Ladies, just when you thought toxic shock syndrome was the worst tampon-related worry, scientists discovered lead in them.
What’s next? Asbestos-laced panty liners? Dare to dream, ladies. Dare to dream.
Lead exposure, however, is no joke. This toxic metal can wreak havoc on nearly every organ system. Even low levels in the bloodstream can cause serious health issues, including developmental delays in children, cognitive impairment, and kidney damage. Long-term exposure is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and reproductive problems. The scariest part? Lead accumulates in the body, meaning even small, repeated exposures can lead to significant health risks over time.
This troubling development follows another recent discovery by researchers: pieces of fiberglass in oysters and mussels, as previously relayed by The Dallas Express.
Here’s some of what Newsweek reported on the lead exposure women are apparently being subjected to:
Scientists have issued a warning after finding toxic heavy metals in dozens of mainstream tampon products. In particular, lead was detected in all products tested, raising concerns about the impacts of this exposure on women’s health.
Tampons are used by between 52 to 86 percent of menstruators in the U.S., with the average woman using thousands of tampons throughout their reproductive years. Not only that, but tampons spend long periods of time in contact with the delicate skin of the vagina, which is more absorptive than other tissues in the body. As a result, any contaminants in the tampons have a higher chance of entering our bloodstream.
“Despite this large potential for public health concern, very little research has been done to measure chemicals in tampons,” Jenni Shearston, a postdoctoral scholar at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and UC Berkeley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, who led the study, said in a statement.