Latest news with #AmyHeley
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
UK tampons found with pesticide levels 40 times more than drinking water limits
Scientists have discovered dangerously high levels of a cancer-linked pesticide in UK tampons — tested at 40 times the safe limit for drinking water — raising urgent concerns over health risks Brits have been alerted by scientists after they found toxic pesticides in tampons at staggering levels that are 40 times the limit set for drinking water. Upon testing 15 boxes of tampons bought from UK shops and supermarkets, including various popular brands, experts detected glyphosate — a widely used herbicide linked to cancer and other severe health conditions like Parkinson's — in one of the tampon boxes at quantities significantly exceeding safety levels for drinking water. Glyphosate, the world's most commonly used herbicide, was proclaimed a "probable carcinogen" by the World Health Organization (WHO) back in 2015 due to its association with cancer. The alarming findings were part of research conducted by Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK), the Women's Environmental Network, and the Pesticide Collaboration. They uncovered amounts of glyphosate at a worrying concentration of 0.004 mg/kg in tampons. The findings on the tampon residue goes vastly beyond the UK and EU maximum residue level for drinking water, which stands at just 0.0001 mg/kg. These levels are a stark 40 times higher than what is allowed in drinking water. This discovery has raised serious concerns considering half the global population experience periods and likely use around 11,000 disposable menstrual products in a lifetime, suggesting there's a severe oversight. Experts have warned that this is a "blatant gap in health and safety regulation", reports the Manchester Evening News. The report emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating: "Given the global concern around the impact of glyphosate on human health, finding it in tampons is particularly alarming. "Unlike when ingested through food or water, chemicals absorbed via the vagina directly enter the bloodstream, bypassing the body's detoxification systems and therefore posing a significant health risk." Pesticide residues are finding their way into period products due to their use in cotton cultivation, a primary component of tampons. Researchers detected aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), a breakdown product of glyphosate, in the tampons, suggesting that the cotton was treated with glyphosate at some point in the supply chain according to the report. Amy Heley of the Pesticide Collaboration commented: "If this level of glyphosate is deemed to be unsafe in the water we drink, why is it allowed to appear in our period products? "Our investigation reveals that women, girls and those who menstruate may not be protected from exposure to harmful chemicals. And yet, most people remain completely unaware that this is even an issue." The report notes that the lab was unable to determine whether the glyphosate was present in a single tampon or all of them in the box. Josie Cohen, interim director at Pan UK, stated: "We were genuinely shocked to find glyphosate in tampons sitting on UK shelves. This harmful chemical is already impossible to avoid since it's sprayed by councils in streets and parks and contaminates much of our food and water due to its overuse in farming. "We urgently need to reduce our overall toxic load and shouldn't have to worry about glyphosate and other highly hazardous pesticides in our period products. This is a blatant gap in health and safety regulation that the government urgently needs to address." Previous research conducted last year revealed that various types of tampons may contain as many as 16 metals or metalloids, including toxic substances such as lead and arsenic. The study suggested that using tampons could be a "potential source of exposure to metals in menstruating people".
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Toxic pesticide levels found in tampons 40 times higher than legal limit for water
Toxic pesticide levels have been found in tampons at levels 40 times higher than the legal limit for drinking water. Traces of glyphosate, a pesticide linked to cancer, has been found at very high levels in menstrual products, according to a report by the Pesticide Action Network UK, the Women's Environmental Network and the Pesticide Collaboration. This is concerning, according to the authors, because chemicals absorbed through the vagina directly enter the bloodstream, bypassing the body's detoxification systems. This means even small traces of chemicals in direct contact with the vagina could cause health risks. The researchers tested 15 boxes of tampons from British retailers across a range of different popular brands. Glyphosate was found in tampons in one of the boxes, at 0.004 mg/kg. The British and EU maximum residue level for drinking water is 0.0001 mg/kg, making this 40 times higher than permitted levels of glyphosate in drinking water. Glyphosate is the world's most widely used herbicide, but a review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organisation, classified the weedkiller as 'probably carcinogenic to humans'. It has also been linked to the development of Parkinson's, and emerging research is raising concerns about links to other serious health conditions. Amy Heley, from the Pesticide Collaboration, said: 'If this level of glyphosate is deemed to be unsafe in the water we drink, why is it allowed to appear in our period products? Our investigation reveals that women, girls and those who menstruate may not be protected from exposure to harmful chemicals. And yet, most people remain