But this is not the only report that is sparking concerns. In other words, over the billions of tampons used, a handful of cases have found that tampons contributed to cancer but did not cause cancer. As you can see, there is not much regulation that goes into the manufacturing of menstrual products. "I've been on my period for 13 days, I have ovarian cysts that they have to check for cancer, and I've used five of these," she says holding an empty container of L. tampons. Ron DeSantis signs bill requiring Florida students, professors to register political views with (the) state., J.K. Rowling tweeted, If you American birds could keep your legs closed then maybe you wouldnt need abortions in the first place?, "The Supreme Court ruled that border agents can enter anyones home within a 100-mile radius of the border without a warrant for any reason and federal courts cannot do anything about it.". Its pretty worth enough for me. Some research, mostly conducted in animals, has found titanium dioxide to be harmful when inhaled and consumed, typically in large quantities. The brand, L., markets itself as "accessible period care made with ingredients inspired by nature," according to its website. He added that the vaginal mucosa has lots of blood vessels, which allow it to absorb what's in tampons, leading to complications like toxic shock syndrome. A recent viral TikTok had social media users alarmed about the idea of tampons causing cancer because they contain titanium dioxide, but OB-GYNs say there's no data to support it. I do think that they have an image problem because of that.. It makes items white. Several viral videos posted to TikTok and Instagram have claimed titanium dioxide, a whitening agent, is harmful for people who use tampons. Vaginal pH imbalances can lead Organic doesnt necessarily mean better and non-organic doesnt equal danger. As Dr. Eyvazzadeh points out, we just don't know either wayno matter how certain Becky on TikTok seems. In a previous blog post, Jayesh debunked the myth that non-organic pads can cause cancer since study after study has not proven this. Sign up for notifications from Insider! In its report, the EFSA reported that they couldn't rule out the possibility that titanium dioxide caused damage to DNA ("genotoxicity")and thus couldn't establish a safe level of daily intake. accessed Aug. 9, 2022, Chemical Safety Facts, "Titanium Dioxide | Use, Benefits, and Chemical Safety Facts," accessed Aug. 8, 2022, International Agency for Research on Cancer, "Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans VOLUME 93 Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc," 2010, International Agency for Research on Cancer, "Studies of Cancer in Experimental Animals - Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc," 2010, Healthline, "Titanium dioxide in food Should you be concerned?" By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Both TikTok users are falling prey to the correlation, not causation trap. This means that youll find absolutely no titanium dioxide in them or any other toxic substances, synthetic fibres, chemical residues, dyes, pesticides, chlorine bleach or fragrances. Is Titanium Dioxide Safe in Tampons? They give women freedom., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Just hours before the Idaho slayings, another grisly scene unfolded outside Bryan Kohberger's window, Polar bear kills woman, boy in remote Alaska village, Hawaii fisherman overboard, missing after hooking large ahi, Reality TV star Julie Chrisley reassigned from Florida prison to federal medical center, The rich and powerful flocked to Davos via private jet to discuss climate change, study finds. TikTokers are raising concern about an ingredient in an organic tampon brand that they say is causing symptoms like heavy bleeding and ovarian cysts. All rights reserved. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what-s-the-risk-titanium-dioxide The Problem With Paraffin In Emollients. We need your help. Toxins released from rayon can also rarely cause tissue necrosis for people who regularly wear clothing made of this fabric. Fear of tampons may persist because of their association with toxic shock syndrome, Greves and Lincoln theorized. Full disclosure: our ingredient list is simple and does not contain titanium dioxide or any other chemicals or fragrances. The chemical substance also seems to have a potentially negative impact on the gut microbiome, Dr. Gohar says. Its on the string so its not even in the part of the tampon thats inside the vagina," Lincoln said. Aimee Eyvazzadeh, MD. https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/titanium-dioxide-in-tampons-pads-48908320, https://www.canada-organic.ca/sites/default/files/organic_labelling_in_canada_booklet_aug2018.pdf, https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2014/10/23/organic-101-organic-brand-nameorganic-package. First produced commercially in 1923, titanium dioxide is found in toothpaste, printer paper, sunscreen, concealer, paints, drug tablet coatings, candies, plastics, chewing gum, eye shadowand coffee creamers, just to name a few. We know its very important to remove the tampon, not to leave it in., Added Lincoln: I also think this is just my theory that anything that goes in the vagina, in this country, were somewhat scared of it. (2020, February 12). New study explores the benefits,harms. The product in question in the TikTok video is one that is labeled as organic and yet it contains titanium dioxide. debunked the myth that non-organic pads can cause cancer. The problem with Tampax, O.B and other conventional menstrual product manufacturers is that they use genetically modified cotton, as well as a list of other toxic ingredients such as wood pulp, plastics and dyes. