15826245f15f2e664c1e3a433543b5844be72 titanium dioxide in tampons

The main difference between regular and organic tampons are the materials used when making them. Just because someone had health problems after they used something doesnt necessarily mean an ingredient in that thing caused the problem, Wallace said. So what do you do instead? Experts resounding answer: We dont have enough data. The FDA has found that regulated amounts of titanium dioxide are considered safe. TikTokers are raising concern about titanium dioxide, a whitening agent, in organic tampons. "You will want to make sure they are composed of 100% organic cotton, free of chemicals, rayon, and synthetics, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, not bleached with chlorine, dioxin free, and free of additive chemicals.". 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. An official website of the United States government, Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts, The Facts on Tamponsand How to Use Them Safely. 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. As to whether its nanoparticals in the string or not, once blood an other fluids touches the chemical its most likely all fusing together and that is going inside our very sensitive systems. I WOULD sue this company if I had the slightest idea where to start or the finances to get the ball rolling. 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]. However, titanium dioxide isn't just a popular ingredient in food. It's mainly used for color. ", Price at time of publication: $14.99 for 32 count. 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. Tampons cleared by the FDA are meant to be used one time and then thrown away. Alexandra Scranton, Director of Science and Research. OK, so what about titanium dioxide in tampons, which sit inside you for hours at a time? You know why? 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. There's also a little bit of evidence to suggest that the common ingredient may be an endocrine disruptor, says Flynnmeaning it may affect a person's hormonal system. One of the tricky things about titanium dioxide is that it can be consumed in a myriad of ways, making risk calculation difficult. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the Theres also period underwear. The chemical substance also seems to have a potentially negative impact on the gut microbiome, Dr. Gohar says. Here's why: sometimes the substance is also noted as "Pigment White 6" or "White Pigment," Dr. Gohar explains. The highly absorbent products are made without any dioxides, polyester, pesticides, or fragrances, and they are applicator-free. What's great is that people are asking these questions, Scranton said. Ask them how they are ensuring the safety of their tampons and pads. 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. How do they not see that this is a dire health issue, they play it off as if we are losing our minds. Some worry it causes cancer, irregular periods. But there's not much research to tell us what the potential effects are of TiO2 in certain other formats, like if you eat a little bit of it in food, or regularly insert small amounts of it in your body via a tampon for a few days each month. Now 12% Off. "I love that these are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and non-toxic," wrote one. Alexandra Scranton is the director of science and research at Womens Voices for the Earth, an environmental nonprofit. The tampons come in both regular and super sizes, and customers say a regular size is a great option for light flow days. tampons can provide protection for up to 8 hours at a time, making them a good option for overnight use. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. More: Which supplements are most likely to land you in the ER? Considering each pack comes with 32 tampons, their price isn't even that bad for an all-organic product! Before you start gathering all your tampons and scouring their ingredient lists, you should know that experts want you to chill and stop worrying: Your tampons are safe. 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. (The FDA says that manufacturers can have no more than 1 percent TiO2 in food.). These are the best organic tampons to shop for: With nearly 3,000 five-star ratings, these organic tampons from Organyc are an Amazon favorite. Try These OB-GYN-Recommended, Titanium Dioxide-Free Period Products Rael Organic Cotton Tampons ($13.99 for a 32-count box on Amazon.com) August Tampons ($11 for a 16-count box on Itsaugust.co) Diva Cup ($39.99 for one menstrual cup on Divacup.com) Advertisement references Is this an emergency? Both TikTok users are falling prey to the correlation, not causation trap. I started switching to organic food, so why not beauty/hygiene products as well? The 2023 Complete Python Certification Bootcamp Bundle, Mourning the Loss of Addison Raes Debut Album | The Meme Machine. And that's a really good thing to drive science [and] safer products. Because there's so little conclusive research on the potential effects of titanium dioxide, you're not going to find clear, concise guidance for tampon shopping by studying up. What is great is that we are reading the ingredients on these products and asking important questions about their safety. Price at time of publication: $6.98 for 20 count. "There is no published research available currently that has examined the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide." 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. While experts agree more studies need to be done on titanium dioxides potential impact on reproductive health, one person's video is motivating millions of people to take control of their health and question what they consume every day. I just think its important to not think that because we see one TikTok of somebody having a problem and [saying] this is what caused it to understand that thats not the most scientific way to figure out whats going on., We may earn a commission from links on this page. ", Price at time of publication: $13.99 for 36 count. Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is rare and is caused by a toxic substance that is produced by certain kinds of bacteria. They also like the fact that the tampons are gynecologist-approved and from a women-owned business. 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. Regarding risk of cancer, there is an oft-cited study that shows that chronic high-level exposure of inhaled TiO2 could be linked to lung cancer in rats. 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. 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. Organic farming typically uses more sustainable practices, plus by not treating cotton with pesticides, fewer harmful chemicals have been released into the environment. 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, and toothpasteappears to have started with one video posted at the beginning of the week. If that is the case, you can avoid glyphosate by using alternative feminine hygiene products. There are several health concerns regarding TiO2. If you can find products that don't have them, that's gonna lessen your exposure., Follow the less is more approach: Meaning [the] lowest possible use of anything that has not been tested properly, Dr. Cohen said. Titanium dioxide, or TiO 2, is a naturally occurring mineral that takes the form of a tasteless, white powder, according to the National Institutes of Health. It's used in sunscreen, all kinds of cosmetics, medications, and you'll find it in food. "I stopped using tampons when I noticed they'd irritate my lady parts after use. ", Dr. Eyvazzadeh and Flynn agree that it's okay to approach the ingredient with caution. It neutralizes smell as well. The decision was based on available scientific research which, although not totally conclusive, found that an accumulation of titanium dioxide in the body could possibly contribute to genotoxicity (i.e., damage at the DNA level that may lead to cancer). It became the first state in the nation to do so. In addition to being gynecologist-tested, the tampons are also biodegradable and free from fragrances, dyes, synthetics, and chemicals. Despite a small percentage ofTiO2 present in the product, low toxicity risk and an unsupported cause-and-effect exampleare both factors that led me to debunk this claim. But this amount varies by product. Tampons are designed to be inserted into the vagina with or without an applicator. But TiO2 is insoluble in water meaning that it cannot be dissolved into smaller particles. Sunscreens can have concentrations of up to 25%. Most importantly, reviewers say the tampons are both comfortable and absorbent. "Again, the data is inconclusive on whether these products are really linked to excessive bleeding, cancer and infertility, so it's not right or wrong to continue using these products based on currently available information," Dr. Gohar says. So we talked to gynecologists to get the scoop on everything you need to know about organic tampons. I have been researching health impacts of pads and tampons for nearly a decade, so I love having all this new ingredient info. These products are made from cotton and it is actually the cotton contained in these products that are the potential problem. In a somewhat tasteless move, some tamponbrands even tried to take advantage of the fear gripping users on the platform and decided to take advantage of the moment to announce that their products did not have titanium dioxide. Sunscreens can have concentrations of up to 25%. What do they know about titanium dioxide that assures them its safe? If youre still super worried, and I hear you, then use something else, like pads or menstrual cups or whatnot, Lincoln, who has 2.8 million followers on TikTok, said.