"New Study Reveals Toxic Metals in Tampons—Is It Time to Rethink Their Use?"

Since the 1930s, tampons have been a go-to period product, touted for their comfort and convenience. But a new study from researchers at Columbia University found that they may come with a dangerous drawback: the presence of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and other toxic metals. 

“We already know that heavy metals can be found in cotton, which is one of the primary ingredients in a lot of tampons, so this seemed like a question that we should be asking,' Jenni Shearston, PhD, lead author and post-doctoral scholar in environmental science, policy, and management at the University of California, Berkeley, told Health. “As far as we know, this is the first time someone has measured metal concentrations in tampons.'

Lead exposure can result in serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and brain, kidney, and reproductive health issues. Arsenic is a known carcinogen, and has been associated with an increased risk of cancers of the bladder, lung, digestive tract, and more.

Considering 52 to 86 percent of people in the United States who menstruate use tampons, the mention of toxic metals is understandably enough to spark concern. Here’s what you need to know about the study findings and what they might mean for you.

Researchers measured the concentration of 16 different metals, including arsenic, calcium, mercury, nickel, lead, and zinc, in 30 tampons belonging to 14 brands. 

The study didn’t name the brands, but the authors said they chose products “listed as top sellers on a major online retailer, as well as “store-brand” products” from several large U.S. chains. The tampons were purchased online and in stores in New York City, Athens, and London. 

“We found 12 of those 16 metals present in 100 percent of the tampons that we tested,” Shearston said. The remaining four metals were present in at least one of the sampled tampons. 

The scientists tested both non-organic and organic tampons to investigate the common assumption that organic ones are better for vaginal health. While non-organic tampons contained higher levels of lead, organic tampons had higher levels of arsenic.

Researchers found no differences in metal concentrations for tampons with plastic applicators compared to those with no or cardboard applicators, but they noted that there was “high variability” between tampons based on the area they were from or whether they were store-brand or name-brand. 

Shearson noted that she was surprised that all of the samples contained lead, exposure to which experts say is not safe even in small amounts. “That is the most concerning takeaway from my perspective,” she said.

While the study did not examine how the metals ended up in tampons, the authors noted that some may have come from water, soil, air, or other environmental sources during the production or manufacturing process.

'When you think about growing cotton, which is meant to be absorbent—that's why we use it in tampons—it's natural that it will pick up some of those metalloids,' said Miller Morris, founder of period care company Comma, which funds clinical science about menstruation. 

Some metals, like zinc and copper, are not harmful in small amounts and are intentionally added to tampons during the manufacturing process for their antimicrobial and lubricating properties. The levels found in tampons were below the threshold for unsafe exposure.

At this point, all scientists know is that the metals are present in tampons, Shearson said. “We don’t know if the metals can come out of the tampon,” she added.

If they can, that raises the question of whether they can also be absorbed by the body. It’s certainly possible, given how easily the vagina absorbs other substances, such as medications and bacteria. 

“The vagina is made up of a mucosal membrane that's highly permeable,“ Ashanda Saint Jean, MD, an OB-GYN at Health Alliance Hospitals, told Health.

Shearston and her team already have plans to study whether the chemicals can leach out of tampons and enter the body. 'We're definitely making it the top priority in the lab,' she said.

The results of this study aren’t a reason to change your behavior just yet, Saint Jean said. Before we provide any sweeping advice, she said, we need more information and research. 

“I want to encourage people not to panic at this point,' Shearson added. We don’t know if these metals “could be contributing to any kind of negative health effect.”

Plus, other methods for managing menstrual blood may not be much better. Many products, like period underwear, contain 'forever chemicals,' and a 2020 study found that pads had a higher risk of exposure to cancer-causing chemicals than tampons. There is not enough research to know if menstrual discs or cups contain toxic metals, too.