And putting the different limits aside, it can be hard to find titanium dioxide on labels because not all companies are required to list it. Also Im not looking for attention. While animal studies give us important information, they cannot be directly generalized to people, Marino said. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/titanium-dioxide-e171-no-longer-considered-safe-when-used-food-additive, how are all these experts not seeing a connection? Felt they had the same or better absorbency. Get it daily. Ingestion: likely not harmful at the low levels we typically encounter it. And it would be a stretch to correlate a possible connection in rats to a true cause-and-effect in humans. A recent TikTok video went viral with the false claim that the titanium dioxide used in L. brand organic tampons is responsible for miscarriages, cancer and a host of other medical problems. In an email statement to theSkimm, the FDA said it has not received any medical device reports related to titanium dioxide and menstrual products. And added that it requires manufacturers to evaluate their period products safety in a number of ways. our process. "could no longer be considered safe" as a food additive, ban TiO2 as a food additive earlier this year, classifies tampons and pads as medical devices, are recommended, but not required, to list their ingredients, may cause cancer based on studies done on animals, government sets limits on exposure for workers, not found any clear link between lung cancer, titanium dioxide can cause alterations to the reproductive system, 26 percent of the global population are of reproductive age. Information reported to MedWatch helps the FDA to ensure tampons remain safe and effective. If so, keep reading! If you take a quick stroll through the aisles of a grocery store or drugstore, you'll find there's an organic option for just about everything these days, including produce, deodorant, and even tampons. a lot of people online are upset with tampon brands (tampax and L. specifically) because they include titanium dioxide in the tampons, which apparently can cause reproductive harm. "So, if titanium dioxide is giving you anxiety that you just can't shake," there are plenty of period care products and trustworthy tampon brands you can try without the chemical, Dr. Gohar says. And how can we learn more about the products were using? AT AMAZON. Organyc 100% Certified Organic Cotton Tampons. While "titanium dioxide is natural, meaning found in nature," it doesn't necessarily mean it's healthy, says ob-gyn and pain medicine physician Jen Gunter, MD. You can opt-out at any time. According to the company, TiO2 represents less than 0.1% of all the ingredients they use to manufacture their tampons. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. The .gov means its official.Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. As Dr. Eyvazzadeh points out, we just don't know either wayno matter how certain Becky on TikTok seems. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In the video, which has received nearly eight million views and 1.5 million likes at the time of publication, user Rachel Morgan holds up a box of 100% organic cotton core tampons from the brand L., owned by Proctor & Gamble, and tells user to stop what theyre doing and check the ingredients on the back of the box. Bottom line: "When it comes to period products, the priority should be using products that you feel comfortable with and are accessible to you," he says. Could you explain as to why this happened to me? 4 Mistakes That Are Causing You to Waste Money on Skin-Care Serums, According to an Esthetician, These Are the Best Anti-Chafing Denim ShortsAccording to Some Very Happy Reviewers. Ask them how they are ensuring the safety of their tampons and pads. Pain Inserting a Tampon? The tampons themselves are bleach, dye, and fragrance-free, and they're made with 100% organic cotton that is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard. Nonetheless, doctors on TikTok and across social media have come out to say that tampon users should not panic, as there is no scientific evidence that titanium dioxide in tampons cause any harm. "Titanium dioxide is the naturally occurring compound created when titanium reacts with oxygen in the air," explains endocrinologist and advisor at reproductive-health company Natalist, Skittles (and its parent company, Mars Inc.), approved titanium dioxide for human consumptionin 1966. including candies and other processed foods. Organic farming typically uses more sustainable practices, plus by not treating cotton with pesticides, fewer harmful chemicals have been released into the environment. But if you don't see the word titanium dioxide, that doesn't necessarily mean the chemical isn't in your tampons. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the Titanium dioxide is a white powder and a common ingredient in many products. It's used in sunscreen, all kinds of cosmetics, medications, and you'll find it in food. Pro tip: It can also appear as Pigment White 6 and White Pigment in packaging. "I have a very heavy flow, and I find that I don't have to change these too often. And then look up and vet the products that we do have available.. You may want to talk with your health care provider about whether tampons are right for you. A company spokesperson told theSkimm that the ingredient represents much less than 0.1% of all ingredients used in a [P&G] tampon. And said its been used safely for years. Tampons are not intended to be used at any other time or . Case in point: exposure to titanium dioxide may destroy good gut microbes, cause gut dysfunction and increase intestinal inflammation, according to a February 2021 systematic review of animal studies published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.. Well, unfortunately, we just dont know if that causes health effects.There is no published research available that has ever examined the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide. You can also register your story with the FDA Medwatch program their online form is here: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?action=consumer.reporting1 and on that form you can offer as much or as little information as you wish. The compound is used safely in many foods and cosmetics, but it's still banned in foods in the UK. So the million-dollar question: is it safe to have titanium dioxide in pads and tampons? How Bad Is It Really to Wear a Tampon for Longer Than 8 Hours? He completed his residency training in emergency medicine at Lincoln Medical Center in theSouth Bronx. I can wear them for as long as necessary and there is no leakage. Understandably, some folks are pretty mad, some are very concerned. As of the time of publication of this article, Morgans TikTok as well as others on the subject with the hashtag #titaniumdioxide were still on the platform racking up views. We are starting to recognize the health concerns of this class of chemicals. This box of organic tampons from Top comes in both super and regular sizes, for light and heavy days. But we [also] don't have the data to support, Don't worry about this. As a result, it's not too difficult to shop for TiO2-free tampons if you're concernedand have the financial means to do so. Only tampons that have been cleared by the FDA can be legally marketed in the U.S. A world where workers are treated with dignity from our paychecks to our working conditions. For all I know at this time, titanium dioxide in pads and tampons might be just fine, but Im not sure we have the science to prove it. The rule for food items is that the coloring agent can't exceed 1% of the food's weight. L. brand tampons use titanium dioxide as pigment in the thread that attaches the stringto the absorbent part of the tampon. Let's look at the concerns around today's feminine hygiene products, specifically national brand tampons and pads. Andrea Chisolm, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who has taught at both Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. What is great is that we are reading the ingredients on these products and asking important questions about their safety. These popular period products are perfect for women with heavy flows because they are designed to expand in all directions to prevent leaks. Exposure to these chemicals can then interfere with important processes in your body. Meaning, you dont have to worry that the blood soaked tampon string is leaking titanium dioxide nanoparticles into your vagina.. According to the suit, 80 percent of the tampons' ingredients are "not cotton," and 60 percent of the ingredients are "not organic," as . The rule for food items is that the coloring agent can't exceed 1% of the food's weight. While they are not safer to use, there are some benefits to switching to organic tamponsparticularly for environmental reasons. How Often to Change Tampons or Pads During Your Period, The 12 Best Period Underwear of 2023, Tested and Reviewed, How to Stop Bacterial Vaginosis From Coming Back Permanently, Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Cancer, Here's Why It's So Hard to Know If Your Period Underwear Is PFAS-Free, GMO (genetically modified organism) farming, Tampons and pads made from organic cotton, Diamanti-Kandarakis E et al, Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement, Endocrine Review 2009 Jun;30(4) 293-342. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. And suggested that the tampons from This Is L Inc are causing ovarian cysts. It is also important to note that the high-profile studies in mice showing inflammation and genetic changes involved force ingestion of massive amounts of titanium dioxide, which would not be possible for every day Americans to replicate through consumer product exposures., Marino speculated that the confusion and recent attention to titanium dioxide was related to a 2021 ban of the mineral by the European Food Safety Authority, which cited concern about the mouse data in its decision although even that data did not support the idea that it is a carcinogen.. And live a healthy lifestyle. A spokesperson for Proctor and Gamble, which manufactures the L. tampons brand, told Insider titanium dioxide is used in the thread that attaches the cord to the absorbent part of the tampon, and . The tampons themselves are made from 100% organic cotton and have been produced using sustainable and ethical processes. That environment includes where you live, work, play, and pray. Gunter also added that when products like titanium dioxide are put on fabric, the point is to have them stay on the fabric. 