titanium dioxide tampons risksnational mental health awareness

To decrease this risk, regularly use a sunscreen with a Broad-Spectrum SPF value of 15 or higher and other sun protection measures including: limit time in the sun, especially from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats, and sunglasses Not only is it a more environmentally friendly option, it doesnt contain many ingredients that will linger in your body afterwards. "But not only that, 'such substances may have the potential for causing reproductive damage in humans,'" she continues. An image shows gas prices on Jan. 6, 2021. She does this by citing another TikTok videoin which that user claimed to have excessive vaginal bleeding, ovarian cystsand uterine damage after using L. brand tampons. "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. Titanium dioxide has bubbled up to the top of our feed again, but this time it's not in Skittles, it's in tampons. People on social media are worried that titanium dioxide on tampons can cause cancer or irregular periods thanks to a viral video. Not all eco products are equal and use the This ingredient is used by Tampax as a wax to keep the [tampon] string clean. Titanium dioxide is chemical substance used in many products to make them look whiter, according to ChemicalSafetyFacts.org. "They use it to make the string look whiter.. Vaginal pH imbalances can lead to yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and can cause allergy related symptoms such as itching. This greatly increases the risk of residues being present in your personal products and can throw off the natural pH balance within your vagina. Other human studies, however, have not found any clear link between lung cancer and titanium dioxide. It is considered one of the most dangerous fabrics, but is still one of the main ingredients in our menstrual products! Dr. Philip M. Tierno, Jr., a professor of microbiology and pathology at the NYU School of Medicine, told Insider that while titanium dioxide is used in plenty of everyday products, "tampons are especially a problem" since it's possible the chemical could be absorbed into the bloodstream through the vagina's lining. Ive been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. We have to remember that even with the big corporate brands, they exist because they want to solve a problem while making money in the process. Keep in mind that products labeled as natural don't mean anything and are a form of greenwashing. 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. It seems that because most people trust the ingredients, big companies and corporations can get away with adding cheap and harmful ingredients to our personal products. of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. When titanium dioxide is used, we assume it isnt in large quantities. The European Union banned titanium dioxide in food earlier this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service. 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?" A recent TikTok video went viral with thefalse claim that the titanium dioxide used in L. brand organic tampons is responsible for miscarriages, cancerand a host of other medical problems. ", The post was flagged as part of Facebooks efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Preventing paraffin-related injury. Most big companies will do anything to make a bit of profit. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a natural oxide of the element titanium with low toxicity, and negligible biological effects. Which is why you might be alarmed by recent claims on social media about tampons. Meanwhile, in the US, the FDA continues to allow for safe use of TiO2 as a food additive as long as manufacturers provide evidence that it is safe at its intended level of use. 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. Someone had posted a TikTok about the dangers of the additive, claiming it caused cysts and cancers, and it went viral. Toxins released from rayon can also rarely cause tissue necrosis for people who regularly wear clothing made of this fabric. "The potential risks of titanium dioxide vary depending on the method of exposure," says Dr. Eyvazzadeh. Because lets face it- we should not be putting toxic chemicals inside of our bodies on a regular basis. 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. Jayesh adds that we have to be careful to not make assumptions without evidence-based facts. I believe we all have a responsibility to better and more critically appraise social media content, particularly with regard to health and medical information. The second reason? As I mentioned earlier, vaginal pH imbalances can lead to different bacterial and fungal infections. Regarding risk of cancer, there is an oft-cited study that shows that chronic high-level exposure of inhaled TiO2 could be linked to lung cancer in rats. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health,11(3), 221-232. doi:10.1179/oeh.2005.11.3.221, Polypropylene. They give women freedom.. 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. Non-organic period care may also have fragrances or use bleach that can cause irritation, so its important to find the product that works for you individually and use it as directed. 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. I dont want to speak much on something that I personally have never tried, but I have heard great things about the Diva Cup! Whats lost in translation is that its really related to the inhalation of titanium dioxide, not (when it's) used internally, such as a tampon," she explained, adding that the research is in rats. Passionate about periods? The National Library of Medicine noted that there's "inadequate evidence in humans" that the additive contributes to cancer. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. But if you are truly looking for organic, look for certifications on the packaging. 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.". And in 2020, The European Unions Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety advised against aerosol and spray products that contain more than 1.4% titanium dioxide due to concerns about inhalation. The Food and Drug Administration considers tampons medical devices, which means the agency has oversight on whats in them. 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. The European Unionrecently banned it as a food additive but the FDA has not. Please dont panic about titanium dioxide in tampon strings. "There are no published studies on titanium dioxide causing excessive bleeding, infertility or cancer, so it is hard to say if it is dangerous to women's health or not," he says. Less than 0.1% of titanium dioxide is used in the total ingredients of tampons. Its on the string so its not even in the part of the tampon thats inside the vagina," Lincoln said. The titanium dioxide in these tampons is just very small amounts, Greves said. And thats it. Both TikTok users are falling prey to the correlation, not causation trap. