cotton Tampons. $12.59. Chemicals are everywhere. Even better, organic tampons also typically use more eco-friendly applicators, such as biodegradable cardboard or BPA-free plastic applicators that are derived from plant-based materials. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. So what do you do instead? We reject and actively push back against racist rhetoric, actions, policies and institutional oppression that leads to state-sanctioned brutality, gun violence, and harmthat again and again assaults communities, particularly communities of color. It wasnt that long ago (read: 2020) that a New York law requiring ingredients to be listed in period product packaging went into effect. The potential problem lies in the specific chemical. One shopper called the Top tampons a "must try" before adding, "I've used many different brands of organic tampons. Some. 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. "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. And the importance of questioning what were consuming on the daily. I found a TikTok talking about L Organic Tampons and how they have titanium dioxide in them for coloring. He studied Global Health at Georgetown University and has a Medical Degree from Ben-Gurion University. What's great is that people are asking these questions, Scranton said. Cause-and-effect can only be established by rigorous randomized-control, double-blindclinical research trials or meta-analyses of multiple smaller studies, for example. No tampon should be used more than once. Delivered to your inbox every morning and prepares you for your day in minutes. That brings us to. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; Thanks, So sorry to hear of your experience it is indeed a frustrating situation. Could you explain as to why this happened to me? Over the years, companies like Dunkin have announced theyre cutting ties with titanium dioxide (which used it for its powdered donuts). Now that you know the difference between organic and non-organic tampons, if you are looking to make the switch to more eco-friendly period products, we've got you covered. "Organic tampon companies make claims that the organic tampons 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 that may be harmful to a women's health," said Sherry A. Ross, MD, an ob-gyn, author of she-ology and she-ology. Only use tampons when you have your period. How well do you know the ingredients in the foods you eat or products you use every day? It's used in sunscreen, all kinds of cosmetics, medications, and you'll find it in food. A company spokesperson told theSkimm that the ingredient represents much less than 0.1% of all ingredients used in a [P&G] tampon. And said its been used safely for years. js.src = '//p2a.co/js/embed/widget/advocacywidget.min.js'; The FDA has found that regulated amounts of titanium dioxide are considered safe. Just because someone had health problems after they used something doesnt necessarily mean an ingredient in that thing caused the problem, Wallace said. 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. But what does it mean for tampons, pads, and reproductive health overall? And, spoiler: Its in plenty of other products you probably use in your day-to-day life. While animal studies give us important information, they cannot be directly generalized to people, Marino said. Never ever in my life have had an ovarian cyst. For many, the video has raised awareness about an important issue: The chemicals in our products. 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. The rule for food items is that the coloring agent can't exceed 1% of the food's weight. It's also worth being skeptical of any definitive claims that titanium dioxide in tampons is super harmful. Best Organic Tampons. And how can we learn more about the products were using? Walmart customers love these super plus organic cotton tampons from Lola so much, they have given them an impressive 4.3-star rating. Still, peoples stories on social media have left many shaken. This means that farmers could use this herbicide to kill the weeds in their fields without worrying about it harming the cotton crops. 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. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. The FDA categorizes titanium dioxide as "Generally Recognized as Safe," but the scare-causing chemical has recently been banned as a food additive in the EU on the basis that experts could not. Try These OB-GYN-Recommended, Titanium Dioxide-Free Period Products Rael Organic Cotton Tampons ($13.99 for a 32-count box on Amazon.com) August Tampons ($11 for a 16-count box on Itsaugust.co) Diva Cup ($39.99 for one menstrual cup on Divacup.com) Advertisement references Is this an emergency? And that is what I encourage you all to do to contact the manufacturers of the products you use. "If you feel uncomfortable with the potential risks associated with titanium dioxide, look for products that dont include titanium dioxide on the ingredients list," says Flynn. Are There Toxic Chemicals in Your Tampons? L. Organic Cotton Regular and Super Absorbency Compact Tampons 76CT. TiO2 was nevertheless banned as a food additive in the EU as of this month. Shipping details. 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. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. But this amount varies by product. It gets used in a LOT of products and its probably been in tampons and pads for a long time (just never listed on the label before). This is what manufacturers need to know that people are reading these things and asking these questions.. But Im a stay at home mom with no income. But this amount varies by product. Certainly the laws and the regulatory issues are so paramount because that's how we got into this pickle to begin with, Dr. Cohen said. Shoppers love that they are made from responsibly sourced, organic cotton and that their applicator is made from 92% of plant-based materials. Hundreds of Walmart shoppers have given the tampons a near-perfect rating, with many raving about how they're absorbent and comfortable. But their favorite part seems to be the fact that they are made from 90% plant-based materials. Shes getting checked for fucking cancer. If so, keep reading! While they are not safer to use, there are some benefits to switching to organic tamponsparticularly for environmental reasons. The rule for food items is that the coloring agent can't exceed 1% of the food's weight. So what can you do to stay healthy and safe? He reiterated that no such evidence exists. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Rebecca Carhart is a Senior Ecommerce Reviews Writer covering home, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. Titanium dioxide is common chemical. There is some evidence to suggest that titanium dioxide may have a carcinogenic effect in some formats. Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup. It's protecting you from UV rays. 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 . Aka a common coloring agent. The European Union banned titanium dioxide in food earlier this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service. WVEs Director of Science and Research, Alex Scranton, addresses your questions about titanium dioxide in tampons and pads in this session of #AskAlex. The 2023 Complete Python Certification Bootcamp Bundle, Mourning the Loss of Addison Raes Debut Album | The Meme Machine. Myths about aluminum and deodorant, explained. While paying $300 a month for health insurance. Heres what we know about exposure to titanium dioxide right now: If you inhale titanium dioxide particles it can possibly lead to lung cancer at least we know it causes lung cancer in rats [1]. Dr. Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist and adjunct assistant professor at University of Illinois at Chicago, is another debunker of TikTok misinformation and has more than 267,000 followers on the platform. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs can act like the naturally occurring hormones in your body. Are We Seeing the End of Scented Tampons? Tampax comes in light, regular, and super absorbencies and . In addition, Marino stated that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide have been shown to cause inflammatory responses and potentially genetic damage in mice, but again pointed out that this has not occurred in humans. Reusable tampons may carry additional risks of infections such as yeast, fungal, and bacterial infections. Heres What Your Bodys Trying to Tell You, National Library of Medicine: Titanium dioxide, U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Questions and Answers: FDA posts deemed final order and proposed order for over-the-counter sunscreen, European Food Safety Authority: Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive, U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, New Jersey Department of Health: Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Titanium Dioxide, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Impact of Food Additive Titanium Dioxide on Gut Microbiota Composition, Microbiota-Associated Functions, and Gut Barrier: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Animal Studies.