4.7 out of 5 stars. It is thought that exposure to the developing fetus may be the time when these chemicals have some of the most significant impacts on future health. It's also is often used to make things like paint, and most relevant for our purposes, it's used to make pads and tampons appear whiter. An official website of the United States government, Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts, The Facts on Tamponsand How to Use Them Safely. "I love that these are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and non-toxic," wrote one. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. While most options on this list are more expensive than other tampons you can find in the aisles of your favorite drugstore, Just's tampons are as affordable as they are eco-friendly. 1031 33rd Street These videos were chemophobia, Gunter declared, and fear mongering. "According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regulated doses of titanium dioxide are not harmful, but this also varies based on use," Dr. Gohar says. "They come in two different sizesregular and superwhich are very convenient depending on the day. We also reached out to Proctor & Gamble, which makes the L. tampons, for comment multiple times with no response. The FDA has tested and cleared traditionally used tampons for women to use safely and with confidence.". If you have sensitive skin, these hypoallergenic, certified organic cotton tampons from Cora might be just what you're looking for. Think: Many of them are animal studies. Alkaline water:Should you be splurging to make your body less acidic? The European Union banned titanium dioxide in food earlier this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service. For sunscreen, the research that's been done has looked at how much titanium dioxide do you absorb through your skin when you put it on as a sunscreen, she said. ', Consuming it orally appears to be a different story. So people are like, Okay, it's doing a good thing. Chemistry class was a long time ago. Sunscreens can have concentrations of up to 25%. Is it possible todays feminine hygiene products are exposing me to cancer-causing chemicals? 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. But TiO2 is insoluble in water meaning that it cannot be dissolved into smaller particles. How do they not see that this is a dire health issue, they play it off as if we are losing our minds. We spoke to ob-gyn James A. Gohar, MD, co-founder and CEO of Viva Eve, to set the record straight on this substance in question, including whether it poses any risk to your reproductive health (or otherwise) and which tampon products are safest. "Titanium dioxide is the naturally occurring compound created when titanium reacts with oxygen in the air," explains endocrinologist and advisor at reproductive-health company Natalist Aimee Eyvazzadeh, MD. Glyphosateis from a class of chemicals known as endocrine disrupters. Myths about aluminum and deodorant, explained. Gizmodo reached out to TikTok multiple times on Thursday to ask if it would take any action on content crying wolf about the dangers of titanium dioxide and tampons but did not receive a response. Consider this important information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)and please share this information with other people who may use these products. These products are made from cotton and it is actually the cotton contained in these products that are the potential problem. a woman on tiktok said that she "has been bleeding for 13 days, has ovarian cysts, and has to check for cancer" because she's used the L. brand tampons. "When properly tested, regular tampons are safe and free of harmful chemicals. And many of these chemicals have been associated with contributing to cancer and other medical problems. That being said, you may choose to avoid this particular potential exposure. This is the case for period care products, even those made with organic cotton. Used these This is L. Tampons for 2 cycles and now have a 6cm cyst, bleeding for almost 2 weeks straight, blood tests, doctors visits and now having to pay over $l000 for two sonograms. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; The danger is that people will listen to the sensationalized viral video, instead of having a real conversation about risks with their doctor or health care provider.. For many, the video has raised awareness about an important issue: The chemicals in our products. We are committed to working for justice and equity, and are in solidarity with social, racial, and environmental justice organizations to build community, understanding and honest dialogue to address the root causes of violence, harm and hate.