"There is no published research available currently that has examined the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide," Dr. Eyvazzadeh. 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. 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? All rights reserved. Rebecca Carhart is a Senior Ecommerce Reviews Writer covering home, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. 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. It's used in sunscreen, all kinds of cosmetics, medications, and you'll find it in food. I just think its important to not think that because we see one TikTok of somebody having a problem and [saying] this is what caused it to understand that thats not the most scientific way to figure out whats going on., We may earn a commission from links on this page. Price at time of publication: $6.98 for 20 count. Think: Many of them are animal studies. Pro tip: It can also appear as Pigment White 6 and White Pigment in packaging. There are a number of folks online recently worried about finding titanium dioxide as an ingredient in their tampons and pads and wondering if it is related to some health conditions they are experiencing like ovarian cysts, miscarriages, UTIs and more. We should be able to make a period product that does not lead to cysts! So people are like, Okay, it's doing a good thing. It also appears insunscreen and cosmetics, two categories in which the ingredient is also generally considered safe. And do not smoke. How Bad Is It Really to Use Baby Powder 'Down There?'. Free standard shipping with $35 orders. You might be racking your brain and thinking, But what about all the studies you just mentioned. Science is complex. In addition, Marino stated that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide have been shown to cause inflammatory responses and potentially genetic damage in mice, but again pointed out that this has not occurred in humans. Titanium dioxide is a white powder and a common ingredient in many products. "You will want to make sure they 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.". Titanium dioxide is common chemical. Tampax comes in light, regular, and super absorbencies and . Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. 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. However there is not enough proof showing titanium dioxide coloring in tampons to be harmful. Hundreds of Walmart shoppers have given the tampons a near-perfect rating, with many raving about how they're absorbent and comfortable. Below, Dr. Eyvazzadeh and Erin Flynn, MPH, DNP/FNP, an LGBTQ+ care expert with birth control startup Favor, share the complicated truth behind this question. I believe we all have a responsibility to better and more critically appraise social media content, particularly with regard to health and medical information. by theorganicbunny on August 3, 2022. The reality of life today is that you are bombarded with multiple chemical exposures. of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. Cause-and-effect can only be established by rigorous randomized-control, double-blindclinical research trials or meta-analyses of multiple smaller studies, for example. 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. 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. Felt they had the same or better absorbency. Now 12% Off. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs can act like the naturally occurring hormones in your body. So there are lots of ways to be exposed to this chemical. He completed his residency training in emergency medicine at Lincoln Medical Center in theSouth Bronx. In this world, every point in the cycle of production and consumption from extraction, to processing, to use, to disposal contributes not just to a less toxic world, but to a thriving world. Titanium dioxide doesnt dissolve in water, meaning the nanoparticles arent going to dissolve from the tampon string and get into the blood that might be pooling in the vagina and then get absorbed by the body, she wrote. our process. In addition, more informative tampon labeling, as well as educational efforts by the FDA and manufacturers, may have contributed to the reduction in TSS cases. And how can we learn more about the products were using? If you have sensitive skin, these hypoallergenic, certified organic cotton tampons from Cora might be just what you're looking for. How well do you know the ingredients in the foods you eat or products you use every day? And certainly there are a few red flags with titanium dioxide, so its not unreasonable to be concerned. If so, keep reading! One user shared her anger after learning that the tampons shes been using contain titanium dioxide. To be blunt, they are worried about the possibility of something happening that has never been demonstrated to happen, Marino said. Certainly the laws and the regulatory issues are so paramount because that's how we got into this pickle to begin with, Dr. Cohen said. Inhaling titanium dioxide may also result in adverse respiratory reactions, Dr. Gohar says. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); But titanium dioxide's possible deleterious effects extend beyond ingesting it. 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. 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. 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.. There are a number of folks online recently worried about finding titanium dioxide as an ingredient in their tampons and pads - and wondering if it is related to some health conditions they. Unbelievable. At TOTM, we can confirm that we do not use titanium dioxide at any stage of our . Including. 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. Lets look at what can happen with an acute TiO2 exposure: The last route absorption is the route of question when it comes to the TiO2 in tampons. Subscribe to receive Consumer Updates email notifications. "Again, the data is inconclusive on whether these products are really linked to excessive bleeding, cancer and infertility, so it's not right or wrong to continue using these products based on currently available information," Dr. Gohar says. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. "These tampons are fantastic," wrote one customer. Both TikTok users are falling prey to the correlation, not causation trap. There are however many brands who do not use this in their period products. No tampon should be used more than once. What is great is that we are reading the ingredients on these products and asking important questions about their safety. Titanium dioxide might be one of these. Comes with twelve different courses comprised of a huge number of lessons, and each one will help you learn more about Python itself, and can be accessed when you want and as often as you want forever, making it ideal for learning a new skill. TikTokers are raising concern about titanium dioxide, a whitening agent, in organic tampons. This box of organic tampons from Top comes in both super and regular sizes, for light and heavy days. Plus, titanium dioxide is not water soluble, so it's unlikely to be dissolved and absorbed vaginally, according to the National Library of Medicine. In a post on her Vajenda Substack on Wednesday, Gunter said that as a result of the videos on TikTok, she had received panicked messages from women worried that their tampons were the cause of their pre-cancer of the cervix. 3 Safety Considerations for Silica Supplements. 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. "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. TikTokers are raising concern about titanium dioxide, a whitening agent, in organic tampons. 