Written by: Alaina Yan

Tampons and pads are universally used. Girls, usually between 10 and 15 years old, are often handed a bundle of pads or tampons when they get their first period. In fact, 56% of women ages 18 and 19 use pads while 46% of women ages 20 and 21 use tampons.

In convenience and grocery stores, a wide range of brands, sizes, and types of period products line the walls. Until recently, these products have caused little concern for women’s reproductive health. Why worry when they’re just cotton pads?

Much to the surprise of scientists and the public, PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been found in pads and tampons. Commonly known as “forever chemicals” for their environmentally harmful nature, these “ubiquitous and persistent manufacturing chemicals have been linked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to a range of health ills, including: decreased fertility, high blood pressure in pregnant people, increased risk of certain cancers, developmental delays and low birthweight in children, hormonal disruption, high cholesterol, reduced effectiveness of the immune system.”

PFAS, however, is not a new chemical on the market. It has been used in consumer products since the 1950s, making pans non-stick, clothing more durable, and period panties more stain-resistant. Since PFAS breaks down incredibly slowly, people exposed to them could accumulate concentrations of PFAS in their bloodstreams.

However, scientists have warned the public not to panic. According to Jeffery Kluger’s Time article, “PFAS are found nearly everywhere.” PFAS are found in tap water, foods, plastic packaging, and a plethora of common household items. While toxic in high concentrations, they are relatively harmless to the human skin.

However, PFAS’s impact on the vagina and internal organs have yet to be investigated. As the vagina is known to be more absorbent than skin, PFAS’s impact towards womens’ reproductive health could be more significant.

While the evidence of the existence of PFAS in period products is disconcerting, the public must keep in mind that PFAS is not intentionally added to period products. PFAS could be released from a nearby metal factory next to the cotton field, where the contaminated cotton is later processed and turned into a pad.

Interestingly, PFAS and heavy metals have been found more commonly in brands that market their pads as “organic” and “eco-friendly.” Leah Segedie, founder and editor of Mamavation, discovered in her research that “out of the 22 products that tested positive for PFAS, ‘13 of them were advertised as ‘organic,’ ‘natural,’ ‘non-toxic,’ ‘sustainable,’ or using ‘no harmful chemicals.’”

While there is still a lack of definite evidence of the causation between organic products and higher concentrations of PFAS, customers should always check the ingredients list before purchasing new products from an unfamiliar brand.

Recently, there has been an increased push for FDA interference with period manufacturing. With pressure from the government and the EPA, companies have agreed to slowly phase out PFAS and PFOS (another chemical family similar to PFAS) in period products. They have been, instead, replaced with GenX and PFBS chemicals; they are a better alternative than the PFAS due to their shorter duration in the body.

While the presence of PFAS in pads may be a cause for concern, calling period products toxic is by far a long stretch. Although the list for guaranteed metal-free pads is relatively short, here is a list of pad and tampon alternatives: