On average, a woman uses over 16,000 tampons in her lifetime.1 This staggering statistic begs the question—what are all of these feminine products doing to the health of our planet and our bodies?! Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that conventional tampons and sanitary napkins contain:
- Non-organic cotton, which is considered the world’s dirtiest crop. Every pound of raw cotton requires almost a third of a pound of synthetic fertilizers. Cotton also uses about 10% of the world’s pesticides and 25% of its insecticides.2 Pesticide exposure is linked to birth defects and reproductive disorders.3 Aldicarb, the most popular cotton insecticide, is so poisonous to humans that even just one drop on the skin can kill a person. Yet it’s still used in 25 countries and in the United States, where 16 States have reported it being found in their groundwater.4
- Rayon, a synthetic fiber made from wood pulp. Rayon fibers may contain dioxin.5
- Chlorine, which is used to bleach the product. Chlorine produces low levels of dioxin when it reacts with rayon. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, dioxin is known to cause cancer in animals and probably causes it in humans. Although dioxin levels in tampons have been reduced over the last few decades, no one really knows what traces of dioxin can do to the body over a lifetime. High dioxin levels may cause reduced fertility, weakened immune system, and pelvic inflammatory disease.6
- Plastic, which doesn’t decompose. That means that our dirty sanitary pads and plastic tampon applicators will linger in landfills for hundreds of years to come.
What to use instead: Fortunately, there are many alternatives to conventional sanitary pads and tampons readily available online and even in some stores. Together, we can make a difference with our dollars! If every woman of menstruating age in the United States replaced just one 16-count box of conventional cotton/rayon tampons with organic cotton tampons, we could prevent 14,000 pounds of pesticides from polluting our waters. Here’s what to look for:
- Disposable tampons and pads that are organic and totally chlorine free, which means that no chlorine is used during bleaching.
- Washable organic cotton pads.
- A reusable cup made of silicone. It eliminates the need for tampons and pads but admittedly takes some getting used to.
To decide which product is right for you, research these environmentally conscious manufacturers and distributors of eco-friendly feminine products:
So go ahead and try it, you might just like it—Mother Nature certainly will!
