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). Theres even a lawsuit alleging that the candy company Mars, which makes Skittles, didnt inform its customers about the potential taste the rainbow dangers of titanium dioxide in its product. To be blunt, they are worried about the possibility of something happening that has never been demonstrated to happen, Marino said. While paying $300 a month for health insurance. 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. "They're organic, and I love how compact they are! The Beach Is My Happy Placeand Here Are 3 Science-Backed Reasons It Should Be Yours, Too. Try These OB-GYN-Recommended, Titanium Dioxide-Free Period Products . Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. $17.50 ($0.24/Count) Sold by Utopia Distributors and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. It's protecting you from UV rays. These videos were chemophobia, Gunter declared, and fear mongering. And the importance of questioning what were consuming on the daily. Because there's so little conclusive research on the potential effects of titanium dioxide, you're not going to find clear, concise guidance for tampon shopping by studying up. With 8 million views, this instance shows the impact of a TikTokdespite the actual evidence to the contrary. Morgans TikTok has received more than 30,000 comments on the platform and spurred countlessvideoresponses from other users and creators swearing off L. tampons and any other tampons with titanium dioxide. Best Organic Tampons. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. And it would be a stretch to correlate a possible connection in rats to a true cause-and-effect in humans. But while many want to try and put two and two together, the bottom line is that there isnt enough data to confirm the claims that titanium dioxide in tampons is causing the ovarian cysts and other issues people are describing. Health First: A Cleaning Products Industry Roadmap for Selecting Safer Chemicals, Beyond the Label: Health Impacts of Harmful Ingredients in Cleaning Products, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?action=consumer.reporting1, More Period Policies are Addressing Ingredient Safety and Transparency, Thinx PFAS Lawsuit Also Calls Attention to Nanosilver Concerns, Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022: MOCRA Explained, First US approval of indoor air disinfectant draws NGO criticism, Johnson & Johnson Will Discontinue Talc-Based Baby Powder Globally in 2023. It wasnt that long ago (read: 2020) that a New York law requiring ingredients to be listed in period product packaging went into effect. Tampax. Chemicals are everywhere. But what does it mean for tampons, pads, and reproductive health overall? I think seeking solace and guidance from your physician is key because they may also help clarify [and] help with any anxieties that all this information can provoke., Plan for the future: Scranton encourages people to make calls, send emails, and write reviews to the companies or lawmakers in your life. if (d.getElementById(id)) return; It's also worth being skeptical of any definitive claims that titanium dioxide in tampons is super harmful. There are many substances, including medications, that we safely encounter or consume on a regular basis. productslearn more about If you don't want to take any chances with this ingredient, try these organic products instead. Here arefivesteps you can start applying today: Do this, not that: Simple swaps to boost your wellness, More: Why Epsom salt should be a staple in your home medicine cabinet, Michael Daignault, MD, is a board-certified ER doctor in Los Angeles. Along with being hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested, the tampons feature twisted organic cotton fibers for added absorbency. So we talked to gynecologists to get the scoop on everything you need to know about organic tampons. Estimated ship . If you have sensitive skin, these hypoallergenic, certified organic cotton tampons from Cora might be just what you're looking for. js.src = '//p2a.co/js/embed/widget/advocacywidget.min.js'; 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. We know from rat studies, rats that inhale it are getting lung cancer.. "Very pleased with these," wrote one reviewer. 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. Also Im not looking for attention. A world where workers are treated with dignity from our paychecks to our working conditions. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 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. Difference Between Regular and Organic Tampons, Best Overall: Organyc 100% Certified Organic Tampons, Best Eco-Friendly Applicator: Tampax Pure Organic Tampons, Best Cardboard Applicator: Oi Certified Organic Tampons, Best Applicator Free: Veeda Natural Cotton Applicator Free Tampons, Best for Light Flow: Seventh Generation Organic Cotton Tampons, Best for Heavy Flow: Lola Super Plus Organic Cotton Tampons, Best Variety Pack: Top Regular & Super Organic Tampons, Best Hypoallergenic Option: Cora Organic Cotton Tampons, Best Overnight Option: O.B. Try These OB-GYN-Recommended, Titanium Dioxide-Free Period Products Rael Organic Cotton Tampons ($13.99 for a 32-count box on Amazon.com) August Tampons ($11 for a 16-count box on Itsaugust.co) Diva Cup ($39.99 for one menstrual cup on Divacup.com) Advertisement references Is this an emergency? The toxic substance produced by the bacteria can cause organ damage (including