What’s in Period Products? A Timeline of Chemical Testing
When we wrote the “Chem Fatale” report on the potential toxic chemicals in intimate care products in 2013, there was very little scientific research available on the potential chemical exposures from the use of menstrual products such as tampons and pads. We were able to identify just two published studies on chemicals in tampons, both of which measured levels of dioxins and furans. The lack of data was unfortunate given the prevalence of use (roughly half the population) and the long time exposures (monthly use of these products for many decades) with direct contact to highly sensitive and absorptive vulvar and vaginal tissue.
We set out to change this by commissioning some initial testing of menstrual pads for volatile organic compounds in 2014. Following the release of our results, several organizations, media outlets and governmental health agencies from around the world initiated their own testing of the chemical exposures from these products. These tests have raised important questions about the potential health impacts of these exposures. While a few studies have attempted to assess and measure potential risks of these products, all have indicated that there is more work to be done to better understand the impacts these products may have.
This timeline shows the most recent studies that have been conducted and published as of March 2020.
Chemicals of concern in period products and their health impacts
Below is a list of the chemicals that have been detected in period products and the health impacts of concern associated with exposure. These health impacts have not been associated with use of period products because this kind of research has never been conducted. We provide this list simply to better explain why we are concerned about the presence of these chemicals in period products, and why we believe more investigation is necessary.
| Name of chemical | Potential health impacts of exposure |
|---|---|
| Acetone | Irritation |
| Benzene | Cancer, anemia |
| Benzophenone | Cancer, endocrine disruption |
| Butylphenyl methylpropional | Reproductive toxicity |
| Butylphenyl methylpropional | Reproductive toxicity |
| Carbon disulfide | Reproductive toxicity |
| Chlorine | Irritation, corrosion |
| Chloroethane | Cancer |
| Chloroform | Cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity |
| Chloromethane | Reproductive toxicity |
| Dioxins and furans | Cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity |
| Ethyl acetate | Irritation |
| Formaldehyde | Cancer, allergy |
| Glyphosate/AMPA | Cancer, reproductive toxicity |
| Heptane | Irritation, neurotoxicity |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Cancer |
| Hexane | Neurotoxicity |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | Irritation |
| Methylene chloride | Cancer |
| Napthalene | Cancer, anemia |
| N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone | Reproductive toxicity |
| Organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides | Cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity |
| Parabens | Endocrine disruption, asthma, reproductive toxicity |
| Phthalates | Endocrine disruption, asthma, reproductive toxicity |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | Cancer, reproductive toxicity |
| Siloxanes | Cancer, endocrine disruption |
| Sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate | Irritation |
| Styrene | Cancer |
| Toluene | Reproductive toxicity |
| Triclosan | Endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, allergies |
| Xylene | Neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity |
| 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether | Irritation |
| 2-ethylhexyl acrylate | Irritation |
Chemicals of concern in period products and their health impacts
Below is a list of the chemicals that have been detected in period products and the health impacts of concern associated with exposure. These health impacts have not been associated with use of period products because this kind of research has never been conducted. We provide this list simply to better explain why we are concerned about the presence of these chemicals in period products, and why we believe more investigation is necessary.
| Name of chemical | Potential health impacts of exposure |
|---|---|
| Acetone | Irritation |
| Benzene | Cancer, anemia |
| Benzophenone | Cancer, endocrine disruption |
| Butylphenyl methylpropional | Reproductive toxicity |
| Butylphenyl methylpropional | Reproductive toxicity |
| Carbon disulfide | Reproductive toxicity |
| Chlorine | Irritation, corrosion |
| Chloroethane | Cancer |
| Chloroform | Cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity |
| Chloromethane | Reproductive toxicity |
| Dioxins and furans | Cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity |
| Ethyl acetate | Irritation |
| Formaldehyde | Cancer, allergy |
| Glyphosate/AMPA | Cancer, reproductive toxicity |
| Heptane | Irritation, neurotoxicity |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Cancer |
| Hexane | Neurotoxicity |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | Irritation |
| Methylene chloride | Cancer |
| Napthalene | Cancer, anemia |
| N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone | Reproductive toxicity |
| Organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides | Cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity |
| Parabens | Endocrine disruption, asthma, reproductive toxicity |
| Phthalates | Endocrine disruption, asthma, reproductive toxicity |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | Cancer, reproductive toxicity |
| Siloxanes | Cancer, endocrine disruption |
| Sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate | Irritation |
| Styrene | Cancer |
| Toluene | Reproductive toxicity |
| Triclosan | Endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, allergies |
| Xylene | Neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity |
| 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether | Irritation |
| 2-ethylhexyl acrylate | Irritation |
