Madeline Taubkin: PFAS showing up in feminine care products

By Opinion

May 23 2023May 22, 2023

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This commentary is by Madeline Taubkin of Burlington, a senior at the University of Vermont majoring in public health sciences, minoring in food systems, and enrolled in UVM's accelerated master of public health program.

The term "forever chemicals" has a naturally repelling connotation. So why is it that they are present in so many household items, cosmetic products, and sources of water?

Beyond the problem of the presence of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in items that many people use in their daily routines, there is little consumer awareness of these chemicals, what products they are in, and how they affect the human body.

PFAS range widely in terms of what type of products they are present in, and are found in some of the most commonly used items such as nonstick pots and pans, yoga pants, toilet paper, and makeup, just to name a few.

One category I would like to draw attention to as often containing PFAS is feminine products. It's a powerful thing to be a stakeholder in an industry creating essential products that cater to the audience of young women, and this power has historically been shown to be open to abuse.

Advertisements can include words like "organic" and "natural," and packaging can be marketed to create a similar illusion, while at the same time containing harsh chemicals that last a lifetime, have negative health effects, and may be difficult for consumers to detect.

A report from Mamavation discovered that 22 brands of sanitary pads, liners, and incontinence pads contained detectable levels of fluorine.

Additionally, through a study conducted by the environmental wellness blog community partnered with Environmental Health News to test for "forever chemicals" in tampon brands, it was found that five popular tampon brands contain detectable levels of fluorine, which is a strong indicator of PFAS. Fluorine intake has been linked to cancer, birth defects, and lower vaccine effectiveness, while PFAS exposure in general has been linked to decreased fertility, high blood pressure in pregnant people, hormonal disruption, developmental delays, and low birthweight in children among other complications.

Out of the 23 tampon products tested, five brands contained fluorine levels ranging from 19 parts per million to 28 parts per million. These brands included Maxim Hygiene Organic Cotton Cardboard Applicator Tampons, OrganYc Complete Protection Tampons (made with organic cotton), Playtex SPORT Regular & Super Tampons, Tampax Cardboard Applicator Unscented Tampons and Up & Up (Target Brand) Regular Tampons.

Organic certification means that the cotton is grown free of pesticides, insecticides, and fragrances and does not require testing for PFAS. So, when a consumer feels drawn to choose an organic feminine care product over one that does not state organic in its name, they are not necessarily avoiding chemicals that last in their body forever and may contribute towards various health complications.

Dermal exposure is higher among feminine product use than from the use of something like a skin care item containing PFAS, which is due to the component of internal exposure. This higher level of exposure reinforces the idea that these types of products should be prioritized in the effort to eliminate PFAS from everyday items.