Its not like a company can throw anything in there, Lincoln said. There's also a little bit of evidence to suggest that the common ingredient may be an endocrine disruptor, says Flynnmeaning it may affect a person's hormonal system. He completed his residency training in emergency medicine at Lincoln Medical Center in theSouth Bronx. Rayon is processed with many other chemicals to be broken down into cellulose, which according to Tampax helps absorb and retain fluid. The TikTok user who posted the video makes theclaim that TiO2 has been linked to cancer and multiple gynecological issues. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/carbon-disulfide.pdf, Government of Canada, C. C. (2021, May 09). Whats lost in translation is that its really related to the inhalation of titanium dioxide, not (when it's) used internally, such as a tampon," she explained, adding that the research is in rats. The TikToker goes on to say she's been told she can't have kids due to "reproductive harm to my uterus and ovaries" and complains of serious pain at night and while trying to sleep. Several viral videos posted to TikTok and Instagram have claimed titanium dioxide, a whitening agent, is harmful for people who use tampons. (2020, February 12). There is some evidence to suggest that titanium dioxide may have a carcinogenic effect in some formats. " Some cotton farmers earn less than $2.00 a day for their cotton and spend up to 60% of their annual income on pesticides. Whats lost in translation is that its really related to the inhalation of titanium dioxide, not (when it's) used internally, such as a tampon," she explained, adding that the research is in rats. T his past August, a video about titanium dioxide in tampons went viral on TikTok. "To date, there is no published research that has researched the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide," Eyvazzadeh said. As I mentioned earlier, vaginal pH imbalances can lead to different bacterial and fungal infections. Its derived from petroleum and is found in some beauty products because its very cheap and is considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The FDA told PolitiFact that it is not currently aware of any evidence that titanium dioxide in tampons is toxic or harmsthe body. July 29, 2022, European Commission, "Sunscreens with titanium dioxide as nanoparticles," accessed Aug. 9, 2022, The Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, "Safety of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in cosmetics," Nov. 2019, The Skin Cancer Foundation, "Sunscreen Safety," June 6, 2018, Today, "New York becomes first state to require ingredients list on pads, tampons," Oct. 12, 2019, The Atlantic, "The Tampon: A History," (archived) June 2015, The New York Times, "Are Skittles Toxic? Its important to question ingredients and read the studies for a balanced view to understand any risk. This means that youll find absolutely no titanium dioxide in them or any other toxic substances, synthetic fibres, chemical residues, dyes, pesticides, chlorine bleach or fragrances. Dr. Sabrina offers ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and implement lessons in our lives. Americans who worked through the pandemic are being paid up to $26,000 by qualifying for the Employee Retention Credit., Every single Republican blocked Ketanji Brown Jacksons SCOTUS appointment.. Myths about aluminum and deodorant, explained. of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. And as of March 2022, the FDA maintains its position that titanium dioxide may be safely used as a food coloring. OEKO-TEX, for example, is a popular certification for textiles that tests for potentially harmful substances, from raw materials through to the finished productand re-testing occurs every three years. Chemicals and ingredients found in conventional tampons have many unadvertised side effects and dangers so lets get into it and explore healthier alternatives! Environmental and reproductive health experts have mixed views on how safe titanium dioxide in menstrual products is, but there's no evidence the tampons cause reproductive health problems like ovarian cysts or cancer. One of our founding values at joni is radical transparency. Needless to say, we need to start voting with our money and stop buying products that we know are not good for us. They have teams of scientists and gynecologists. Toxins released from rayon can also rarely cause tissue necrosis for people who regularly wear clothing made of this fabric. But titanium dioxide's possible deleterious effects extend beyond ingesting it. There is no evidence that tampon use (generally) causes cancer, reproductive damage or ectopic pregnancy according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "There is no published research available currently that has examined the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide." This