15826245f15f2e664c1e3a433543b5844be72 titanium dioxide in tampons

Shes getting checked for fucking cancer. While they are not safer to use, there are some benefits to switching to organic tamponsparticularly for environmental reasons. Shoppers love that they are made from responsibly sourced, organic cotton and that their applicator is made from 92% of plant-based materials. I would just be a very educated consumer, and I would be aware of what we're putting in our bodies. New study explores the benefits,harms. Though some research identified a link between the . Tens of thousands of users have flooded the comments many claiming to have had similar experiences. I changed them every 2-3 hours, and even then I'd feel dry and chaffed or just felt them there. Be cautious and meet with your physician: Always be vigilant and also don't get overwhelmed by what's on the internet, Dr. Dziadek said. 1031 33rd Street Thanks again for sharing your story its voices like yours that can make all the difference. It's primarily used to help make white foods appear whiter (like milk and candy) or to lengthen the shelf life of foods that are sensitive to UV light. But what does it mean for tampons, pads, and reproductive health overall? Chemistry class was a long time ago. Research has shown that fabrics with titanium dioxide that are washed repeatedly release very little of the mineral, she said. Pro tip: It can also appear as Pigment White 6 and White Pigment in packaging. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Tampons cleared by the FDA are meant to be used one time and then thrown away. Price at time of publication: $6.98 for 20 count. But the video is raising important questions: What is titanium dioxide? It's used in sunscreen, toothpaste, some food, and it is used to whiten the string of tampons. As a result, it's not too difficult to shop for TiO2-free tampons if you're concernedand have the financial means to do so. No tampon should be used more than once. Tampons are designed to be inserted into the vagina with or without an applicator. I wanted to do more research before just jumping and following this narrative blindly. And putting the different limits aside, it can be hard to find titanium dioxide on labels because not all companies are required to list it. This finding prompted the European Union to ban TiO2 as a food additive earlier this year, but in the U.S., the ingredient is still considered to be safe in food at the limits set by the FDA. Although the vagina is a mucous membrane through which a chemical could be absorbed we dont know for sure if this actually happens and if it does how much glyphosate is actually absorbed. If you prefer to use cardboard applicators, check out these tampons from Oi. More: Which supplements are most likely to land you in the ER? Titanium dioxide was news to me; no companies have ever disclosed using it before. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Even better, organic tampons also typically use more eco-friendly applicators, such as biodegradable cardboard or BPA-free plastic applicators that are derived from plant-based materials. "As an oxide, titanium is found in minerals in the earth's crust and is also found with other elements, including calcium and iron. Lincoln said this led some to believe that. In addition, more informative tampon labeling, as well as educational efforts by the FDA and manufacturers, may have contributed to the reduction in TSS cases. Our editors independently select these products. ", Price at time of publication: $14.99 for 32 count. For example, when the substance is applied via sunscreen, sufficient data have found titanium dioxide to be "generally recognized as safe and effective," per the FDA. Unbelievable. The FDA classifies tampons and pads as medical devices, and thus manufacturers of these products are recommended, but not required, to list their ingredients. It is important to note that studies in rats, mice and other animals are not directly applicable to humans. You know why? Below, Dr. Eyvazzadeh and Erin Flynn, MPH, DNP/FNP, an LGBTQ+ care expert with birth control startup Favor, share the complicated truth behind this question. Dr. Dziadek added that if people dont feel comfortable with tampons, they can try menstrual cups. For sunscreen, the research that's been done has looked at how much titanium dioxide do you absorb through your skin when you put it on as a sunscreen, she said. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs can act like the naturally occurring hormones in your body. None. Some experts say that there's no need to lose sleep over having titanium dioxide in tampons. If you use tampons during your period (or menstruation), its important to know how to use them safely. Since the heaviness of your flow can fluctuate each day during your period, many women keep a variety of tampon sizes on hand. However, these studies were conducted on mice who orally consumed titanium dioxide, so we'll still need extensive clinical research on humans before we can definitively link TiO2 with reproductive disruptionor assume those risks definitely come from other intakes of the ingredient. With these there's no irritation or dryness, I honestly forget they're in. So companies need to come forward and explain what gives them confidence in using it. Everyone deserves to live in a healthy and safe environment. Rebecca Carhart is a Senior Ecommerce Reviews Writer covering home, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. Here's why: sometimes the substance is also noted as "Pigment White 6" or "White Pigment," Dr. Gohar explains. womensvoices@womensvoices.org. One user shared her anger after learning that the tampons shes been using contain titanium dioxide. But no matter what your period product preference, you shouldn't be worried about whether it can harm your health. It is the mostwidely used white pigment because of its brightness and very high refractive index meaning that its "brilliant whiteness" does not allow light to pass through. "There is no published research available currently that has examined the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide," Dr. Eyvazzadeh. Inhaling titanium dioxide may also result in adverse respiratory reactions, Dr. Gohar says. How Bad Is It Really to Wear a Tampon for Longer Than 8 Hours? Dr. Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist and adjunct assistant professor at University of Illinois at Chicago, is another debunker of TikTok misinformation and has more than 267,000 followers on the platform. Morgans TikTok has received more than 30,000 comments on the platform and spurred countlessvideoresponses from other users and creators swearing off L. tampons and any other tampons with titanium dioxide. Denver, Colorado 80205, Phone: (406) 543-3747 There are however many brands who do not use this in their period products. And suggested that the tampons from This Is L Inc are causing ovarian cysts. For about the last twenty years the majority of cotton farmers have been using seeds that were modified to have resistance to a major herbicide known as glyphosate. For more details, see our Privacy Policy. These videos were chemophobia, Gunter declared, and fear mongering. And see what they say. of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. That being said, you may choose to avoid this particular potential exposure. Case in point: exposure to titanium dioxide may destroy good gut microbes, cause gut dysfunction and increase intestinal inflammation, according to a February 2021 systematic review of animal studies published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. [1] CCOHS (2019) Titanium Dioxide Classified as Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans. The suit claims the substance is unfit for human consumption, but the toxicologist stated that the lawsuit is based on gross misinterpretations of the available data to claim a human cancer risk. Used these This is L. Tampons for 2 cycles and now have a 6cm cyst, bleeding for almost 2 weeks straight, blood tests, doctors visits and now having to pay over $l000 for two sonograms. T. "I don't feel as though organic tampons are necessarily any safer than the traditionally manufactured tampons available to the consumer," she said. You can also register your story with the FDA Medwatch program their online form is here: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?action=consumer.reporting1 and on that form you can offer as much or as little information as you wish. And since the chemical is in the cotton plant it will also be in the cotton produced from the plant. And its important to note that individual experiences are valid. National Library of Medicines list Titanium dioxide is common chemical. Some country-level occupational health and safety organizations cite a lack of high-quality studies from which they can draw any concrete conclusions about the long-term risks of titanium dioxide exposure. TiO2 It is mined from the Earth and then processed into an inorganic solid white compound most commonlyused as a pigment in paints, food coloring, sunscreenand cosmetic products. The virtual freak out on TikTok over titanium dioxidea natural mineral approved by the Food and Drug Administration that is used in a variety of products, including sunscreen, cosmetics, food,. We all know social media is a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation. There's not much information on how titanium dioxide could affect health when used in tampons. Titanium dioxide is common chemical. Morgan explains that she learned about the purported dangers of these tampons after TikTok showed her a video of a girl using the same brand that had experienced two weeks of excessive bleeding and extreme pain, ovarian cysts, and irreversible uterine damage. So we talked to gynecologists to get the scoop on everything you need to know about organic tampons. A spokesperson for Proctor and Gamble, which manufactures the L. tampons brand, told Insider titanium dioxide is used in the thread that attaches the cord to the absorbent part of the tampon, and . $17.50 ($0.24/Count) Sold by Utopia Distributors and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. }(document, 'script', 'advocacy-actionwidget-code')); Womens Voices for the Earth Likely in your daily life, you have much more significant exposures to this class of chemicals. Gunter also added that when products like titanium dioxide are put on fabric, the point is to have them stay on the fabric. During clinical trials the amount of titanium dioxide used have not shown any increased health risks and there have been no big outbreaks of things like ovarian cysts associated with titanium oxide tampons. "If this worries you, then don't use products that have this," Jennifer Lincoln, MD, shared in a video. It wasnt that long ago (read: 2020) that a New York law requiring ingredients to be listed in period product packaging went into effect. I started switching to organic food, so why not beauty/hygiene products as well? Protective wrap stands up to the roughest of travel and yet is easily unwrapped so no time is wasted. This is misleading; the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the compound's use in food and cosmetics, and experts say no studies have proven a link between tampon strings and cancer in humans. Just last year the European Food Safety Authority concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe in food, because of genotoxicity concerns [2]. How do they not see that this is a dire health issue, they play it off as if we are losing our minds. There's just a lot of unknowns and I think it requires further investigation, Dr. Olivia Dziadek, gynecologist with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, said. When Aunt Flo makes her monthly visit, some people prefer pads, while other swear by menstrual cups or tampons. And it would be a stretch to correlate a possible connection in rats to a true cause-and-effect in humans. We reject and actively push back against racist rhetoric, actions, policies and institutional oppression that leads to state-sanctioned brutality, gun violence, and harmthat again and again assaults communities, particularly communities of color. According to the brand, these organic O.b. The main difference between regular and organic tampons are the materials used when making them. Experts resounding answer: We dont have enough data. But titanium dioxide's possible deleterious effects extend beyond ingesting it. a woman on tiktok said that she "has been bleeding for 13 days, has ovarian cysts, and has to check for cancer" because she's used the L. brand tampons. Visit our press room or contact our communications director. 