Latest news with #MartaVenier
Euronews
2 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
Forever chemicals found in reusable menstrual products, study finds
Reusable women's hygiene products can contain toxic chemicals, according to a study published last week that tested items from North America, South America, and Europe. Published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters, the peer-reviewed article specifically found evidence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in eco-friendly menstrual and incontinence products, reviving the debate about the safety and health effects of feminine hygiene items. PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," consist of a large group of man-made substances with exceptional resistance to degradation. For more than 70 years, they have been added to various consumer products, among others, to enhance resistance to water, grease, and stains. The research team tested 59 products from five categories: period underwear, reusable pads, reusable incontinence underwear, reusable incontinence pads, and menstrual cups. To assess PFAS presence, scientists measured the total fluorine content, a chemical element whose elevated levels typically suggest the likely presence of 'forever chemicals'. They then extracted a smaller subset of 19 products and conducted a more in-depth analysis, targeting the levels of specific PFAS. PFAS were detected in 100 per cent of the smaller sample of 19 products. Evidence of intentionally added PFAS was found in nearly 30 per cent of the full group of 59 products, with period underwear and reusable pads showing the highest rates. Marta Venier, one of the study's authors and an environmental chemist at Indiana University, explained that the distinction between intentional and unintentional PFAS presence depends on the amount of total fluorine detected. 'When levels were above a certain threshold, that indicates that PFAS were added to the product intentionally to impart properties such as waterproofing, for example,' she told Euronews Health. In contrast, lower levels likely point to unintentional contamination during the manufacturing process, she added. This distinction is particularly significant. 'In each category of products, we found items that did not have intentionally added PFAS. This shows that you can still make these products without adding PFAS,' Venier pointed out. 'This tells us they [PFAS] are not a necessary addition to make the products functional,' she continued. What are the health risks of PFAS on women's health? PFAS include more than 10,000 substances; as a result, research has not fully determined the specific health effects of each one. Despite this gap, there is strong scientific evidence linking PFAS exposure to adverse health outcomes. In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified two PFAS as carcinogenic and possibly carcinogenic to humans. These included perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), both banned in the European Union. In addition to the risk of tumours, PFAS can damage the immune system of newborns due to maternal exposure to these toxic chemicals, which tend to accumulate in bodies over time, Tina Kold Jensen, a physician and environmental epidemiologist at the University of Southern Denmark, told Euronews Health. 'You are exposed to these substances through hygiene products, then it will take at least four years before half of what you're exposed to is out of the body. And since it's there, women of reproductive age pass them on to their children through the placenta and breast milk,' she said. Jensen also noted that PFAS exposure has been associated with other health issues, including high cholesterol, altered liver enzymes, kidney cancer, and reproductive problems. However, she emphasised that not all of these effects are fully confirmed and said that further research is needed. Another uncertainty concerns whether the direct contact of pads with the skin poses greater, lesser, or equal health risks compared to environmental exposure to 'forever chemicals'. 'PFAS exposure is mostly through the gastrointestinal channel. (...) Skin is quite a good barrier, but we don't know much. But here we're talking not only about the skin but also the vagina, its lips, that's different,' Kold Jensen said. Regarding reusable pads, Jensen added that environmental exposure is another concern: 'There's a lot of PFAS in the environment, and they will definitely get into the environment once you wash the pads,' she said. To sum up, there are still more questions than answers when it comes to the effects of PFAS on women's health. But do these eco-friendly pads pose other health risks? What do we know about reusable menstrual products? Sustainable period products are becoming increasingly common among young people. According to a 2022 study, in Spain, the use of reusable hygiene products surpassed that of disposable ones among people aged 26 to 35 at the time of the survey. The Catalan government launched a public health initiative offering a free menstrual cup, one pair of underwear and two packages of cloth pads to reduce both period poverty and the waste generated by disposable products last March. Reusable products, in fact, have been shown to be more sustainable alternatives to single-use items. Specifically, menstrual cups appear to have the lowest environmental impact, followed by period underwear and reusable pads. Aside from recent concerns about PFAS, reusable menstrual products have not been shown to pose any other major health threat, according to a global review on reusable menstrual pads. The only relevant concern appears to be skin irritation associated with long-term use of these products or inadequate cleaning or drying of the items. A similar study conducted on menstrual cups found that these products are generally safe, except for rare cases of vaginal injuries, toxic shock syndrome, or urinary problems. As for period underwear, major concerns are related to PFAS and other elements. An investigation conducted by the UK-based organisation Which? in 2023 found high silver levels in some popular period pants brands like Intima, M&S and Thinx. Thinx, in particular, has also been at the centre of the PFAS debate, when in 2020 Sierra Magazine published an investigation with the University of Notre Dame, finding PFAS in the period underwear of the brand. This led to one class-action case against the company, which was settled at the end of 2022. PFAS, however, are not exclusively present in reusable products, but they have also been found in disposable ones. In 2022, lab tests commissioned by the US consumer watchdog Mamavation and Environmental Health News revealed that PFAS were present in 48% of 46 tested sanitary pads, underwear liners, and incontinence pads. Another common factor for both single-use and reusable menstrual products is the need for further research to assess the types of PFAS present, their levels, and their health effects.
