The problem is, although the cotton is resistant to the effects of the herbicide glyphosate, the chemical is still absorbed by the plant. This disruption of certain biological pathways can lead to the development of the disease. Shipping details. We all deserve safe products and all you need to do is ask. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. "They're easy to use, easily concealable, and give me ease of mind that I'm doing something good for the environment. 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. Other videos on TikTok pointed out that Mars, Inc. is currently being sued for not disclosing that Skittles contained titanium dioxide. But the video is raising important questions: What is titanium dioxide? This box of organic tampons from Top comes in both super and regular sizes, for light and heavy days. "I love that these are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and non-toxic," wrote one. "There is no published research available currently that has examined the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide," Dr. Eyvazzadeh. (If you reside outside of the U.S., please simply enter 00000 for zip code), ph:(406) 543-3747 | womensvoices@womensvoices.org | 2023 All rights reserved |, Introducing WVEs New Plan for a Thriving Future. Although there were also doctors and experts trying to quell the panic, like Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, they were, unfortunately, a minority. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. And many of these chemicals have been associated with contributing to cancer and other medical problems. 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. 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. Because one of the ingredients on the back of her container is titanium dioxide, which if you dont know, causes cancer, Morgan said. "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 Aimee Eyvazzadeh, MD. 2023Well+Good LLC. Titanium dioxide is common chemical. For about the last twenty years the majority of cotton farmers have been using seeds that were modified to have resistance to a major herbicide known as glyphosate. Alexandra Scranton, Director of Science and Research. 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. The FDA has found that regulated amounts of titanium dioxide are considered safe. It can be frustrating when you don't have a clear picture of the ingredients in your tampons, toothpaste, chewing gum, and everything in between. The danger is that people will listen to the sensationalized viral video, instead of having a real conversation about risks with their doctor or health care provider.. "There are no published studies on titanium dioxide causing excessive bleeding, infertility or cancer, so it is hard to say if it is dangerous to women's health or not," Dr. Gohar says. If that is the case, you can avoid glyphosate by using alternative feminine hygiene products. "Very pleased with these," wrote one reviewer. One shopper called the Top tampons a "must try" before adding, "I've used many different brands of organic tampons. ", 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. Could you explain as to why this happened to me? Is it possible todays feminine hygiene products are exposing me to cancer-causing chemicals? Chemicals are everywhere. Theres also period underwear. Ask them how they are ensuring the safety of their tampons and pads. Heres What Your Bodys Trying to Tell You, National Library of Medicine: Titanium dioxide, U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Questions and Answers: FDA posts deemed final order and proposed order for over-the-counter sunscreen, European Food Safety Authority: Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive, U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, New Jersey Department of Health: Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Titanium Dioxide, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Impact of Food Additive Titanium Dioxide on Gut Microbiota Composition, Microbiota-Associated Functions, and Gut Barrier: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Animal Studies. Typically, "higher doses can be used topically in a safe manner," he says. And how can we learn more about the products were using? That environment includes where you live, work, play, and pray. 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. Titanium dioxide might be one of these. 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. These are by far the most comfortable, reliable, and absorbent. at the Posner Center Exposure to these chemicals can then interfere with important processes in your body. Im 27 years old. People have gotten into a debate over whether or not organic tampons and pads shorten the length of menstrual cycles. 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. 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. 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. $17.50 ($0.24/Count) Sold by Utopia Distributors and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. "Organic tampons are available as an alternative for women who prefer to go this route," said Dr. Ross. Rebecca Carhart is a Senior Ecommerce Reviews Writer covering home, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. 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. This is why we fight tirelessly for ingredient transparency and your right to know! Price at time of publication: $16 for 20 count. 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. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; How Bad Is It Really to Use Baby Powder 'Down There?'. 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,. Made with a 100% cotton core, the company's feminine care products are produced without any dyes, fragrances, or chlorine bleaching. While experts agree more studies need to be done on titanium dioxides potential impact on reproductive health, one person's video is motivating millions of people to take control of their health and question what they consume every day. So, why would they use an ingredient that can be considered cariogenic and cause reproductive issues with tampons? But this amount varies by product. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. "Most tampons list their ingredients on the back of the package," Dr. Gohar says. Andrea Chisolm, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who has taught at both Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. "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. Let's take a moment to review cotton production and the concept of GMO (genetically modified organism) farming. Our editors independently select these products. While animal studies give us important information, they cannot be directly generalized to people, Marino said. During clinical trials the amount of titanium dioxide used have not shown any increased health risks and there have been no big outbreaks of things like ovarian cysts associated with titanium oxide tampons. I used this exact brand. 