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Dear John

Today, on Menstrual Hygiene Day, we have published a new report ‘Blood, Sweat & Pesticides: A closer look at toxic chemicals in period products’ ([link removed]) .

Half of the world’s population have periods, with those who menstruate each using an average of 11,000 disposable menstrual products ([link removed]) during their lifetime. Despite the prolific use of these products, the potential health impacts of the chemicals that they can contain remains largely unexamined.

Working in collaboration with Wen (Women’s Environmental Network), we tested just 15 boxes of tampons from UK shops and supermarkets for traces of pesticides. Despite testing such a small batch, we found glyphosate in tampons contained in one of the boxes at levels 40 times higher than limit permitted for drinking water.
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Glyphosate is the world’s most commonly used herbicide, and in 2015 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it to be a probable carcinogen, meaning that exposure to glyphosate is linked to cancer. There is increasing evidence that glyphosate is also linked to other serious conditions such as Parkinson’s. Given the concerns around the impact of glyphosate on human health, finding it in menstrual products is alarming.

Unlike when ingested through food or water, chemicals absorbed via the vagina directly enter the bloodstream, bypassing the body’s detoxification systems. As a result, even small amounts of harmful chemicals in tampons could pose a significant health risk.
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Previous studies have shown that period products (namely tampons and pads and newer reusable products such as period underwear) can also contain a variety of other chemicals such as phthalates, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), dioxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. These chemicals have been linked to increased risks of cancer and infertility, and reproductive and hormonal diseases such as endometriosis.
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Many period products, such as tampons and pads, begin their life as a cotton plant. Cotton is often called the world’s “dirtiest crop”, as it uses more chemical pesticides than any other major crop in the world. Approximately 300 pesticides are used in cotton production globally, with roughly a third of these classified as Highly Hazardous Pesticides, including glyphosate. Cotton farmers are being exposed to toxic pesticides at concerning levels. Farmers in the global south in particular are often working in environments with little to no protective equipment. Many cotton farmers are women, who face the health risks of working with pesticides both on the farm and in the home on a daily basis.
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We’re calling for a range of actions to be taken by the UK Government, including the introduction of robust government testing of period products and a legal requirement for manufacturers to disclose the ingredients and additives in all period products.

And please share this news far and wide if you can! Thank you.
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The fight for a healthier and more sustainable future continues.

Thank you for being part of it.

In solidarity,

the team at PAN UK
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