Forever Chemicals in Reusable Period Products SEO Title
“Forever Chemicals” Found in Reusable feminine Hygiene Products,Raising Health Concerns
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New research reveals the widespread presence of PFAS in period underwear and other reusable menstrual products,prompting calls for greater transparency and safer alternatives.
The Pervasive reach of PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS),frequently enough dubbed “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the habitat and the human body,are alarmingly common. The Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) has reported that thes man-made chemicals have been detected in the blood of over 99% of all Americans, highlighting their ubiquitous nature in modern life. Now, a groundbreaking study has identified their presence in a category of products intimately connected with personal health: reusable feminine hygiene products.
Unveiling PFAS in Menstrual Products
A team of researchers, led by Alyssa wicks, a former graduate student at Notre dame, conducted a thorough study to investigate the presence of PFAS in a range of reusable menstrual and incontinence products. The research, which involved testing over 70 products sourced from various global markets, utilized particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy. This advanced ion beam analysis technique bombards the material’s surface with a proton beam, causing fluorine nuclei to emit gamma-rays. By detecting these emissions, researchers can accurately measure the total fluorine content, a key indicator of PFAS presence.
For products composed of multiple layers, each layer was meticulously analyzed. In total, 323 unique samples underwent rigorous testing using PIGE, providing a detailed picture of PFAS distribution within these intimate care items.
The Risk of Skin Absorption
The findings raise meaningful concerns, notably because PFAS are known to migrate from treated surfaces. When these chemicals are incorporated into reusable products that come into direct contact with the wearer’s skin, the potential for absorption becomes a critical issue.Previous research from other institutions has suggested that skin absorption can be a significant pathway for exposure to certain types of PFAS.
“Even with this latest study, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the extent to which PFAS are being used in the manufacturing of these products, and too much we don’t know about the potential for these chemicals to be absorbed through the skin by the consumers who wear them,” stated David Peaslee, a key figure in the research.
A Glimmer of Hope: Intentional vs.Unintentional use
A significant revelation from the study is that only a fraction of brands producing reusable feminine hygiene products appear to use PFAS intentionally. This suggests that these chemicals are not essential for the manufacturing of these environmentally conscious products.
“Only a subset of the products had high levels of PFAS present, which means that PFAS must not be essential in the manufacture of reusable feminine hygiene products,” Wicks commented. “This is good news in that it demonstrates PFAS are not required to produce these environmentally conscious products, and manufacturers should be able to make these textile products without chemicals of concern in them.”
The Call for Transparency and Regulation
While the researchers deliberately chose not to identify specific brands or PFAS concentrations, they expressed hope that their peer-reviewed study will underscore the urgent need for ingredient transparency within the industry.
“While we do know that these chemicals have been linked to serious environmental and human health issues,we do not yet know what fraction of these PFAS make it into humans by direct exposure and indirect exposure at the end of life of these products,” Peaslee explained.
The study empowers consumers to ask manufacturers a crucial question: “Does this product contain any intentional use of PFAS?” Currently, there is no federal labeling requirement for these products, and only a limited number of U.S. states have begun drafting legislation to mandate that consumer products be free from the intentional use of PFAS.
“This paper and others like it will help regulators and manufacturers alike to identify product markets where PFAS are being used and to find better alternatives moving forward,” Peaslee concluded.
Additional coauthors on the study are affiliated with Indiana University, Bloomington.
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Source: University of Notre Dame*