Prevalence of “forever chemicals” in period products flagged by researchers

25 Aug 2023 --- A study of 100 period products available in US, European and South American markets reveals that several products from most categories contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – often referred to as “forever chemicals.” Scrutiny of these compounds has been building over the past year in light of research identifying they may potentially last for years without degrading or passing out the body. 

Graham Peaslee, professor at the University of Notre Dame, US, worked on research with the American Chemicals Society (ACS). He speaks to Personal Care Insights about findings from the survey, which evidence the prevalence of PFAS in frequently used, mass-marketed consumer goods.

These include tampons, pads, reusable pads, menstrual cups, menstrual panties and incontinence diapers. About a third of the products had levels the scientists call “intentional” use, because there were enough PFAS present to change the nature of the product (to add water or stain repellency). 

Another third of the period products had low levels of PFAS (not intentionally added because they serve no purpose at these concentrations), and the last third had no significant PFAS in them.

“The only categories that had no PFAS for all samples were tampons – although several of their wrappers and applicators had intentional PFAS – and menstrual cups. For the other categories, because there were some with PFAS and some without, we interpret this to mean that they are non-essential for their manufacture. This is because several products were sold successfully without them, while several products used them,” Peaslee tells us.

Intentionally added PFAS were found in a variety of period products.Peaslee hopes the personal care industry will respond by checking its supply chain to see where PFAS may have intentionally or unintentionally been added.

“Many companies in other sectors have already phased out the intentional use of PFAS, and it would be good for this industry to do the same. Since customers won’t be able to tell without correct labeling, there is a real advantage for a company that has checked their product line and can advertise that it is indeed PFAS-free on the label.”

PFAS absorption through skin is possible
Peaslee says PFAS, known as forever chemicals, threaten human health by direct exposure, where the PFAS may leave the product and be absorbed through the skin or accidentally ingested or inhaled by the user.

“The second pathway affects all of us because at the end of the life of these products (and their wrappers), they will enter the landfill (especially in the US) and 100% of these PFAS will enter the environment through the leachate released. This water will be re-used to irrigate our food, or to provide drinking water – which are two of our most likely exposure routes.”

“Thus, we are all exposed to this non-essential use of PFAS. The health effects known for PFAS include several types of cancer, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, hypertension, ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease. However, there are undoubtedly many more serious health effects yet to be discovered,” Peaslee continues.

The researcher says there is not much that consumers can do now, but when manufacturers begin to check and label which of their products have tested PFAS-free, they can use their purchasing power to select PFAS-free products.PFAS found in tampons have been linked to several types of cancers.

“By that time, some regulations may be under consideration as well – at least in Europe.”

Previous studies have concluded that PFAS can linger in the body for many years, while taking nearly four years for their levels to go down by half. PFAS leave the body mainly through urine.

Underfunded research
Peaslee claims that chemicals in period products have not been historically studied extensively. “I could not find any prior scientific studies of period products. Part of this could be a historical gender bias.”

The potential that women may be more frequently exposed to PFAS through period products speaks to the larger blanket issue of existing gaps in regulatory oversight of women’s health. The US National Institutes of Health finds that when ranked by funding amount, diseases that affect mainly women dropdown. They are underfunded compared with the burden.

“The explosion of studies surrounding PFAS contamination and its extensive use in consumer products has occurred in the last five years, and nobody tested any of these products until we received an inquiry about menstrual panties several years ago,” concludes Peaslee. 

A University of Notre Dame professor flags the recent findings of PFAS in period products as potentially part of the historical gender bias.Calling time on forever chemicals
In light of growing awareness about high levels of micropollutants in the environment, Intrapore joined chemicals supplier Evonik to expand the reach of its remediation technologies, which are designed to remove traces of PFAS in soil and groundwater systems – where they can linger for decades.

Previous research showed that PFAS used in cosmetics may penetrate the human skin barrier and accumulate in the body, increasing cancer-risk. A study from last October warned that certain levels of 13C4-Perfluorooctanoic acid – a kind of PFAS – can be absorbed internally via the skin when mixed into a sunscreen.

On the other hand, the UK-based Cosmetic Toiletry & Perfumery Association argued that PFAS used in makeup does not make products unsafe as they undergo strict regulation to meet legal safety requirements. Just because PFAS are environmental polluters, it does not mean that the chemicals used in cosmetics are equally harmful.

In spite of a wavering consensus among specialists who have weighed in on the matter, the EU plans to restrict 10,000 PFAS in a proposal drafted by five countries.

“Without ambitious rules for clean air and water, the industry will not change direction in any nature-beneficial or health-positive way,” Susie Hewson, founder at Natracare, previously told Personal Care Insights.

In the US, the state of California banned the sale of intentionally added PFAS to cosmetics last October.

Recently, Thinx settled a class action lawsuit after allegations were made that its period underwear products contain potentially harmful PFAS chemicals, despite the items being advertised as sustainable, organic and reusable.

By Sabine Waldeck