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). This is L. tampons are labeled as being made with organic cotton, and the company's marketing promises a simple product: "Only the ingredients you need for the confidence, comfort, and protection you . For many, the video has raised awareness about an important issue: The chemicals in our products. This is the case for period care products, even those made with organic cotton. It's mainly used for color. Tampax. We spoke to ob-gyn James A. Gohar, MD, co-founder and CEO of Viva Eve, to set the record straight on this substance in question, including whether it poses any risk to your reproductive health (or otherwise) and which tampon products are safest. Sign up for the Daily Skimm email newsletter. We know from rat studies, rats that inhale it are getting lung cancer.. And since the chemical is in the cotton plant it will also be in the cotton produced from the plant. How well do you know the ingredients in the foods you eat or products you use every day? 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. Organyc 100% Certified Organic Cotton Tampons. Titanium dioxide is in food, cosmetics, dye, tampons. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs can act like the naturally occurring hormones in your body. It's primarily used to help make white foods appear whiter (like milk and candy) or to lengthen the shelf life of foods that are sensitive to UV light. Sunscreens can have concentrations of up to 25%. "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. 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? 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. According to Dr. Aly Cohen, founder & medical director of The Smart Human LLC, all of these studies are different. And Scranton thinks that the more people read and learn about what theyre using, the more likely theyll push for change. Ive written multiple times in this columnabout how an observed association between two events or variables does not necessarily mean that one caused the other. Read reviews and buy Tampax Pure Cotton Tampons - Super - 24ct at Target. The FDA has found that regulated amounts of titanium dioxide are considered safe. Could it really be responsible for reproductive health issues? Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is rare and is caused by a toxic substance that is produced by certain kinds of bacteria. Mounting evidence has resulted in the World Health Organization labeling glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. 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. Estimated ship dimensions: 2.795 inches length x 4.37 inches width x 5.669 inches height. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Unfortunately, this question doesnt have a simple answer. This needs to be properly investigated. WVEs Director of Science and Research, Alex Scranton, addresses your questions about titanium dioxide in tampons and pads in this session of #AskAlex. 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. And not by experts on tiktoc. It's used in sunscreen, all kinds of cosmetics, medications, and you'll find it in food. ", Price at time of publication: $10 for 16 count. However, there are no trials to validate this finding in humans. 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. the she-quel and creator of URJA Intimates skincare products for the vulva and vagina. 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. They also like the fact that the tampons are gynecologist-approved and from a women-owned business. 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. More: Which supplements are most likely to land you in the ER? But first. Titanium dioxide is a white powder and a common ingredient in many products. Information reported to MedWatch helps the FDA to ensure tampons remain safe and effective. We all know social media is a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation. As part of the FDAs review, manufacturers submit data including the results of testing to evaluate the safety of the materials used to make tampons and applicators (if present); tampon absorbency, strength, and integrity; and whether tampons enhance the growth of certain harmful bacteria or change normal bacteria levels in the vagina. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Aka a common coloring agent. Doctors say there's no link between cancer titanium dioxide. You may want to talk with your health care provider about whether tampons are right for you. The 2023 Complete Python Certification Bootcamp Bundle, Mourning the Loss of Addison Raes Debut Album | The Meme Machine. of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. 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. "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.". Meanwhile, other countries are cracking down on the coloring agent. "I stopped using tampons when I noticed they'd irritate my lady parts after use. our process. Here are 11 organic tampons that reviewers love. While you may have heard about reusable tampons, the FDA has not cleared or approved these products. As Dr. Eyvazzadeh points out, we just don't know either wayno matter how certain Becky on TikTok seems. The 12-page complaint says that despite the front-label promise that the tampons are entirely organic, they contain the non-organic ingredients polyester, glycerin, paraffin and titanium dioxide . Lets look at the concerns around todays feminine hygiene products, specifically national brand tampons and pads. There are many substances, including medications, that we safely encounter or consume on a regular basis. The European Union banned titanium dioxide in food earlier this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service. 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.. When Aunt Flo makes her monthly visit, some people prefer pads, while other swear by menstrual cups or tampons. Wallace told Gizmodo in an email that anecdotal stories like the one in Morgans TikTok go viral all the time because they are sensational and get a lot of shares and comments. But what does it mean for tampons, pads, and reproductive health overall? Likely in your daily life, you have much more significant exposures to this class of chemicals. Never ever in my life have had an ovarian cyst. 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. Some worry it causes cancer, irregular periods. ", One shopper wrote, "I used to use Tampax, but things changed as I got older and I needed something more absorbent and more comfortable. TikTokers are raising concern about titanium dioxide, a whitening agent, in organic tampons.

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