Heavy Metals in Tampons? What Can You Do About It

by Dr. John Gannage | Aug 19, 2024 | Blog, General Wellness, Heavy Metal Toxicity

Tampons are a trusted essential for menstrual hygiene. Or they should be. Considering that about half of our population experiences menstruation for a significant chunk of their life, one would hope that tampons and other menstrual hygiene products are safe. This is not exactly the case.

Recent research suggests that your tampons could contain potentially harmful heavy metals. Other research shows that tampons and other feminine hygiene products can contain chemicals. They may also carry the risk of toxic shock syndrome.

Whether you are a menstruating female or know someone who is, you should be aware of potentially harmful materials hiding in tampons and other menstrual hygiene products. It’s crucial to understand the implications of these contaminants on health and well-being.

In this article, I want to discuss the new study on heavy metals in tampons. I will go over some other risk factors related to tampon use and to other menstrual products, including toxic shock syndrome. I will also share some alternatives to tampons and tips for safer use. Finally, I will offer some tips to reduce health issues related to toxic metal exposure.

Heavy Metals in Tampons

Over 100 million women across 120 countries use tampons regularly around the world (1). Even though tampons have been considered generally safe to use, there are also some risks. I will touch on toxic shock syndrome and potential chemical content later in this article. But I want to start by discussing a shocking recent study that found that heavy metals may be hiding in your tampon.

I have previously written about toxic metals, including mercury, lead, and cadmium, in food, soil, dental fillings, municipal tap water, paint, and various other products (2, 3). It looks like we can add tampons to this list.

A recent, 2024 study published in Environmental International, has shared their findings on testing for heavy metals in 16 different brands of tampons purchased in the United States and the United Kingdom (4). Researchers tested for 16 different toxic metals in tampons, including arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc. They looked at 30 different tampons across 14 brands and 18 product lines in the US and the UK.

The results are shocking. They found heavy metals in every type of tampon tested. No tampon brand, or product line, was an exception. They didn’t find all 16 types of heavy metals tested in any tampons; however, all of them had some heavy metal contamination.

They also compared name-brand vs store-brand and organic vs non-organic tampons. The bad news is that all of them, regardless of their brand or organic status, had some heavy metals in them. Moreover, no specific category showed a consistently lower amount of contamination for all or most metals. However, there were some differences.

Non-organic tampons showed the highest levels of lead concentration compared to organic brands. On the other hand, organic tampons had higher levels of arsenic in them compared to non-organic tampons. While generally organic tampons are deemed to be safer as they are made from 100% cotton and are free from pesticides and chemical additives, as far as heavy metals go, organic tampons don’t seem a whole lot safer. (This reality also pertains to organic foods i.e. yes, they are preferred, for nutrient content and lack of pesticides, but organic does not mean metal-free for some crops.)

Are There Safe Tampons?

When it comes to heavy metal levels, tampon safety is a difficult question. As said, the study found toxic metals even in non-organic tampons and they found contamination from heavy metals in all brands tested.

However, the study didn’t disclose the exact brands they studied. All we know is that they included both store-brand tampons and top sellers from major online retailers, as well as, both organic and non-organic brands.

Unfortunately, based on this study, we don’t know which one of these brands may have the lowest amounts of heavy metals in them. We also don’t know what brands were not tested and how they would fare in a similar study. However, this certainly raises the question regarding manufacturing safety and the safety of tampon use. Later in this article, I will go over some other options besides tampons to consider during your period.

Toxic Shock Syndrome and Tampons

Though toxic shock syndrome is rare, it is certainly something you need to be aware of, as it’s a very serious medical condition. It is caused by a bacterial infection by the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. If this bacterium gets into your bloodstream and makes toxins, it can lead to toxic shock syndrome. Moreover, the Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) and other strains of Streptococcus may cause similar issues.

Though toxic shock syndrome has been generally linked to tampon use, this is not the only risk factor. Other menstrual products, including pads and menstrual cups, may also pose some risk of toxic shock syndrome, though at an even lower rate than tampons (5). However, non-menstruating individuals, including men, children, and others, can be affected as well (6, 7). Besides tampons and menstrual products, sponges, diaphragms, cuts, burns, recent surgeries, and viral infections, such as the flu or chickenpox, may pose some risks.

Though there are only about 1 to 4 cases in every 100,000 individuals in the US and the rate of occurrence has significantly dropped since the 1980s, it’s still an important risk to consider due to its severity (6, 8). While it’s not completely clear why tampons may lead to toxic shock syndrome, one strong possibility is leaving the tampon in for too long, leaving an opportunity for bacterial growth. Another option is that tampons may scratch the vagina when inserting or removing the tampon, leaving an opening into the bloodstream and an opportunity for bacteria to sneak in.

Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome

Symptoms of toxic shock syndrome may include

sudden fever
headache
muscle aches
low blood pressure
confusion
diarrhea
nausea
vomiting
rash
redness of eyes, mouth, and throat
sore throat
problems swallowing
seizures
organ failure

Toxic shock syndrome is a medical emergency and it must be taken seriously. If you notice symptoms of toxic shock syndrome, especially while on your period and using tampons, have had surgery, or have a skin injury, immediately contact your doctor. Complications can result in liver failure, kidney failure, heart failure, and coagulopathy. Treatment involves antibiotics, intravenous (IV) hydration of water, electrolytes, and glucose (crystalloids), possibly other medications, and normally a stay in the intensive care unit.

Reduce Your Risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome

To reduce your risk of toxic shock syndrome while on your period:

Change your tampon every 4 to 8 hours. If you are using another menstrual product, such as sanitary pads, also change them every 4 to 8 hours. Menstrual cups can be left in longer, however, do change them every 12 hours or less.
Wear a low-absorbency tampon or sanitary pads during menstruation.
Consider using a medical-grade silicone menstrual cup. Clean it throughout after and between uses.
Use a sanitary pad on your light-flow days.
Wash your hands frequently to remove any bacteria and wash your hands both before and after handling your menstrual products
If you have any cuts and surgical incisions, clean and change dressings as recommended.

Call to Action

This recent study highlights the risk of heavy metal contamination from tampons. Toxic metals can affect all tissues and organs of your body. Toxic metal exposure can increase the risk of a number of health issues, including diabetes, infertility, hormonal and endocrine issues, neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental problems, mental health concerns, and cancer (12, 13, 14, 15, 16).

Yet, we know so little about what goes into menstrual and other feminine hygiene products. We know that some sanitary pads and other menstrual products contain PFAS and other chemicals (11). We know about the risk of toxic shock syndrome. Now we know that tampons can contain heavy metals.

But there is so much more to know. Are there heavy metals hiding in other menstrual products, such as pads or period underwear? How much of these heavy metals in tampons get absorbed in the body and what effects this may have on the reproductive health and other areas of their body? How can we create safer menstrual and feminine hygiene products? We need further research and we need better policy and industry regulations for creating safe products.

Non-Toxic Alternatives to Tampons

As you can see, tampons carry certain risks. Fortunately, there are other options to choose from depending on your needs.

Tampons

I understand that for many women, tampons feel like the best option, at least for certain occasions. If you are a tampon user, I recommend choosing organic options. However, as we learned from this research, even organic tampons can contain heavy metals, so paying attention to reducing your overall exposure to heavy metals and environmental toxins, following a healthy lifestyle and dietary practices, and detoxifying your body from heavy metals is critical.

Sponges

Instead of tampons, some women like to use natural sea sponges. Sponges are inserted like tampons to absorb menstrual fluid. Sponges are reusable. However, there is a risk of infection, a risk of ripping them during insertion or removal, and a risk of toxic shock syndrome.

Pads and Reusable Pads

Using pads instead of tampons is one option. Though sanitary pads still carry some risk of toxic shock syndrome, the risk is even lower than for tampons. Conventional sanitary pads may contain chemicals and pesticides (17, 18). We don’t know if they contain any heavy metals, as sanitary pads haven’t been tested yet.

If you are using sanitary pads, choose organic options. Using reusable, washable, sanitary pads may be an even better option, as they are more environmentally friendly and free from or lower in chemicals, depending on the cloth they are made from.

Period Underwear

Period underwear is becoming an increasingly popular washable, reusable, and environmentally friendly option. Unfortunately, period underwear can still contain PFAS and other chemicals (19, 20). It’s important that you look at the label. This may make homemade, washable pads a safer option.

Menstrual Cups

Finally, menstrual cups and discs are also increasingly popular. Most are made from silicone, while some are made out of natural rubber, latex, or thermoplastic elastomers. Menstrual cups and discs are generally considered safe with a few risks only by the medical community and many consider them the best environmentally-friendly option. However, there is still a low risk of infections, irritation, and toxic shock syndrome, and some women consider them uncomfortable (21).

Free Bleeding

While free bleeding is not a common practice for understandable reasons, the free bleeding movement has gained attention since Kiran Gandhi ran the London marathon during her period without using any products in 2015 (22). Free bleeding means that you are not using tampons, pads, or other menstrual products during your period. Free bleeding has an increased risk of infections, especially as dried blood can carry and transmit infections, including hepatitis for days. Stained clothing, sheets, and furniture, as well as being in public with stains is another major drawback.