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/carbon-disulfide.pdf, Government of Canada, C. C. (2021, May 09). joni co-founder, Jayesh Vekariyain addition to holding an MBAhas a masters in pharmacology with a research interest in endocrine hormones and reproductive health with more than nine years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry. What to Know About Food Additive Titanium Dioxide," July 26, 2022, Environmental Science & Technology, "Release of Titanium Dioxide from Textiles during Washing," July 2, 2012, The Guardian, "Tampon wars: the battle to overthrow the Tampax empire," Feb. 11, 2020, District of Columbia Stay up to date with what you want to know. Lets unpack this TikTok and follow the evidence. But there is also no published research on vaginal So are organic tampons better? The titanium dioxide in it is toxic to us & causing cancerous cysts, ectopic pregnancies, & reproductive damage in humans. Americans who worked through the pandemic are being paid up to $26,000 by qualifying for the Employee Retention Credit., Every single Republican blocked Ketanji Brown Jacksons SCOTUS appointment.. As far as hypothetical exposure risk, the tampon would pose a more significant exposure as it is worn internally. Cancer is a complex phenomenon that can be correlated with many factors. So inhalation at higher concentrations may not be advisable, but inhalation clearly isnt a risk when tampons are used according to their intended purpose. Most big companies will do anything to make a bit of profit. Tierno said he believed "truly organic tampons" don't, and shouldn't, contain chemicals like titanium dioxide. Some of the fear mongering about tampons seems to be because the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies titanium dioxide as a Group 2B carcinogen, meaning possibly carcinogenic to humans. But theres an important caveat hereby inhalation. This was from studies where rats were inhaling high doses. Which supplements are most likely to land you in the ER? Needless to say, we need to start voting with our money and stop buying products that we know are not good for us. The amount of titanium dioxide in each tampon is minuscule. So while there is no evidence of danger, "we also dont have the science to assure us that this kind of exposure is safe either. Thank you so much for reading my blog! . An image shows gas prices on Jan. 6, 2021. A post shared by Jen Gunter (@drjengunter), But not all doctors agree. What is Titanium Dioxide (and should you be worried)? Magic Johnson tested positive for HIV "because Faucis gain of function study used a contaminated Hepatitis B vaccine. ", The post was flagged as part of Facebooks efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. 1800 I Street NW They are very similar to Natracare and do not contain genetically modified cotton or any of the other chemicals that we discussed. There's not much information on how titanium dioxide could affect health when used in tampons. Theyre really tightly regulated. We see tampons as something that could potentially harm us, Lincoln said. Its a compound that reflects light particles. OK, so what about titanium dioxide in tampons, which sit inside you for hours at a time? Yes, I know there are scary videos circulating on TikTok, but this is chemophobia. TiO2 It is mined from the Earth and then processed into an inorganic solid white compound most commonlyused as a pigment in paints, food coloring, sunscreenand cosmetic products. A few weeks ago, Dr. Jennifer Lincoln started receiving messages on social media from people worried about titanium dioxide From ankle weights to a pilates kit, 12 expert-approved picks for your fitness routine. Study after study has flagged concerns about the potential damaging effects of titanium dioxide on organs like the liver and kidney. After a review of numerous studies, many conducted in animals given high doses of titanium dioxide, the agency reported it did not find evidence of general, organ, reproductive, or developmental toxicity. We definitely need more activism and awareness around this issue! Most people assume that menstrual products contain safe, non-toxic ingredients. Theyre really tightly regulated. Is the titanium dioxide in tampons toxic? The ban was related to really concern and hypothetical risks, she stressed. Concerns over titanium dioxide, used by many tampon brands to keep the string looking white, spread to Facebook with one user issuing a warning to her followers. She discovered the tampons she was using lists titanium dioxide as an ingredient, which she blames for her health issues. Titanium dioxide is used in all kinds of products as a