Burning, itching and discharge are the least of the problems you may face when you use traditional intimate hygiene products. Have you ever wondered why products used “on those days” don’t list their ingredients on the packaging? Why do they have such a strong scent, even though manufacturers don’t say a word about the harmful fragrances used in their production? And finally – why are pads and tampons pumped full of fragrances in the first place? Do corporations really care about the comfort of the women who use their products, or is there something else entirely behind it?
In the past, teenagers didn’t have much choice when it came to products that could help them get through their period. The only options were pads and tampons. I realize that pads have their supporters as well as opponents. The same is true for tampons, of course.
There are several leading manufacturers of pads and tampons on the market. I suspect these are the ones you reach for most often. Are they, however, safe, and can we use them without worries?
You probably assume that the cotton used to make pads and tampons cannot contain anything toxic. If so, you’re not alone. Many women believe that pads and tampons are completely safe as long as they are used correctly, and that the only bad thing that can happen is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). A serious mistake…
The production of pads and tampons is harmful not only to humans
Pesticides, dioxins, dyes – these are the very substances found in many popular pads and tampons on the market. But how did they get there?
The answer lies in the cotton used to make the above-mentioned hygiene products. Because it is not organically grown, manufacturers have no interest in keeping it away from the harsh chemicals used in agriculture. “Although cotton crops account for only 3% of the world’s arable land, they consume as much as 25% of all insecticides, herbicides, defoliants and synthetic fertilisers.” Source: [CLICK] All these chemicals can then be found in the pads and tampons we use.
The production of cotton for hygiene products poses a serious threat not only to the people who use them, but also to the environment itself and to those working on the plantations. “Conventional cotton cultivation can lead to soil depletion around the crops, loss of biodiversity in a given region, water contamination and even soil desertification.” Source: [CLICK] Growing this plant also contributes to many diseases among workers and people living in the vicinity of the plantations.
Another basic material used in the production of tampons and pads is synthetic silk obtained from cellulose, more precisely from wood and paper pulp. To achieve the desired colour of the pulp (pure white), it is repeatedly bleached with pure, cheap chlorine. During this process, dioxins are released – toxic, carcinogenic substances. They weaken the body and lead to infertility and irreversible damage to animal foetuses. According to manufacturers, chlorine bleaching is necessary because the cellulose pulp has a greyish tint. Most of us associate white with sterility, and perhaps that is why producers strive for this particular shade. But this raises a question – if clothes washed with chlorine-based bleaches are destroyed after a few washes, how does chlorinated cotton used in pads and tampons affect our bodies? The answer seems obvious…
Leak-proof plastic makes it harder for your skin to breathe!
In addition to the above-mentioned substances, polymers are also used in the production of pads and tampons, including polyethylene and polypropylene, commonly known as plastic. The pleasant-to-the-touch mesh coating of a tampon or pad is nothing more than plastic. Despite the comfort it provides, when combined with blood it becomes an excellent breeding ground for Staphylococcus aureus and streptococci, which contribute to unpleasant odours, infections and allergies. They can also lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome, a life-threatening condition.
Glyphosate in cotton – safe or carcinogenic?
The name glyphosate may not mean much to you, but Roundup is probably familiar to most of you. "It's the trade name of a non-selective herbicide containing glyphosate as the active ingredient, produced since 1974 by Monsanto." Source: [CLICK] Roundup is available in various concentrations, and its main task is to destroy weeds. It is also used on cotton plantations. Because it dissolves in water and persists in the environment for a long time, it poses a serious threat to water bodies and the organisms living in them, as well as to livestock.
We mention this substance because it has been getting a lot of attention lately. The world learned about glyphosate and its harmful effects on the human body thanks to research conducted at the University of La Plata in Argentina. It turned out that it is present not only in pads and tampons, but also in cotton balls, gauze dressings and tissues. Lab workers found it in as many as 85% of the samples tested that were based on GMO cotton. In addition, 62% of the samples contained aminomethylphosphonic acid (a glyphosate metabolite), which is up to 1,000 times more toxic than glyphosate itself.
