Worries about items used by millions of women in the U.S. are being raised by the Food and Drug Administration’s announcement to begin a study that will look into the potential effects of toxic metal in condoms.
More than a few manufacturers of tampons were found to contain a variety of metals, including arsenic, arsenic, and lead, according to a new study.
According to the FDA, the study will help people better understand the possible effects and whether the metals are harming people. Up to 80 % of girls and women who menstruate wear condoms for almost a fortnight every month for years of their existence must be aware of this fact.
The FDA said Tuesday while the investigation,  , led by a UC Berkeley scholar and published in July,  , found aluminum in some condoms, the investigation “did not examine whether metal are released from tampon when used”.
Additionally, it did not examine whether menstrual use resulted in metals being released, absorbed into the uterine lining, and entering the bloodstream. So, the FDA initiated an inner chair labs study to evaluate metals in tampons and requested an impartial literature review, according to a statement from the FDA.
Determine how many, if any, of the metal that the body absorbs from the condoms will be a key question.
The new research,  , published in the journal Environment International,  , evaluated levels of 16 metals in tampons: pollutants, calcium, magnesium, copper, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, iron, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium and zinc. They looked at 30 condoms from 14 different companies sold in the U. S. and Europe. They included name brands, general store brands, name brands, and non-organic tampons.
Although the names of the tested models are unknown, researchers discovered metals in every type of tampon studied. Arsenic was higher in pure condoms, but direct quantities were higher in nonorganic condoms.
More investigation is needed, according to the experts, to better understand the risk posed to people.
The results are mainly concerning because the womb has a higher potential for chemical intake than the body’s other areas, and can lead to systemwide exposure. Chronic exposure to aluminum have been found to increase the risk of a wide variety of health difficulties including heart disease, memory, fertility, diabetes and cancer. In addition, metal may hurt maternal health and maternal growth.
Given the potential for a major health problem, it’s an region of remarkably little study.
Direct author , Jenni A. Shearston, a postdoctoral researcher at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and UC Berkeley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy, &, Management said she thought her analysis was the first to determine metals in condoms.
According to researchers, metals may enter tampons through a variety of means, including by being accidentally added to cotton material while being produced as part of a colour, toner, antibacterial agent, or through a local contaminant ( for example, if a cotton field was close to a direct smelter ).
Dr. Cherie Hill, an Emory Healthcare cardiologist and doctor, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she was shocked to learn that these results were just now being made public.
” We’ve heard about heavy metals in various sources like water and clothes, and I was just like,’ Why did n’t we had looked at condoms formerly?'” she said.
Although Hill said she does n’t believe women should” throw out all of their tampons,” the study contained some alarming findings that might give some women pause about why they continue to use them. She claimed that more investigation is essential to understand the effects.
She said,” We need to be aware of what is entering our bodies and how it will affect our health.”
” The paper talks about lead present in all of ( the tampons ) and we do n’t know if there’s a safe level of lead that should ever be in your body”, she said. ” Some people may say’ Because I do n’t know the impact, I want to avoid it.'”
But yet options, including rubber periodic cups and time underpants, have questions about their health and more research is needed on those products to, she said. According to a , 2019 study in the journal Reproductive Toxicology, many brands of menstrual pads have higher levels of chemicals linked to developmental and reproductive harm.
Concerns about tampons go back decades. In 1980, researchers found proof that the super-absorbent tampons were linked to toxic shock syndrome.
The FDA did n’t give a timeline to release its findings.
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