whitener, including toothpaste, sunscreen, and yes, period care. The use of titanium dioxide in tampons is not explicitly regulated, because the agency only "makes clearance or approval decisions for medical devices, such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups, as they are supplied in their final, finished form," the FDA spokesperson said. If you think of all the cosmetics and dyes and candy and food its everywhere, Dr. Jennifer Wu, an OB-GYN at Lenox Hill Hospital, told TODAY. In general, Dr. Gunter says that there is no evidence that titanium dioxide on tampon strings can cause any harm. Within her 30 years as a gynecologist, Dr. Gunter says But what about its relationship to cancer? Just bear in mind: If you have any specific health concerns to weigh, it's critical to reach out to your gynecologist or primary care physician to make the right choice for you. Try These OB-GYN-Recommended, Titanium Dioxide-Free Period Products . The carbon disulphide emitted from rayon has been proven to cause symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, headaches and chest pain when inhaled. This finding prompted the European Union to ban TiO2 as a food additive earlier this year, but in the U.S., the ingredient is still considered to be safe in food at the limits set by the FDA. Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies ethylene oxide as a known human carcinogen and 1,4-dioxane as a possible human carcinogen. Lincoln said this led some to believe that the substance has been proven to be cancerous. Her video has 3.6 million views. Inhaling titanium dioxide may also result in adverse respiratory reactions, Dr. Gohar says. See who are the biggest influencers in the U.S. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the compound is safe in regulated amounts meaning less than 1% of a food's weight to up to 25% of a sunscreen's concentration. Chemicals and ingredients found in conventional tampons have many unadvertised side effects and dangers so lets get into it and explore healthier alternatives! Although the FDA considers titanium dioxide safe, the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." So the million-dollar question: is it safe to have titanium dioxide in pads and tampons? There's also a little bit of evidence to suggest that the common ingredient may be an endocrine disruptor, says Flynnmeaning it may affect a person's hormonal system. However, these studies were conducted on mice who orally consumed titanium dioxide, so we'll still need extensive clinical research on humans before we can definitively link TiO2 with reproductive disruptionor assume those risks definitely come from other intakes of the ingredient. The Beach Is My Happy Placeand Here Are 3 Science-Backed Reasons It Should Be Yours, Too. We disclose every ingredient we use in our products to inform and educate so you can make the best decision for your body. Yet Jayesh clarifies that simply because a brand uses materials that have been pre-assessed for health safety does not mean how theyre being used does not cause problems. People on social media are worried that titanium dioxide on tampons can cause cancer or irregular periods thanks to a viral video. The European Union banned titanium dioxide in food earlier this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service. So manufacturers add preservatives, fragrance and bleach to make it more appealing. View all posts by Sara Mastrangelo. The research from the IARC did however acknowledge that its lacking the connection to a human study that would confirm long-term effects. "Again, the data is inconclusive on whether these products are really linked to excessive bleeding, cancer and infertility, so it's not right or wrong to continue using these products based on currently available information," Dr. Gohar says. Titanium Dioxide, or TiO2, is a white coloring agent used in cosmetic products, toothpaste, deodorant, desserts and paint. Sunscreens with titanium dioxide as nanoparticles, Safety of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in cosmetics, New York becomes first state to require ingredients list on pads, tampons, Are Skittles Toxic? National Library of Medicines list For example, when the substance is applied via sunscreen, sufficient data have found titanium dioxide to be "generally recognized as safe and effective," per the FDA. Titanium dioxide, or TiO2, is a naturally occurring mineral comprised of titanium and oxygen. L. brand tampons use titanium dioxide as pigment in the thread that attaches the string to the absorbent part of the tampon. According to the company, TiO2 represents less than 0.1% of all the ingredients they use to manufacture their tampons. Its very commonly used as a natural mineral and has been studied in rodents.. Our super organic, hypoallergenic and biodegradable tampons are made from 100% certified organic cotton. And as of March 2022, the FDA maintains its position that titanium dioxide may be safely used as a food coloring.. Depending on the manufacturing processes, PEGs can be contaminated with measurable amounts of chemicals such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. 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