6 min read. ', Consuming it orally appears to be a different story. Shoppers love that these organic Tampax tampons have an applicator that is comfortable and easy to use. We should be able to make a period product that does not lead to cysts! These products are made from cotton and it is actually the cotton contained in these products that are the potential problem. And live a healthy lifestyle. by theorganicbunny on August 3, 2022. FDA-cleared tampons are made of cotton, rayon, or a blend of the two. A viral TikTok with millions views about how tampons that contain titanium dioxide can cause cancer and other health problems has spurred calls on the platform to throw away all products that match that description. Alkaline water:Should you be splurging to make your body less acidic? Dr. Jennifer Gunter, an OB/GYN and frequent debunker of outrageous and fake advice online, is one of the doctors that came out this week to try to reassure individuals that their tampons were not toxic death sticks.. I used this exact brand. "[P]revious studies have shown that titanium dioxide can cause alterations to the reproductive system, including reducing the ovarian follicles and leading to the formation of ovarian cysts," she says. Sign up for the Daily Skimm email newsletter. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Activated charcoal benefits explained:Does it actually prevent hangovers? It gets used in a LOT of products and its probably been in tampons and pads for a long time (just never listed on the label before). This summer's viral TikTok on titanium dioxide in tampons focused on the brand This is L., which was acquired by Procter and Gamble in 2019. Our tampons are safe and all the ingredients that we use are rigorously tested to meet strict safety and government regulations around the world, Erica Noble, spokesperson for Procter & Gamble, said. Chemicals are everywhere. Walmart customers love these super plus organic cotton tampons from Lola so much, they have given them an impressive 4.3-star rating. While animal studies give us important information, they cannot be directly generalized to people, Marino said. But it is becoming a controversial chemical. People have gotten into a debate over whether or not organic tampons and pads shorten the length of menstrual cycles. The FDA has tested and cleared traditionally used tampons for women to use safely and with confidence.". Now that you know the difference between organic and non-organic tampons, if you are looking to make the switch to more eco-friendly period products, we've got you covered. The rule for food items is that the coloring agent can't exceed 1% of the food's weight. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Experts that spoke to Gizmodo also insisted that there is no evidence that titanium dioxide in tampons, other topical products (sunscreen), and food is unsafe to humans as it currently used. And that's a really good thing to drive science [and] safer products. Probably, at this point in time, the best answer is, We dont know. Likely the amount of glyphosate in feminine hygiene products is relatively small. Gizmodo reached out to TikTok multiple times on Thursday to ask if it would take any action on content crying wolf about the dangers of titanium dioxide and tampons but did not receive a response. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. I wouldn't raise the alarm. WVEs Director of Science and Research, Alex Scranton, addresses your questions about titanium dioxide in tampons and pads in this session of #AskAlex. No tampon should be used more than once. Unfortunately, this question doesnt have a simple answer. Her job is to pore over ingredient lists and other scientific studies to find out what we know about the chemicals that are in our products and what their exposure could mean. Free standard shipping with $35 orders. If something is white, it often has titanium dioxide. "[TiO2] may cause cancer based on studies done on animals, and it has been associated with lung cancer when inhaled," says Dr. Eyvazzadeh, which is why the government sets limits on exposure for workers. Consider this important information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)and please share this information with other people who may use these products. In the emergency room, I assess five primary routes of exposure for a substance when assessing for toxicity: inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestionand absorption. Could you explain as to why this happened to me? The potential problem lies in the specific chemical. A TikTok with more than 3 million views is raising questions about just that. "They're easy to use, easily concealable, and give me ease of mind that I'm doing something good for the environment. It is also important to note that the high-profile studies in mice showing inflammation and genetic changes involved force ingestion of massive amounts of titanium dioxide, which would not be possible for every day Americans to replicate through consumer product exposures., Marino speculated that the confusion and recent attention to titanium dioxide was related to a 2021 ban of the mineral by the European Food Safety Authority, which cited concern about the mouse data in its decision although even that data did not support the idea that it is a carcinogen.. Read our, What Exposure Could Mean for Your Reproductive Health. The FDA has found that regulated amounts of titanium dioxide are considered safe. This lack of data is incredibly frustrating, given that 26 percent of the global population are of reproductive age and presumably using pads and tampons on the regular to manage their cycles. Media inquiries? Switch it up: Try something different for a month particularly if you're having some sort of acute reaction and see how you feel, Scranton suggested. She stressed that its important to remember that correlation in this case does not equal causation. Tampax comes in light, regular, and super absorbencies and . Given the mixed reviews on the substance, it's obvious why some are concerned about consuming it. The chemical substance also seems to have a potentially negative impact on the gut microbiome, Dr. Gohar says. So there are lots of ways to be exposed to this chemical. Although there were also doctors and experts trying to quell the panic, like Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, they were, unfortunately, a minority. As an emergency roomdoctor, there would be many possible (and more likely) emergency room causes of excessive menstrual bleeding that I would evaluate a patient for. And its certainly worth asking: Is it worth a potential risk worth to have a tampon or pad thats just a little more white before you use it? Some are alleging that a common ingredient found in many tampon brands called titanium dioxide can cause excessive bleeding, infertility and even cancer.

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