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11th July 2024
01:00pm BST
We can all agree that more research and funding are needed when it comes to women's health.
It has never been taken seriously and a recent study by the University of California, Berkeley has proven how detrimental research is.
A team of researchers at the university discovered a concerning number of tampons containing metals including iron, copper, and nickel.
The worrying study analysed 30 tampons from 14 different brands and the results are worrying.
Of the brands tested, they all contained the 16 metals they were looking for.
Metals discovered in the tampons included arsenic, lead, mercury, nickel, copper, and iron, but the levels varied depending on where the tampons were sold.
The results also depended on whether they were organic, branded, or from a supermarket chain.
Knowing something women use once a month could cause long-term health issues is alarming.
I don’t feel like enough people are yelling about the new findings of high levels of toxic metals being in tampons? Like all tampons even organic ones?? Why is there arsenic in tampons????? Can’t wait for more of this shit with the overturning of Chevron
— danielle weisberg for hire (@danielleweisber) July 8, 2024
The researchers explained that metal absorption can lead to major health issues including diabetes, cancer, infertility, and dementia.
Not only can it cause severe health issues but metal absorption can impact your liver, kidneys, brain, and cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrine systems.
The researchers stressed that there is no safe level of metal in tampons and more research is desperately needed.
Lead author Jenni Shearston said:
"Despite this large potential for public health concern, very little research has been done to measure chemicals in tampons.
"To our knowledge, this is the first paper to measure metals in tampons. Concerningly, we found concentrations of all metals we tested for, including toxic metals like arsenic and lead."
They never tested tampons with menstrual blood until 2023. Using just saline and only tested it because women in droves were complaining of heavy blood flow.
— Shipwreck (@shipwreckshow) July 10, 2024
Infuriating. Absolutely infuriating. pic.twitter.com/VXVVUKEKYt
"I really hope that manufacturers are required to test their products for metals, especially for toxic metals.
"It would be exciting to see the public call for this, or to ask for better labelling on tampons and other menstrual products."
The public reaction to this study has been unsurprisingly bad with many women describing the study as infuriating.
Women's healthcare is something that has never been taken seriously and this study just proves it. We should feel safe when using products designed to help us during our periods and not in fear of developing further health conditions.
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