completely unaware that this is even an issue.' Cotton link It is thought this pesticide could have ended up in the tampons because weedkillers are used to grow cotton, a key ingredient. The researchers detected aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) on the tampons, a breakdown of glyphosate. The plant is one of the most chemical-dependent crops in the world, and up to 300 pesticides can be used in its global production. Glyphosate is often used to prepare fields for sowing crops by clearing all vegetation from the land. It kills weeds by inhibiting EPSP synthase, an enzyme involved in plant growth, while not damaging crops that have been genetically modified to be glyphosate-tolerant. Farmers argue that it is an important herbicide because it has 'high efficacy on non-resistant weeds and is a cost-effective weed control solution for farmers'. Red flags have also been raised over the weedkiller's impact on biodiversity: recent research has shown that it damages wild bee colonies, and this product also has adverse effects on aquatic organisms. The Guardian Read More Case of Cork woman refused access to her dead husband's sperm raised in Seanad
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning to British women as scientists discover toxic pesticides in UK TAMPONS at 40 times the drinking water limit
They're the product that many women religiously reach for at certain times of the month. But scientists have issued an urgent warning to British women after discovering toxic pesticides in tampons at 40 times the drinking water limit. Experts have tested 15 boxes of tampons from UK retailers across a range of popular brands including Tampax, Lil Lets, Superdrug, Tesco and Boots. Analysis revealed one sample, which has not been named, contained 0.004mg/kg of glyphosate – a toxic chemical that is the world's most popular weedkiller. While it may seem a small amount, the UK and EU maximum residue level for drinking water is 0.0001 mg/kg. The WHO has previously dubbed the chemical as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' – meaning it is likely linked to cancer. It has also been linked to the development of Parkinson's and other serious health conditions. Amy Heley, Public Affairs Manager at the Pesticide Collaboration, said: 'If this level of glyphosate is deemed to be unsafe in the water we drink, why is it allowed to appear in our period products?' 'Our investigation reveals that women, girls and those who menstruate may not be protected from exposure to harmful chemicals. 'And yet, most people remain completely unaware that this is even an issue.' Pesticides end up in period products after being used to grow cotton, which is the main ingredient in tampons. Unlike when ingested through food or water, chemicals absorbed via the vagina directly enter the bloodstream, bypassing the body's detoxification systems. Helen Lynn, Environmenstrual Campaign Manager at the Women's Environmental Network, said: 'Women, girls and people who menstruate deserve full transparency about what's in their period products. 'It is scandalous that pesticides linked to cancer, as well as other toxic chemicals linked to reproductive and hormonal diseases, can show up in period products. 'Consumers deserve robust regulation that guarantees the safety of these products.' In the US, the link between glyphosate and cancer has played out publicly in the courts, with thousands of lawsuits being taken against pesticide company Monsanto. They are the manufacturers of Roundup, of which the active ingredient is glyphosate, and thousands of plaintiffs across the US have been awarded damages for their diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma - a type of cancer. In 2020, Monsanto agreed to pay almost $11 billion to settle most Roundup cancer claims, and additional trials are expected to resume this year. Previous studies have also detected traces of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic in some tampons. Josie Cohen, Interim Director at Pesticide Action Network, said: 'We were genuinely shocked to find glyphosate in tampons sitting on UK shelves. 'This harmful chemical is already impossible to avoid since it's sprayed by councils in streets and parks and contaminates much of our food and water due to its overuse in farming. 'We urgently need to reduce our overall toxic load and shouldn't have to worry about glyphosate and other Highly Hazardous Pesticides in our period products. 'This is a blatant gap in health and safety regulation that the government urgently needs to address.' The report suggests a handful of recommendations for the UK Government, including the introduction of robust regulation for period products with a testing scheme in place to ensure that they are free of pesticide residues. THE SAGA SURROUNDING THE SAFETY OF GLYPHOSATE Glyphosate is an herbicide first registered for use in the US in 1974. It is marketed either as a salt or an amber-colored liquid with no smell. Monsanto markets glyphosate as part of the pesticide Roundup. Several studies found that high doses administered to laboratory animals caused cancer, although the evidence is 'limited' when it comes to humans. In March 2015, the World Health Organization ranked glyphosate a Group 2a carcinogen, a substance that probably causes cancer in people. In 2017, California added glyphosate to its proposition 65 list, which requires Roundup to carry a warning label if sold in California. Monsanto has vehemently denied that its product causes cancer and says and more than 800 studies that have established its safety. Yet more than 4,000 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits - 800 over the past year - claiming Monsanto made them or members of their family sick.
