Additives
For a long time menstrual pads and tampons were not regulated as medical devices under Health Canada and they were placed on the market with no proof of their safety or effectiveness (1). Regulation is in place today; however, there is no legal requirement for the contents to be listed on the package. You may be surprised to discover what is added to commonly available disposables. For instance, sodium polyacrylates are common in diapers and menstrual products. It is a very absorbent chemical that absorbs urine and menstrual fluids and turns it into gel (2). It is no longer used in tampons because sodium polyacrylate was linked to toxic shock syndrome. Sodium polyacrylate is so absorbent it draws fluid away from the skin and has been linked to diaper rash, and bleeding in perennial and scrotal tissues (2). Other components include: wet strength agents that keep the pad or diaper from falling apart, surfactants to improve absorbency and glue to hold everything in place (1). Often deodorizers such as perfume are used, which can cause irritation of the skin and the mucosal membranes of the vagina (3).
Dioxins and Pesticides
The main components of disposables are fluff pulp and viscous rayon from bleach wood fibres and cotton (1). Dioxins are a by-product of the bleaching process used to make fluff pulp and rayon, although they are only found in low levels in disposable products. While a small level of dioxins in these products is deemed to be safe by Health Canada, the EPA has stated that no level of dioxins is safe (4 & 5). Dioxins are fat-loving toxins that accumulate in your fat cells. Dioxins have been definitively linked to cancer, birth defects and the depression of the immune system (5). Alternatively, cotton requires large amounts of pesticides and herbicides to be produced and is bleached using formaldehyde (1). Disposable diapers are a concern because a baby's skin is very aborbant and readily takes up toxins from the environment (1). Another potential health problem is a decrease in male fertility due to the high temperatures produced by disposable diapers (6).
Tampons: Toxic Shock and Other Health Issues
Tampons have their own health issues as they are in contact with some of the most absorbent tissue in the body (5). This results in a high incidence of toxic shock syndrome, as well as an increase in vaginal dryness and the occurrence of vaginal ulcers. Toxic shock syndrome occurs when toxins produced by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus gets into the bloodstream (4). Symptoms include: high fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness and fainting and it may be fatal if not diagnosed and treated immediately (4).
1. Scott, A. & Armstrong, L. 1992. Whitewash: Exposing the Health and Environmental Dangers of Women's Sanitary Products and Disposable Diapers-What you can do about it. HarperCollins.
3. Perlingieri, I. 2003. The Uterine Crisis. 1st Books Library.