Why is glyphosate so harmful? Research has shown that it causes birth defects in frogs and chicken embryos. These include spinal cord and kidney damage, brain development inhibition, and skull deformities. Monsanto – the producer of Roundup, of course, disagreed with this opinion.
Toxicological studies have also been carried out by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the UN, which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2011 it published a report in which it classified Roundup as “probably carcinogenic to humans”. A representative of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) also stated that it may cause fatty liver disease. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, an advisory body to the European Commission), on the other hand, has taken a different view, stating that it is completely safe and there is no cause for concern.
Due to divided opinions, the European Commission asked the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to publish a final opinion on the harmfulness of Roundup. It also issued a temporary permit for the use of this herbicide until the end of 2017, despite the evident lack of agreement from member states. In the meantime, it turned out that "8 out of 24 companies applying for permits, including Monsanto, presented specifications for glyphosate that were not supported by toxicological assessment. In other words, the data presented concerned substances different from those these companies actually intend to sell." Source: [CLICK] If not for the existing facts, the European Commission would have extended the expired July 2016 agreement for the use of glyphosate for another 15 years.
In March this year, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) acknowledged that glyphosate is a substance dangerous for the eyes and long-term harmful to marine life, but that there is not enough scientific evidence to classify it as carcinogenic. The decision was issued even though ECHA had time to conduct research until the end of this year. Fortunately, during this time (starting on 25 January), as many as 38 European health and environmental protection organisations (including Greenpeace) began collecting signatures for a citizens’ initiative to ban the use of glyphosate. “EU health and environmental organisations are calling for the establishment of a special committee to investigate whether the producer of glyphosate manipulated reports on the harmfulness of this substance. This is a consequence of the so-called Monsanto Papers scandal, which broke out when, in March, a US federal judge revealed the company’s internal correspondence and emails exchanged between the corporation and government officials. The documents showed that the corporation hired so-called ghostwriters (anonymous authors) to write a scientific report on the health risks of glyphosate. This report was later signed only by independent scientists.” Source: [CLICK]
EU organisations have one year to collect at least 1 million signatures in support of this initiative. To make things harder, it must be signed by residents of at least seven of the 28 European Union countries. One absurdity chases another… The Union clearly has a problem, whereas in California glyphosate has already been on the list of carcinogenic substances since 7 July. Monsanto, of course, disagrees and plans to file appeals. “A new report by toxicologist Dr Peter Clausing has revealed that EU authorities violated their own rules and dismissed evidence that glyphosate is carcinogenic in order to conclude that this chemical does not cause cancer.” Source: [CLICK]
Harmful fragrance substances in pads and tampons. Why are they added?
You might think that pad and tampon manufacturers use fragrances simply to give their products a pleasant smell. In reality, they do it to mask the odour of all the chemicals used in cotton production. When these chemicals come into contact with the mucous membrane, they can also cause unpleasant issues such as chafing, irritation and allergies. The membrane is very delicate and semi‑permeable, which is why all the toxins used to make tampons and pads can easily penetrate deep into our bodies. Intimate hygiene products are perfumed for another important reason: the chemicals are meant to “hide” the bacteria that settle on them during the packaging stage. Unfortunately, contrary to popular belief, pads and tampons are neither clean nor sterile. Manufacturers do not disinfect them because this could reduce their absorbency.
The worst part is that manufacturers are not required to provide detailed information on the packaging about what type of cotton a given product is made from or which substances it has been sprayed with. We hope this will change one day. However, there is still a lack of appropriate legal regulations that would put an end to the dishonest practices of corporations. On the other hand, if such transparency were suddenly required, it’s possible they would bend the truth, just like the previously mentioned company Monsanto.
An eco alternative to traditional intimate hygiene products
After learning all the facts about the harmfulness of conventional intimate hygiene products, it’s worth knowing that there are alternatives to standard pads and tampons. And there are several:
- Pads and tampons made from organic cotton
- Reusable pads and tampons
- Menstrual cups
- Menstrual sponges
Based on an article from https://toksycznakosmetyczka.blogspot.com/