kidney, heart, and liver failure), shock, and even death. I believe we all have a responsibility to better and more critically appraise social media content, particularly with regard to health and medical information. Everyone deserves to live in a healthy and safe environment. According to the brand, the tampons feature a unique design that keeps "fluids locked in the core for added security. Tampons cleared by the FDA are meant to be used one time and then thrown away. While you may have heard about reusable tampons, the FDA has not cleared or approved these products. And live a healthy lifestyle. ", The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved titanium dioxide for human consumptionin 1966, cementing its presence in a variety of foods, including candies and other processed foods. So people are like, Okay, it's doing a good thing. That said, with all the scientific evidence accumulating in other areas, consumers should be more aware of titanium dioxide's potential effect on reproductive health, Dr. Gohar says. "Similar to choosing organic vegetables, it's an alternative, but not necessarily better or safer for women to consume. Let's take a moment to review cotton production and the concept of GMO (genetically modified organism) farming. Her job is to pore over ingredient lists and other scientific studies to find out what we know about the chemicals that are in our products and what their exposure could mean. It gets used in a LOT of products and it's probably been in tampons and pads for a long time (just never listed on the label before). Despite a small percentage ofTiO2 present in the product, low toxicity risk and an unsupported cause-and-effect exampleare both factors that led me to debunk this claim. Skimm'd by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Maria McCallen, and Kamini Ramdeen-Chowdhury. "I have a very heavy flow, and I find that I don't have to change these too often. (no offense) You might be racking your brain and thinking, But what about all the studies you just mentioned. Science is complex. If you can find products that don't have them, that's gonna lessen your exposure., Follow the less is more approach: Meaning [the] lowest possible use of anything that has not been tested properly, Dr. Cohen said. Menstrual pads get even more complicated with top layers, middle layers of absorbent foam, super absorbent polymers, various waterproof backings, more fragrance, lots of coatings to wick fluid and aid absorption, lotion ingredients like petrolatum, adhesives made with styrene, more titanium dioxide to make it look whiter, as well as colored dyes for pretty designs. ", If you do decide to give organic tampons a try, Dr. Ross recommends checking the box for ingredients before buying. our process. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Tampons are one method of absorbing menstrual flow during your period. And since the chemical is in the cotton plant it will also be in the cotton produced from the plant. How do they not see that this is a dire health issue, they play it off as if we are losing our minds. 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. Think: Many of them are animal studies. This is why we fight tirelessly for ingredient transparency and your right to know! "Organic tampon companies make claims that the organic tampons are composed of 100% organic cotton, free of chemicals, rayon and synthetics, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, not bleached with chlorine, dioxin free, and free of additive chemicals that may be harmful to a women's health," said Sherry A. Ross, MD, an ob-gyn, author of she-ology and she-ology. No tampon should be used more than once. (That's slowly changing after New York passed a law requiring ingredients lists on menstrual products sold in the state). Hundreds of Walmart shoppers have given the tampons a near-perfect rating, with many raving about how they're absorbent and comfortable. The suit claims the substance is unfit for human consumption, but the toxicologist stated that the lawsuit is based on gross misinterpretations of the available data to claim a human cancer risk. But if you don't see the word titanium dioxide, that doesn't necessarily mean the chemical isn't in your tampons. The FDA classifies tampons and pads as medical devices, and thus manufacturers of these products are recommended, but not required, to list their ingredients. Dr. Ryan Marino, a medical toxicologist and assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, told Gizmodo in an email that inhaled titanium dioxide (primarily related to industrial exposure) is considered possibly carcinogenic. One user shared her anger after learning that the tampons shes been using contain titanium dioxide. There is accumulating data suggesting an association with the EDCs (including the glyphosate found in cotton) with several conditions including but not limited to: This is a complicated question. If something is white, it often has titanium dioxide. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the Once again we are reminded how important it is that we have ingredient information, and how woefully under-researched the potential impacts that ingredients used in menstrual products and intimate care products might be having on vaginal and vulvar health. 