The Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it has begun a research project examining the possible effects of toxic metals in tampons and that it is launching an independent review.
A study published in July found a variety of metals, including arsenic, mercury and lead, in more than a dozen brands of tampons.
While the study detected metals, it couldn’t conclude whether their existence led to any harm in the women.
“Women use about 7,400 tampons over the course of their reproductive years, so the presence of potentially harmful metals and chemicals in these products is incredibly concerning,” caucus members wrote.
“These initiatives will enable the FDA to complete a risk assessment of metals contained in tampons, based on a worst-case scenario of metal exposure,” the agency wrote.
Persons:
Kathrin Schilling, “
Organizations:
Drug Administration, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Democratic Women’s Caucus, FDA
Locations:
tampons, U.S