Latest news with #PanUK
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Toxic pesticide levels in tampons 40 times higher than allowed in drinking water
A toxic pesticide linked to cancer has been found in tampons at levels 40 times higher than the legal limit for drinking water. Researchers found traces of glyphosate at high levels in menstrual products, according to a report by the Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK), the Women's Environmental Network and the Pesticide Collaboration. It is the world's most commonly used herbicide and in 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it 'probably carcinogenic'. Researchers have also linked glyphosate to other serious health conditions such as Parkinson's. High levels of the pesticide in tampons is concerning because these chemicals can be absorbed through the vagina directly into the bloodstream. In 2024, Pan UK tested 15 boxes of tampons from UK shops and supermarkets across a range of different brands for traces of pesticides. Despite testing on a small scale, glyphosate was found in one of the boxes, at 0.004 mg/kg - 40 times higher than permitted levels of glyphosate in drinking water. It is thought the toxic pesticide ends up in tampons due to the weedkillers used to grow cotton. About 300 pesticides are used in cotton production globally and roughly a third of these are classified as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), such as glyphosate. Researchers at Pan UK say these pesticides used in cotton production pose a major risk to the environment, harming pollinators and other wildlife or contaminating water and soil. Josie Cohen, the interim director at Pan UK, told The Guardian: '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 studies have shown period products can contain a variety of other chemicals including phthalates, dioxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as 'PFAS' or 'forever chemicals'), and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. These chemicals have been linked to increased risks of reproductive and hormonal diseases such as endometriosis, infertility and cancer researchers warn. Currently there is no specific regulations for period products in the UK, making it the responsibility of the manufacturers to ensure the product is safe. Pan UK has suggested a regulation scheme and testing should be implemented to ensure they are free of chemical residues. It added that manufacturers should also disclose all the ingredients and additives found in period products so that customers can make informed decisions.
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".