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. If that is the case, you can avoid glyphosate by using alternative feminine hygiene products. They are comfortable and easy to use, just make sure you press down completely on the applicator before removing (it sort of 'clicks' together). After August 7, the EU is banning it. It gets used in a LOT of products and its probably been in tampons and pads for a long time (just never listed on the label before). 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. TiO2 was nevertheless banned as a food additive in the EU as of this month. Alkaline water:Should you be splurging to make your body less acidic? ", One shopper wrote, "I used to use Tampax, but things changed as I got older and I needed something more absorbent and more comfortable. 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. There is some evidence to suggest that titanium dioxide may have a carcinogenic effect in some formats. Theyre actually in other brands like Always pads and Tampax tampons. Our tampons are safe and all the ingredients that we use are rigorously tested to meet strict safety and government regulations around the world, Erica Noble, spokesperson for Procter & Gamble, said. The European Union banned titanium dioxide in food earlier this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service. In fact, in 2021 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) declared titanium dioxide no longer safer as a food additive. "I stopped using tampons when I noticed they'd irritate my lady parts after use. So, why would they use an ingredient that can be considered cariogenic and cause reproductive issues with tampons? And is used as a coloring agent to brighten and whiten things like period products. AT AMAZON. It's unclear exactly how many brands use TiO2 in their menstrual products. of using pads and tampons with titanium dioxidewe just don't know for certain. 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). Thats huge, considering the FDA doesnt require companies to list the individual ingredients in tampons and pads since theyre considered medical devices. But their favorite part seems to be the fact that they are made from 90% plant-based materials. 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.. For many, the video has raised awareness about an important issue: The chemicals in our products. I will share what I know about titanium dioxide in tampons! So what do you do instead? And linked it to cancer and damage to the immune system when certain amounts were ingested over a period of time. Lifetime customer here. These are the best organic tampons to shop for: Best Overall: Organyc 100% Certified Organic Tampons. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. The rule for food items is that the coloring agent can't exceed 1% of the food's weight. "Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring substance that is often used in food and other topical products to create a whiter and brighter look," Dr. Gohar says. 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. "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. Although the vagina is a mucous membrane through which a chemical could be absorbed we dont know for sure if this actually happens and if it does how much glyphosate is actually absorbed. Sunscreens can have concentrations of up to 25%. When inhaled repeatedly, this white powder can irritate the lungs, causing problems like bronchitis or even lung cancer, as it's been shown to be a known carcinogen in animals, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. 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. As to whether its nanoparticals in the string or not, once blood an other fluids touches the chemical its most likely all fusing together and that is going inside our very sensitive systems. 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. The FDA has found that regulated amounts of titanium dioxide are considered safe. "I love that these are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and non-toxic," wrote one. These are the best organic tampons to shop for: With nearly 3,000 five-star ratings, these organic tampons from Organyc are an Amazon favorite. We will keep fighting for the need for safer products and more thorough research! This means that farmers could use this herbicide to kill the weeds in their fields without worrying about it harming the cotton crops. Dr. Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist and adjunct assistant professor at University of Illinois at Chicago, is another debunker of TikTok misinformation and has more than 267,000 followers on the platform. However, trouble arose for the ingredient in 2021 when the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a statement that titanium dioxide "could no longer be considered safe" as a food additive. Wash your hands before and after using a tampon. It's also worth being skeptical of any definitive claims that titanium dioxide in tampons is super harmful. Made with a 100% cotton core, the company's feminine care products are produced without any dyes, fragrances, or chlorine bleaching. Before you start gathering all your tampons and scouring their ingredient lists, you should know that experts want you to chill and stop worrying: Your tampons are safe. Though some research identified a link between the . WVE envisions a world free from the impacts of toxic chemicals, one where our planet and communities are thriving, one where our gender, race, sexuality, zip code, income level or job does not determine our health outcomes. It wasnt that long ago (read: 2020) that a New York law requiring ingredients to be listed in period product packaging went into effect. For more information on TSS, see the tampon safety tips, below. Once that social media seed is planted, it is extremely difficult to convince people otherwise. (That's slowly changing after New York passed a law requiring ingredients lists on menstrual products sold in the state). Andrea Chisolm, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who has taught at both Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. Shoppers are fans of the tampon's compact design that fits in the palm of their hand, allowing them to discreetly carry one to the bathroom. No tampon should be used more than once. 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. Including how tampons affect vaginal bacteria. Not only are the tampons made from 100% certified organic cotton, but the rounded cardboard applicators are fully biodegradable, making them a fantastic eco-friendly product. Along with being hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested, the tampons feature twisted organic cotton fibers for added absorbency. These options are often referred to as green alternatives and include: By Andrea Chisholm, MD In a somewhat tasteless move, some tamponbrands even tried to take advantage of the fear gripping users on the platform and decided to take advantage of the moment to announce that their products did not have titanium dioxide. The tampons come in both regular and super sizes, and customers say a regular size is a great option for light flow days. Estimated ship . Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. What's great is that people are asking these questions, Scranton said. Alexandra Scranton is the director of science and research at Womens Voices for the Earth, an environmental nonprofit. The Beach Is My Happy Placeand Here Are 3 Science-Backed Reasons It Should Be Yours, Too. "Similar to choosing organic vegetables, it's an alternative, but not necessarily better or safer for women to consume. 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). }(document, 'script', 'advocacy-actionwidget-code')); Womens Voices for the Earth ", Price at time of publication: $12.74 for 16 count. Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is rare and is caused by a toxic substance that is produced by certain kinds of bacteria.
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