The Hill
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Scientists warn of toxic ‘forever chemicals' in reusable period products
Many reusable menstrual products that have gained increasing popularity among teens are packed with toxic 'forever chemicals,' a new study has found. Among the biggest repeat offenders are washable pads and underwear, according to the study, published on Tuesday in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. And as more consumers opt for multi-use products over their disposable counterparts, the study authors expressed cause for concern. 'Since reusable products are on the rise due to their increased sustainability compared to single-use products, it's important to ensure that these products are safe,' co-author Marta Venier, an associated professor at the University of Notre Dame, said in a statement. 'This is crucial, especially for adolescents and young women, who are more vulnerable to potential negative health effects,' Venier added. The compounds in question are known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and are prevalent in numerous household items, such as waterproof apparel, nonstick pans and various personal care products. There are an estimated 15,000 types of PFAS, all of which are manmade, and some of which have been linked to cancers and other severe illnesses. These so-called 'forever chemicals' linger nearly interminably in the environment and up to several years in the human body. Previous research in China sounded the alarm on the prevalence of PFAS in that country's personal hygiene products, including in sanitary pads, panty liners, tampons, paper diapers, menstrual cups and bactericidal liquids. In addition, a 2020 Sierra Magazine article — which included the participation of Graham Peaslee, senior author of the current study — identified 'intentional fluorine use' in one type of period underwear, which led to a lawsuit and $5 million settlement with the brand. To identify PFAS presence in products, scientists typically begin by deploying a broad-stroke screening tool: the assessment of total fluorine in a sample. They generally deem fluorine usage as 'intentional' — or deliberate in a product's formulation, as opposed to accidental contamination — when levels surpass a specific safety threshold. In the current study, the researchers narrowed their focus on 59 reusable hygiene products — such as period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups and reusable incontinence underwear and pads — from North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. The products, they explained, first underwent total fluorine screenings using a technology called particle-induced gamma-ray emission spectroscopy. These preliminary screenings showed that period underwear and reusable pads likely had the highest rates of intentional PFAS use: 33 percent and 25 percent of items in each of these product categories, respectively. The findings applied to markets across the globe, with intentional fluorination spotted in seven pairs of South American underwear, four North American pairs and two European pairs, according to the study. Following the initial fluorine scans, the scientists then chose 19 products for targeted analyses of 31 'ionic' and 11 'neutral' types of PFAS. Ionic PFAS are those molecules that can 'dissociate' in the environment, becoming highly mobile and capable of widespread contamination. Among the most notorious types of ionic PFAS are legacy compounds like PFOA and PFOS, which have largely been phased out of production but remain in the environment due to their persistence. Neutral PFAS, on the other hand, do not dissociate and were previously thought to be less toxic. But scientists have been challenging that assumption, as these compounds are highly volatile and can serve as precursors for ionic PFAS. In the more precise PFAS tests for the 19 period products, the researchers detected the compounds in 100 percent of the products, with two types of neutral PFAS — 6:2 and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) — boasting the most abundant presence. Co-author Sydney Brady, a PhD candidate in Venier's group, stressed in a statement that 8:2 FTOH was one of the most common types of PFAS in the North American items, despite its elimination from food packing by manufacturers. That phase-out, Brady explained, occurred due to Food and Drug Administration concerns about the chemical's 'persistence in the body after dietary exposure.' 'Notably, 8:2 FTOH can be transformed into more toxic PFOA once inside the body,' Brady warned. While recognizing that far less research exists on PFAS exposure via skin versus food or water, the authors cited initial studies on dermal absorption as a potentially 'significant exposure pathway for PFAS when present in feminine hygiene products.' 'Feminine hygiene products stay in contact with the skin for extended periods of time,' Venier said. 'The risks from the dermal absorption of PFAS, especially neutral PFAS, are not well understood.' As such, the researchers called for further studies to define the risk of PFAS exposure via human skin. In addition, after identifying at least one sample per product category that contained zero intentionally added PFAS, they stressed that safer and healthier alternatives can likely be manufactured without them.
