Georgia lawmaker targets ‘forever chemicals’ found in feminine hygiene products
Journee Taylor buys organic tampons whenever she can.
“They just feel safer — knowing you aren’t risking your body every month to various chemicals that could harm you and your reproductive health, ” said Taylor, a 23-year-old college student from Smyrna.
Taylor is aware of studies revealing some feminine hygiene products have been contaminated with PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used in consumer products for many decades.
Also known as “forever chemicals” because of how long they last in the environment, they are found in many places, including water, soil, air, and food. Manufacturers use them to make feminine hygiene products more absorbent and stain-resistant.
Exposure to certain levels of PFAs have been linked to health problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Among them: decreased fertility and increased high blood pressure in pregnant women, an increased risk of some forms of cancer and developmental delays in children.
