• A new study has found that tampons contain several metals, including arsenic and lead. “Our findings point towards the need for regulations requiring the testing of metals in tampons by manufacturers,” the study states.

• Around 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,” states the study.Future research is needed to determine whether the metals can affect a person’s health and measure the presence of other chemicals in tampon. The study analyzed tampons from the USA and the UK, as well as organic and non-organic tampons and found that no matter where the tampons came from or how they were classified, neither had lower amounts of metals.“I really hope that manufacturers are required to test their products for metals, especially for toxic metals,” said Jenni A.

• Shearston, the study’s lead author. “It would be exciting to see the public call for this, or to ask for better labeling.”.