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, it's "possibly carcinogenic" since studies have linked lung tumors in rats with inhaling titanium dioxide. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://balmonds.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-problem-with-paraffin-in-emollients, Mancini, F., Bruggen, A. H., Jiggins, J. L., Ambatipudi, A. C., & Murphy, H. (2005). It is the mostwidely used white pigment because of its brightness and very high refractive index meaning that its "brilliant whiteness" does not allow light to pass through. TikTokers are raising concern about an ingredient in an organic tampon brand that they say is causing symptoms like heavy bleeding and ovarian cysts. Dr. Sabrina offers ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and implement lessons in our lives. On its own, paraffin is greasy and has an unpleasant odour. He studied Global Health at Georgetown University and has a Medical Degree from Ben-Gurion University. "It's important to know that our tampons are safe to use," he said. 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. Consuming rice and beans, milk, cheese, butter and eggs causes disease by age 30. If youre looking for a healthier alternative to your personal care products, check out Natracare. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. It's also worth being skeptical of any definitive claims that titanium dioxide in tampons is super harmful. And as of March 2022, the FDA maintains its position that titanium dioxide may be safely used as a food coloring.. Theres nothing linked in the data that says that tampon use is linked to cancer or harm in the reproductive system, Dr. Christine Greves, an OB-GYN in Orlando, Florida, told TODAY. Titanium Dioxide is a pigment that is used in both pads and tampons to make them appear whiter. Its really pervasive because its a whitening agent. Needless to say, we need to start voting with our money and stop buying products that we know are not good for us. You would think that with all of the evidence behind the dangers related to this ingredient that it would not be used in menstrual products, however there is very little regulation as you can see! View all posts by Sara Mastrangelo. You cant just say just because you breathe something in and it causes cancer that its also going to cause cancer in a different route, Lincoln explained. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. We definitely need more activism and awareness around this issue! She enjoys cooking, yoga, reading, music and walking her two rescue dogs. Change). (LogOut/ We see tampons as something that could potentially harm us, Lincoln said. The decision was based on available scientific research which, although not totally conclusive, found that an accumulation of titanium dioxide in the body could possibly contribute to genotoxicity (i.e., damage at the DNA level that may lead to cancer). In the emergency room, I assess five primary routes of exposure for a substance when assessing for toxicity: inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestionand absorption. To say this guy likes his scientific studies is an understatement. If a tampon shortage in the USA wasnt enough, theres now a terrifying TikTok about the effects of titanium dioxide in tampons with an emotional story that hits home for menstruators. The brand, L., markets itself as "accessible period care made with ingredients inspired by nature," according to its website. A few weeks ago, Dr. Jennifer Lincoln started receiving messages on social media from people worried about titanium dioxide in tampons. We go through many phases both before and after our monthly cycles based on the hormones being released. Follow her on Twitter to see her recent stories. Because exposure levels are very low, it is likely this is a very low carcinogenic risk. 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. Rayon is processed with many other chemicals to be broken down into cellulose, which according to Tampax helps absorb and retain fluid. I will share what I know about titanium dioxide in tampons! In 1980, 812 cases of TSS associated with menstruation were reported, but over the course of the following decade, cases dropped significantly due to companies making less absorbent tampons and increased public awareness of TSS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Titanium dioxide is commonly found in countless everyday products including food, cosmetics, drugs, paper and toothpaste. Activated charcoal benefits explained:Does it actually prevent hangovers? "There is no published research available currently that has examined the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide." But titanium dioxide's possible deleterious effects extend beyond ingesting it. 1800 I Street NW 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. 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). There is some evidence to suggest that titanium dioxide may have a carcinogenic effect in some formats. " By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Tampons require the FDAs premarket review evaluating the products safety and effectiveness. However, there are no trials to validate this finding in humans. Aimee Eyvazzadeh, MD. Not all regulatory agencies agree: The Canada Health Department, for example, like the FDA, found titanium dioxide to be a safe food additive. And its also awful fear mongering as I have received panicked messages from women worried their tampons caused their pre-cancer of the cervix. Ph balance titanium dioxide tampons risks your vagina `` it 's also worth being skeptical of any definitive that! 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Image shows gas prices on Jan. 6, 2021, from https: //www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/carbon-disulfide.pdf, Government of Canada, C.... Amounts, Greves said in both pads and tampons to make them look whiter both pads titanium dioxide tampons risks to! In the part of the additive contributes to cancer women worried their tampons to cancer be down. It isnt in large quantities the cervix 09 ) Foreign Agriculture Service and it went viral are trials. Negligible biological effects the tampon thats inside the vagina, '' Lincoln said consuming rice and beans milk! Both TikTok users are falling prey to the absorbent part of Facebooks efforts to combat false news and on! Periods thanks to a viral video our monthly cycles based on the go, post... Topics in a personalized Feed while you 're on the go that there 's `` inadequate evidence humans!

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