“Better period management”: Indian NGO finds toxic chemicals in sanitary napkins

25 Nov 2022 --- Indian non-profit Toxics Link is highlighting the lack of regulation of chemical content in sanitary pads in its report, Wrapped in Secrecy, which found the presence of phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the samples of organic and inorganic sanitary products tested.

Exposure to phthalates has been linked to various health concerns, including endocrine disruption, impacts on the heart and reproductive systems, diabetes, some cancers and congenital disabilities. Additionally, exposure to VOCs increases the risk of brain impairment, asthma, disabilities, certain cancers and the proper functioning of the reproductive system.

“The reason we took up this study was to understand if these kinds of chemicals are present in the products made in India. Also, since there’s been a lot of noise about organic products being much safer, it was important to understand whether it was true,” Priti Mahesh, one of the report’s authors, tells PersonalCareInsights.

“The idea is not to create panic among users because we understand that the use of sanitary products is essential from the menstrual hygiene management perspective. We want to highlight the move from ‘no period management’ to ‘better period management.’ The aim is for stakeholders to realize, including the government and the manufacturers, that there is a problem.”

Vulvar skin and vaginal mucosa have high absorption efficiency and permeability and thus the chemicals present in feminine hygiene products can be easily absorbed.Need for safety standards
The Toxics Link report underscores that in India, there are no clear regulations on chemical content in sanitary pads for manufacturers.

“The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) 1980 specifies basic tests to determine absorbent fillers surface and pad texture. However, there is no requirement to test the toxicity of ingredients,” it  states.

According to the report, the government schemes on menstrual health in India primarily focus on educating menstruators and improving access to menstrual products. Most cases include free distribution of sanitary pads, mainly disposable and commercial ones.

“In the absence of proper standards, these schemes usually pick up the low-cost or easily available products in the market,” the report stresses.

Mahesh tells us that women have the right to understand what kind of chemicals they are being exposed to and the hazards associated with them.

“There should be labeling standards. There have to be limits set for safety levels. Women and other menstruating users should be raising their voices to demand these standards and accountability from manufacturers and the government,” she says.

“This is a crucial chemical exposure. The absorption studies indicate that as a mucous membrane, the vagina can secrete and absorb fluids at a higher rate than skin absorption or oral consumption.”

EU versus Indian regulation
Mahesh underlines a lack of adequate standards and proper labeling requirements means that users need a way of making informed choices.

“Sanitary napkins are not just a consumer product but also health products. Menstruators use it over a long time – every month for over 30 to 40 years of their lives. That’s why we want to trigger a discussion to probe a larger study to understand the health implications of continuous chemical exposure.”

During the study, the researchers sampled ten sanitary pads, including one manufactured by a Procter & Gamble brand and another by a Johnson & Johnson brand, which were also found to have phthalates. According to the report sanitary pads include various chemicals which are added by manufacturers to improve presentation, functionality and consumer acceptance.

Under the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation, the use of phthalates is restricted as they are considered carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMR) substances. 

Mahesh tells PersonalCareInsights: “Our experience across different issues is that many multinational brands tend to have different standards for the EU compared to India. That is because there are no monitoring standards in India, whereas there’s strict adherence in the EU,” 

“Having said that, we found no EU regulations on VOCs in sanitary pads during the study. However, they restrict some phthalates in sanitary pads to be a maximum content of 0.1% by weight of the plasticized material in the article (individually or in combination).”

Regarding the governmental proceedings and regulatory requirements, Mahesh says, “any kind of regulation in India is a long process.”

“In India, the standards are framed by BIS, and 90% are voluntary and not mandatory. So I think it will be a long haul for us to try and get mandatory standards. This report is the beginning, and we hope to sustain this,” concludes Mahesh.

By Radhika Sikaria