greatly increases the risk of residues being present in your personal products and can throw off the natural pH balance within your vagina. They are very similar to Natracare and do not contain genetically modified cotton or any of the other chemicals that we discussed. Theres really two reasons why people think that it could cause cancer, and I can understand why because its confusing, Lincoln, an OB-GYN and author of the book, Lets Talk about Down There: An OB-GYN Answers all Your Burning Questions Without Making You Feel Embarrassed for Asking, told TODAY. The vagina is an extremely sensitive organ and using plastic derived ingredients is a big no no! The decision was based on available scientific research which, although not totally conclusive, found that an accumulation of titanium dioxide in the body could possibly contribute to genotoxicity (i.e., damage at the DNA level that may lead to cancer). ", 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. You cant just say just because you breathe something in and it causes cancer that its also going to cause cancer in a different route, Lincoln explained. "Again, the data is inconclusive on whether these products are really linked to excessive bleeding, cancer and infertility, so it's not right or wrong to continue using these products based on currently available information," Dr. Gohar says. We see tampons as something that could potentially harm us, Lincoln said. Image shows Paul Pelosi, bruised, in a booking mugshot. Here's why: sometimes the substance is also noted as "Pigment White 6" or "White Pigment," Dr. Gohar explains. Some experts say that there's no need to lose sleep over having titanium dioxide in tampons. Color Additives Exempt from Certification - Titanium Dioxide - Foods, Color Additives Exempt from Certification - Titanium Dioxide - Cosmetics, Color Additives Exempt from Certification - Titanium Dioxide - Drugs, Color Additives Exempt from Certification - Titanium Dioxide - Medical Devices, The Facts on Tamponsand How to Use Them Safely, Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-The-Counter Human Use, European Union: Titanium Dioxide Banned as a Food Additive in the EU, Opinion on Titanium dioxide (TiO2) used in cosmetic products that lead to exposure by inhalation, Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive, Safety assessment of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive, Critical review of the safety assessment of titanium dioxide additives in food, Titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a food additive: Current science report. The European Union banned titanium dioxide in food earlier this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service. USDA Organic certification may only be displayed on products that are 100% organic. Before I wrote this blog, I knew tampons and pads contained harmful chemicals but I will admit that Im a bit shocked by the amount of information there is on this already. So, titanium dioxide on the tampon string is not going to be dissolved and absorbed by menstrual blood; and certainly, will not be absorbed into the body. Doctors say that tampons are safe. Suspect in Whaling Museum's $75,000 artifact theft 'seemed likable'. Wang, J. J. It tells the story of a woman whoafter using a specific organic tampon branddeveloped cysts and then uterine cancer. "Well what do you know." If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the Microplastic release from the degradation of Polypropylene feeding bottles during infant Formula Preparation. "If this worries you, then don't use products that have this," Jennifer Lincoln, MD, shared in a video. Fear of tampons may persist because of their association with toxic shock syndrome, Greves and Lincoln theorized. To say this guy likes his scientific studies is an understatement. Theres nothing linked in the data that says that tampon use is linked to cancer or harm in the reproductive system, Dr. Christine Greves, an OB-GYN in Orlando, Florida, told TODAY. In an interview with Popsugar, ob-gyn Jen Gunter, MD said that within her 30 years of experience, there has never been a case where cancer, endometriosis, or other serious health conditions have been linked to tampons themselvesexcept toxic shock syndrome, which is rare. They give women freedom., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Just hours before the Idaho slayings, another grisly scene unfolded outside Bryan Kohberger's window, Polar bear kills woman, boy in remote Alaska village, Hawaii fisherman overboard, missing after hooking large ahi, Reality TV star Julie Chrisley reassigned from Florida prison to federal medical center, The rich and powerful flocked to Davos via private jet to discuss climate change, study finds. Examples of this include the follicular phase, ovulatory phase and the luteal phase. However, paraffin is far from clean! Other