- New research indicates some period products may contain ‘forever chemicals’ or PFAS.
- PFAS provide stick, stain, and water-resistance properties.
- ‘Forever chemicals’ are linked to human and environmental health concerns.
- Researchers are urging companies to reconsider PFAS in period products.
Potentially harmful ‘forever chemicals’ or PFAS have been found in some — but not all — period products such as liners, pads, tampons, cups, and underwear.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame analyzed over 100 period products for fluorinated compounds or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances more commonly referred to as PFAS or ‘forever chemicals.’ PFAS have stick-, stain- and water-resistant properties, making them desirable characteristics for period products.
Currently, there are few regulations of PFAS in clothing and period products in the U.S. and Europe.
None of the tampons tested in this particular study contained ‘forever chemicals,’ but PFAS were found in high concentrations in some tampon plastic wrappers and plastic applicators, liners, and pads, and the outer layers of period underwear.
These findings are being presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2023 meeting. No brands were named in the study, and the research is ongoing.
Dr. Graham Peaslee, PhD, a physics professor at the University of Notre Dame and the principal investigator of the project, tells Healthline that PFAS in period products are not only concerning for the wearer but for the environment and future generations.
“PFAS are all man-made, and when they enter our bloodstream they typically last for years,” he says. “The reason for this is that they transport to all of our organs and there is known toxicity with all the PFAS that have been studied to date,” he explains.
“What isn’t as obvious to most people is that while it is possible to absorb PFAS through the skin, only a small fraction of the PFAS used in these products will do that (we think), but 100% of these PFAS will be released when these items enter the landfill,” says Peaslee.
“Paper products will typically release PFAS into the environment within months, and textiles within a few years, which means these forever chemicals will end up in the water supply for drinking as well as irrigation water for our food…and everybody will be indirectly exposed to PFAS eventually,” he tells Healthline.
“That is why we are trying to urge companies not to use it when it isn’t essential, and the fact that only some period products have PFAS obviously means that they aren’t essential,” he adds.
Alyssa Wicks, a graduate student in Peaslee’s lab who is presenting at the meeting, suggests in the press release that high concentrations of PFAS “might be used to keep moisture out of the wrappers so that the items inside remain dry.” Similarly, she says that adding PFAS to the outer layer of period underwear would keep fluid from escaping the inner layers and prevent it from spreading onto a person’s clothing.
“The extent to which per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a risk to health is not fully understood despite the fact that they have been around since the 1950s and extensively used both in industrial and consumer products,“ says Dr. Winston Morgan BSc, PhD, FHEA, FRSB, director of Impact and innovation at the School of Health Sport and Bioscience at the University of East London.
“The fact that they have been around for so long and we do not have clear indications of their toxicity can be seen as a positive,” he adds.
“PFAS’s harmful ‘forever chemicals’ can potentially linger in the body and cause hormonal and reproductive problems, immune suppression, and potential cancer risks,” says Dr. Sherry Ross OB/GYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
“Equally worrying is the fact that [PFAS] bioaccumulate, and do not appear to be easily metabolized, so even if you are exposed to low concentrations over time these concentrations could build up in the body,” explains Morgan.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says current peer-reviewed studies indicate PFAS are linked to the following health concerns:
- Decreased fertility
- Increased high blood pressure during pregnancy
- Developmental impact in children, including low birth weight, early puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes
- Increased risk of certain cancers (prostate, kidney, and testicular)
- Decreased immune system functioning required to fight infections, including reported reduced vaccine response
- Hormone disruptions
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Risk of obesity
According to Peaslee, because of the lack of labeling requirements for any of these products, consumers will not be able to tell easily which products are PFAS-free or not.
“We hope our article will help persuade companies to check whether they indeed are not using PFAS, and add such labels to products they have checked,” he says. “Hopefully, we can create some interest in transparency of supply chains and labeling on products.”
“It’s reassuring that the majority of period products do not contain PFAS,” says Ross. “You can never be too safe when it comes to using period products that may put your health at risk.”
And while she agrees it’s hard to know whether the period products contain PFAS since it’s not listed on the ingredient list, she does offer some strategies for managing risk with the information we do have.
Some ways of reducing the risk of PFAS exposure from period products include:
- Look for clues such as tampon and pad wrappers which often contain fluorinated compounds
- Use organic products that are generally free of synthetic chemicals
- Check for the label “PFAS-and fluorinated free”
- Consider using menstrual cups and reusable period underwear
Morgan adds that given the nature and use of these products, we need to see if the PFAS are absorbed from these products to a level that alters the exposure from other sources before we become concerned specifically for period products.
PFAS have been found in some, but not all period products. PFAS are associated with health concerns, but more research is needed to determine the risk from PFAS in period products, specifically.
Choosing products without PFAS can be challenging, so check labels for “PFAS-and fluorinated free” and opt for organic period products where possible.