FDA to investigate metals found in tampons after study; study's co-author 'excited' over decision

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it would investigate heavy metals in tampons after a 2024 study found that tampons contained arsenic and lead.

"The FDA is aware of concerns about tampon safety after a 2024 study found metals in tampons during laboratory testing," stated the FDA's announcement, which was published last week. "We want the public to know that before tampons can be legally sold in the U.S., they must meet FDA requirements for safety and effectiveness."

The FDA will test if the metals are being released from the tampon and absorbed into the vaginal lining and infiltrating the bloodstream while it is being used.

"Our study only showed what's present in tampons, but not whether or not those metals are impacting our health from tampon use," Jenni Shearston, a co-author of the original study and a post-doctoral scholar at the University of California Berkley, told Paste BN.

Shearston, who has her PhD in Environmental Health Sciences, is excited to see the FDA testing if the metals would leach into people's bodies.

"I'm really glad that they're doing that and looking more into potential health complications that might come about from the presence of these metals in tampons," she said.

The lab Shearston works in is also conducting research on if the body absorbs the metals. It is "currently wrapping up" the experiments and will be sending the results to be peer-reviewed.

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What did the study find?

The study, which was published by Environment International on July 3, analyzed 30 tampons from 14 tampon brands and found they had measurable concentrations of the following metals:

• Arsenic
• Barium
• Calcium
• Cadmium
• Cobalt
• Chromium
• Copper
• Iron
• Manganese
• Mercury
• Nickel
• Lead
• Selenium
• Strontium
• Vanadium
• Zinc

Between 50% to 80% of people who menstruate use tampons, but the metals listed above "could be absorbed by the vagina’s highly absorptive tissue, resulting in systemic exposure," according to the study.

Some metals aren't a concern

Metals like zinc, which was the most prevalent, and calcium aren't a concern for Shearston because they're both essential elements, which is "any chemical element required by an organism for healthy growth," according to Dictionary.com.

What concerned her most, however, is the fact that the study detected lead in the menstrual product because "there's no safe level of exposure to that," she said.

“Although toxic metals are ubiquitous and we are exposed to low levels at any given time, our study clearly shows that metals are also present in menstrual products and that women might be at higher risk for exposure using these products,” said study co-author Kathrin Schilling.

Pads vs. Tampons: Potential for leaching

Shearston has not done a similar study for pads and said she and the other researchers at her lab are more focused on researching tampons.

They suspect the metal is more likely to leach out into the body while using tampons than it is while using a pad because tampons are inserted vaginally.

"The vagina has a lot of blood vessels," she said. "It's permeable so substances can cross over it, and so we think it's more of a concerning exposure route."

However, a person's vulva, the outside of the vagina which touches the pad, is also permeable and does have the potential to absorb any metals or chemicals found in the sanitary product.

"I think it's definitely something that should be studied as well," said Shearston. "But the main concern right now is tampons because they're inserted into your body, and it's such a sensitive area."

Julia is a trending reporter for Paste BN. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com