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. Since tampons are inserted inside our bodies for hours at a time, it makes sense that people would have safety concerns, but Dr. Ross says there is no reason for concern. What Are the Symptoms of Having Your Period? Inhaling titanium dioxide while you're painting a room or working on a construction site, for example, may irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. A video with millions of views on TikTok claims titanium dioxide, an ingredient in many tampons, causes cancer and other gynecological and reproductive issues. Walmart customers love these super plus organic cotton tampons from Lola so much, they have given them an impressive 4.3-star rating. 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. Titanium dioxide, or TiO2, is a naturally occurring mineral comprised of titanium and oxygen. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. ", Price at time of publication: $10 for 16 count. 3 Safety Considerations for Silica Supplements. Heres what we know about exposure to titanium dioxide right now: If you inhale titanium dioxide particles it can possibly lead to lung cancer at least we know it causes lung cancer in rats [1]. Information reported to MedWatch helps the FDA to ensure tampons remain safe and effective. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); "If you feel uncomfortable with the potential risks associated with titanium dioxide, look for products that dont include titanium dioxide on the ingredients list," says Flynn. There's just a lot of unknowns and I think it requires further investigation, Dr. Olivia Dziadek, gynecologist with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, said. Alexandra Scranton, Director of Science and Research. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. I started switching to organic food, so why not beauty/hygiene products as well? And it functions the same in tampons: Titanium dioxide serves as a coloring agent to make your period products appear whiter, Dr. Gohar says. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs can act like the naturally occurring hormones in your body. This is what manufacturers need to know that people are reading these things and asking these questions.. Theres been a lot of alarmist concern, she said. Very pleased with these. With all these questions, we turned to experts for answers. The agency could not rule out potential damage to DNA,but this is much different than the agency stating there was an identified cause and effect. Unbelievable. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved titanium dioxide for human consumption in 1966, cementing its presence in a variety of foods, including candies and other processed foods.. Both TikTok users are falling prey to the correlation, not causation trap. 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. As for the potential risks (or lack thereof!) Have a beautiful child. The highly absorbent products are made without any dioxides, polyester, pesticides, or fragrances, and they are applicator-free. Are We Seeing the End of Scented 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. "I love that these are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and non-toxic," wrote one. Read reviews and buy Tampax Pure Cotton Tampons - Super - 24ct at Target. Organic farming typically uses more sustainable practices, plus by not treating cotton with pesticides, fewer harmful chemicals have been released into the environment. Including how tampons affect vaginal bacteria. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "But it's the dose, it's the route that makes the 'poison,' and so just because something might cause lung cancer, for example, doesn't mean it's going to cause an issue in a tampon. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. These are by far the most comfortable, reliable, and absorbent. 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. We reject and actively push back against racist rhetoric, actions, policies and institutional oppression that leads to state-sanctioned brutality, gun violence, and harmthat again and again assaults communities, particularly communities of color. "Organic tampons are available as an alternative for women who prefer to go this route," said Dr. Ross. "[P]revious studies have shown that titanium dioxide can cause alterations to the reproductive system, including reducing the ovarian follicles and leading to the formation of ovarian cysts," she says. However, titanium dioxide isn't just a popular ingredient in food. So while on the one hand no study has positively linked titanium dioxide exposure to ovarian cancer, or miscarriages, or UTIs we also simply dont have the science to assure us that this kind of exposure is perfectly safe either. Once that social media seed is planted, it is extremely difficult to convince people otherwise. 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. And, spoiler: Its in plenty of other products you probably use in your day-to-day life. No rayon, dyes, perfumes, colors, or chlorine is used to make them either. TikTokers are raising concern about titanium dioxide, a whitening agent, in organic tampons. Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup. The absorbent fibers used in FDA-cleared tampons sold today are made with a bleaching process that is free from elemental chlorine, which also prevents products from having dangerous levels of dioxin (a type of pollutant found in the environment). 