Safety of Period Products

Unfortunately, none of our current menstrual products come completely risk-free. Despite half of our world being female, feminine hygiene products haven’t been researched enough.

Generally speaking, menstrual cups, discs, and washable cloth pads are among the best, environmentally friendly and low-chemical options. However, due to the risk of infections and toxic shock syndrome with every product, it’s critical that you are aware of your hygiene and change your product regularly regardless of the heaviness of your flow.

Improve Your Health After Heavy Metal Exposure

If you are a tampon user or have used tampons, chances are you’ve been exposed to toxic metals on a regular basis throughout your life. Due to heavy metal contamination in our food, water, and many products, you’ve been likely exposed in other ways as well. Taking action to reduce further heavy metal exposure and improve your health is critical. Here are my tips:

Reduce Your Risk of Heavy Metal Exposure

To reduce your risk, you need to decrease heavy metal exposure as the first step. I recommend choosing foods that are low or free from heavy metals. Be mindful of your menstrual products and watch for more research on the tampon issue. Check your home and ensure there is no lead hiding in the paint, dust, or pipes.

Choose purified water over tap water. Avoid smoking cigarettes and second-hand smoke. Carefully consider removing any dental amalgam fillings (they are 50% mercury-based) with the help of a biological dentist. I have a very thorough post-amalgam removal protocol I’ve recommended for many decades that includes the use of chlorella and intravenous vitamin C. Also carefully consider fish as a source of mercury exposure, and choose species with the least mercury content. If you are at a high-risk job for heavy metal exposure, you may consider switching to a safer job. If this is not possible, wear protective gear and boost your heavy metal detoxification.

Consume Foods That May Help to Counteract Heavy Metals

Following a nutrient-dense whole foods diet is critical if you want to feel healthy. However, there are certain foods that may specifically help remove and counteract heavy metals. I have written about these in detail in this article.

In summary, the following foods may help to counteract heavy metal exposure:

Sulfur-rich foods: Cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, garlic, and onion are examples of sulfur-containing foods that can help in the process of detoxification.
Foods high in vitamin C: Oranges, strawberries, grapefruit, kale, and red peppers can help reduce the toxic effects of heavy metals thanks to their high vitamin C content.
Pectin-rich fruits and vegetables: Pectin is a soluble fiber found in pears, green apples, citrus fruits, cabbage, beets, and carrots. Pectin has been found to increase heavy metal excretion.
Foods containing amino acids: Amino acids are considered natural chelating agents and can be found in corn, whole grains, spinach, turnips, plums, grapes, and pomegranates. Be mindful that some surprising foods, such as rice and rice-based products (arsenic) and carrots (lead), can be a source of metal exposure.

Support Detoxification

If you’ve been exposed to heavy metals supporting your body’s natural detoxification pathways is critical for regaining and maintaining your health. Hydrate your body with lots of purified water to detoxify through urine and sweating and support hydration. Move your body, exercise regularly, try infrared sauna use, and spend time outside in the sun when it’s warm outside to allow detoxification through the skin by sweating. Support your lymphatic system through rebounding, exercise, and dry brushing.

Add grapefruits, prickly pear, cranberries, other berries, and olive oil to your diet for better kidney and liver detoxification. Consider toxin binders, such as zeolite or modified citrus pectin, as they can help to remove toxic heavy metals and other toxins. Try n-acetyl cysteine, glutathione, and other liver-friendly herbs to support liver cleansing and detoxification. Support your gut with daily probiotic supplements and foods rich in pre and probiotics.

Try Supplements to Reduce Heavy Metal Burden

Finally, I also recommend some supplements to support detoxification from heavy metals exposure:

Zeolite: It is considered a toxin binder for removing toxic heavy metals from your body (39).
Glutathione: It may allow better detoxification and lower oxidative stress, cellular damage, and the risk of various health issues (23, 24).
N-acetyl cysteine: It is a fantastic antioxidant that may also support liver and kidney detoxification (25).
Vitamin C: It can aid detoxification, has metal-binding properties and is excellent for cellular and immune support (26, 27).

Next Steps

If you’ve been exposed to heavy metals or other environmental toxins, you can improve your health through natural strategies. I recommend following the tips from this article and from other articles on my website. Working with a functional medicine practitioner like myself is another great option to receive personalized support.

If you are dealing with any chronic health issues and need advice on how to improve your nutrition and health, I welcome you to start a functional medicine consultation with me for further personalized guidance. You may book your consultation here.

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