Women have the right to know what is contained in the products they buy and put into their bodies. Seventy percent of American women use tampons, yet most are unaware of how adversely these products might affect their health and reproductive organs.
CNN’s Nadia Kounang reports:
Consumer groups in the United States have been wanting to know more since the 1980s. A growing environmental movement and awareness about toxic shock syndrome prompted women to ask what was in these products because manufacturers weren't required to fully disclose what goes into a tampon or pad. That's because they are regulated and approved as medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration and full disclosure is not required.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (Dem-NY) has introduced legislation that would require manufacturers to fully disclose the makeup of feminine products.
“American women deserve the ability to make informed decisions when buying feminine hygiene products,” said Maloney. “Given the sheer number of women who use these products it’s time we have definitive answers on their potential risks to women. Although the FDA requires tampon manufacturers to monitor dioxin levels, we still don’t know enough about the health risks of other chemical contaminants contained in these products. The Robin Danielson Feminine Hygiene Product Safety Act would enable research and a better understanding of additives in these products so that women can live healthy lives.”
Maloney’s bill has failed to move beyond the floor nine times since 1997. (Congress Translation: Women don’t matter.)
Also in Kounang’s article: The World Health Organization claims some of the chemicals used in these products, like styrene, are carcinogens—industry trade group says there is not enough scientific evidence to support the health risk “rumors.” (Industry Translation: Let women get sick/die for all we care. We have businesses to run.)
Big manufacturers of tampons, sanitary pads, and feminine hygiene products, which include P&G, Tampax, Kimberly-Clark and Kotex, have recently published new information that claims there are minuscule traces of dangerous chemicals in their products. Microbiologist Philip Tierno of New York University of Medicine says the companies may not be listing enough. (Tierno helped discover the link between toxic shock and tampons in 1980.)
"Sure, one tampon is trace," said Tierno, "but consider the menstrual lifetime of a woman. They use approximately 12,000 tampons in a lifetime. That means 12,000 exposures of dioxin ... five, six, seven times a day. That's a lot of dioxin absorbed directly through the vagina. It goes directly into the blood."
A organization for women’s rights called Women’s Voices For Earth adds:
"Vaginal tissue isn't like other skin. It's covered in mucous membranes, it's very permeable. It's a direct route to your reproductive organs. We need to be really careful of these products," said Scranton, of Women's Voices for the Earth.
The mega corporations say say, “Our products are safe.” Well, of course they do. (Corporate Translation: It’s all about the money.) And the FDA/Food and Drug Administration says women should choose a tampon with the minimum absorbency. Oh thanks. (Government Translation: We’re really not that concerned. You’re on your own, girls!)
So women say: Fuck this. Fuck you. Not enough. Not even close. (Women’s Translation: Fuck this. Fuck you. Not enough. Not even close.)
Read more about this story via: CNN’s Nadia Kounang
Join/support a group that is relentlessly advocating for women’s rights and feminine products transparency, visit: Women’s Voices For Earth. Here are some tips:
Reduce Your Exposure
- Avoid Hall of Shame products
- Print our Chemicals of Concern fact sheet and take it with you when shopping for feminine care products.
- Look for brands that disclose all ingredients, including what’s in fragrance.
- Reduce your use of feminine care products.
- Eliminate use of products that may be unnecessary to a healthy vagina.
- Choose unscented products where available (particularly tampons and pads).
- Choose chlorine-free bleached or unbleached cotton tampons and pads.
- If you are having allergic symptoms, switch brands! When you do switch – call the company’s 1-800 customer service to tell them why!
- Tell the FDA if you’ve had symptoms that may be from a feminine care product. Call 1-800-332-1088 or fill out a consumer reporting form.
Learn more about Rep. Maloney’s bill: MaloneyHouse.Gov
Email, visit: Rep. Carolyn Maloney
Very special thanks to Nadia Kounang and all the organizations and lawmakers who continue work towards protecting the human rights of girls and women around the world.