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. Tampons are not intended to be used at any other time or . The European Food Safety Authority in 2021 expressed concern that TiO2 particles in food additives could accumulate over time in the body and ruled that it could no longer be considered safe as a food additive. Meanwhile, other countries are cracking down on the coloring agent. of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. Missoula, MT 59807, Visit us in Denver And Scranton thinks that the more people read and learn about what theyre using, the more likely theyll push for change. "If this worries you, then don't use products that have this," Jennifer Lincoln, MD, shared in a video. No applicator also means less plastic, less waste, and they're also way more discreet, and I can pack more of them into a smaller space. Lifetime customer here. I wish I could explain what has happened to you and to the others who have responded to the viral TikToks with similar stories of their own. But if we are exposed to these same substances via a different route than how they are intended, or at a higher dose, they can be toxic. 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. Alkaline water:Should you be splurging to make your body less acidic? Here's what the experts suggest Keep it simple: Things like colorants, whiteners, and fragrances are not necessary to the product, Scranton said. This lack of data is incredibly frustrating, given that 26 percent of the global population are of reproductive age and presumably using pads and tampons on the regular to manage their cycles. After August 7, the EU is banning it. The FDA categorizes titanium dioxide as "Generally Recognized as Safe," but the scare-causing chemical has recently been banned as a food additive in the EU on the basis that experts could not. So what do you do instead? We also reached out to Proctor & Gamble, which makes the L. tampons, for comment multiple times with no response. Organyc 100% Certified Organic Cotton Tampons. According to the brand, these organic O.b. This is the case for period care products, even those made with organic cotton. And its certainly worth asking: Is it worth a potential risk worth to have a tampon or pad thats just a little more white before you use it? T. Denver, Colorado 80205, Phone: (406) 543-3747 That being said, you may choose to avoid this particular potential exposure. The .gov means its official.Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. the she-quel and creator of URJA Intimates skincare products for the vulva and vagina. You may be surprised to learn that the FDA regulates tampons as medical devices. But first. Which supplements are most likely to land you in the ER? We should be able to make a period product that does not lead to cysts! 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"They come in two different sizesregular and superwhich are very convenient depending on the day. The nice thing is that finally companies are at least required to tell you what is in their products. "I highly recommend these tampons," wrote one customer. The virtual freak out on TikTok over titanium dioxidea natural mineral approved by the Food and Drug Administration that is used in a variety of products, including sunscreen, cosmetics, food,. Then you can make your own decision. And there honestly isn't a ton of reliable data on the ingredient to help us draw better conclusions, argues the authors of this 2011 review. Only use tampons when you have your period. 4.7 out of 5 stars. And do not smoke. Because even my doctor was very confused. Also, it may be genotoxic, meaning it can harm your DNA. The tampons themselves are made from 100% organic cotton and have been produced using sustainable and ethical processes. 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. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Stressing itll rupture or cause my ovary to twist while my husband is hours away. While they are not safer to use, there are some benefits to switching to organic tamponsparticularly for environmental reasons. by theorganicbunny on August 3, 2022. ", These organic cotton tampons from Rael have a near-perfect rating on Amazon thanks to their leak-locking technology and ultra-slim BPA-free applicator that glides in easily and comfortably. One reason is that the FDA evaluates whether a tampon enhances the growth of the bacteria that causes TSS before the product can be legally marketed. 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. But the video is raising important questions: What is titanium dioxide? Aka a common coloring agent. "While most cosmetic products will disclose whether or not titanium dioxide is an ingredientsome states require itit is important to note that the FDA does not currently require brands to disclose this information.". So, titanium dioxide on the tampon string is not going to be dissolved and absorbed by menstrual blood; and certainly, will not be absorbed into the body. I wanted to do more research before just jumping and following this narrative blindly. In 2021, the EFSA ruled that titanium dioxide is unsafe as a food additive and is suspected of causing cancer. And that is what I encourage you all to do to contact the manufacturers of the products you use. Study after study has flagged concerns about the potential damaging effects of titanium dioxide on organs like the liver and kidney. And not by experts on tiktoc. That said, ovarian cysts are not that rare, and it is possible that it is just coincidental with the folks using This is L. tampons but certainly there should be enough reason now to investigate if there are connections.