Newsweek
22-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
'Forever Chemicals' Detected in Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Reusable menstrual products—once hailed as eco-friendly and health-conscious alternatives to disposables—may be hiding a chemical threat, according to a new study. Researchers from Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame have discovered evidence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," in a wide range of reusable feminine hygiene products. The study involved the testing of 59 products from North America, South America and Europe. These included period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups and reusable incontinence underwear. A stock image of women's underwear, reusable cloth pad and menstrual cup on a violet background. A stock image of women's underwear, reusable cloth pad and menstrual cup on a violet background. Liudmila Chernetska/iStock / Getty Images Plus Last year, researchers led from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston analyzed menstrual hygiene habits using data from the Apple Women's Health Study, which tracked 11,455 U.S. participants between November 2019 and January 2024. Despite rising awareness about arsenic and toxic metals, regular tampons remained the most commonly used menstrual product, used by 48 percent of subjects. Pads were used by 47 percent and panty liners by 43 percent. Among reusable options, period underwear was chosen by 20 percent and menstrual cups by 18 percent of respondents. Recently, the researches found PFAS were detected in nearly 30 percent of the samples—at levels suggesting they were intentionally added. This marks the first official confirmation of these potentially harmful chemicals in reusable menstrual products. "Since reusable products are on the rise due to their increased sustainability compared to single-use products, it's important to ensure that these products are safe. This is crucial, especially for adolescents and young women, who are more vulnerable to potential negative health effects," said paper author and chemist professor Marta Venier of Indiana University in a statement. "Feminine hygiene products stay in contact with the skin for extended periods of time, and the risks from the dermal absorption of PFAS, especially neutral PFAS, are not well understood." What Are PFAS and Why Are They Concerning? PFAS are synthetic chemicals used for their water, stain and heat-resistant properties. However, they are known to accumulate in the human body over time and have been linked to serious health conditions, including hormone disruption, cancer and immune system dysfunction. "One of the most abundant PFAS detected in products from the North American market is 8:2 FTOH, a chemical that was voluntarily phased out in food packaging by manufacturers in accordance with the FDA due to persistence in the body after dietary exposure," explained Sydney Brady, a Ph.D. student in Venier's lab. "Notably, 8:2 FTOH can be transformed into more toxic PFOA once inside the body." Newsweek reached out to Dr. Olivia Ahn, a former NHS doctor based in the U.K., who described the idea of chemicals and microplastics entering women's bodies as "unsettling." "It's a serious concern that demands urgent attention from everyone involved – from the companies making these products to the regulators overseeing them," she said. Ahn, founder of the sustainable femcare brand FLUUS—which developed the world's first certified flushable, microplastics- and glue-free sanitary pad made from non-woven natural materials—explained how these substances are absorbed through sensitive tissues. She said: "The vaginal tissue isn't like the skin on your arm—it's incredibly delicate and acts like a fast track directly to your bloodstream. It's highly absorbent, meaning chemicals can quickly get into your system without being filtered by your liver or digestive system in the usual way. "This pathway is so efficient that it's even used in medicine for quick drug delivery. This unique sensitivity is precisely why we must be extra vigilant about the chemical makeup of products designed for intimate use. What you put there really matters for your overall health." Environmental Implications of Reusables While reusable menstrual products are seen as a sustainable alternative to disposables, they still end up in landfills. Once there, PFAS can leach into the soil and water, posing a wider environmental hazard. These findings underline the need for greater transparency in product manufacturing and labeling. "Consumers should know that not everything that is in a product is listed on the package," Venier added. "Increased transparency from manufacturers would help consumers make informed decisions about what they're purchasing for themselves and their families." Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about PFAS? Let us know via health@ References Wang, Z., Peebles, E., Baird, D. D., Jukic, A. M. Z., Wilcox, A. J., Curry, C. L., Fischer-Colbrie, T., Onnela, J.-P., Williams, M. A., Hauser, R., Coull, B. A., & Mahalingaiah, S. (2025). Menstrual product use patterns in a large digital cohort in the United States: Variations by sociodemographic, health, and menstrual characteristics. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Wicks, A., Brady, S., Whitehead, H. D., Hedman, T., Zachritz, A., Venier, M., & Peaslee, G. F. (2025). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products. Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