concerns of titanium dioxide toxicity involve food, highlighted by the recent lawsuit alleging that Skittles, a popular candy,contain a "known toxin." And there honestly isn't a ton of reliable data on the ingredient to help us draw better conclusions, argues the authors of this 2011 review. Titanium dioxide has bubbled up to the top of our feed again, but this time it's not in Skittles, it's in tampons. Meghan Holohan is a contributing writer who covers health and parenting for TODAY.com. And it would be a stretch to correlate a possible connection in rats to a true cause-and-effect in humans. If you Google titanium dioxide and cancer, you are going to see studies that show it has been linked with cancer. Whats lost in translation is that its really related to the inhalation of titanium dioxide, not (when it's) used internally, such as a tampon," she explained, adding that the research is in rats. The second reason? According to the company, TiO2 represents less than 0.1% of all the ingredients they use to manufacture their tampons. Less than 0.1% of titanium dioxide is used in the total ingredients of tampons. In fact, in 2021 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) declared titanium dioxide no longer safer as a food additive. Tampons require the FDAs premarket review evaluating the products safety and effectiveness. He is also a former United States Peace Corps Volunteer. Although it has been proven to likely be carcinogenic, this ingredient is still used in many products including menstrual products. If youre looking for a healthier alternative to your personal care products, check out Natracare. I dont want to speak much on something that I personally have never tried, but I have heard great things about the Diva Cup! Theres really two reasons why people think that it could cause cancer, and I can understand why because its confusing, Lincoln, an OB-GYN and author of the book, Lets Talk about Down There: An OB-GYN Answers all Your Burning Questions Without Making You Feel Embarrassed for Asking, told TODAY. There are many substances, including medications, that we safely encounter or consume on a regular basis. Email Interview with the Food and Drug Administration, Aug. 11, 2022, Email Interview with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Aug. 11, 2022, Well + Good, "Is Titanium Dioxide in Tampons and Pads Safe?" While it sounds scary, the experts stress theres little truth behind these worries. Titanium dioxide can also be in food, according to the National Library of Medicine. But there's not much research to tell us what the potential effects are of TiO2 in certain other formats, like if you eat a little bit of it in food, or regularly insert small amounts of it in your body via a tampon for a few days each month. While "titanium dioxide is natural, meaning found in nature," it doesn't necessarily mean it's healthy, says ob-gyn and pain medicine physician Jen Gunter, MD. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/is-polypropylene-safe, Li, D., Shi, Y., Yang, L., Xiao, L., Kehoe, D. K., Gunko, Y. K., . Acute Pesticide Poisoning among Female and Male Cotton Growers in India. Inhaling titanium dioxide may also result in adverse respiratory reactions, Dr. Gohar says. To decrease this risk, regularly use a sunscreen with a Broad-Spectrum SPF value of 15 or higher and other sun protection measures including: limit time in the sun, especially from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats, and sunglasses Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://balmonds.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-problem-with-paraffin-in-emollients, Mancini, F., Bruggen, A. H., Jiggins, J. L., Ambatipudi, A. C., & Murphy, H. (2005). If theyre using titanium dioxide, its because related studies have shown it doesnt pose a threat. Stay up to date with what you want to know. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, it's "possibly carcinogenic" since studies have linked lung tumors in rats with inhaling titanium dioxide. Because lets face it- we should not be putting toxic chemicals inside of our bodies on a regular basis. "There is no published research available currently that has examined the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide," Dr. Eyvazzadeh. But TikTokers and commenters are questioning why the tampons contain titanium dioxide, a chemical compound often used as a whitening agent. After a review of numerous studies, many conducted in animals given high doses of titanium dioxide, the agency reported it did not find evidence of general, organ, reproductive, or developmental toxicity. Titanium dioxide is chemical substance used in many products to make them look whiter, according to ChemicalSafetyFacts.org. "If you feel uncomfortable with the potential risks associated with titanium dioxide, look for products that dont include titanium dioxide on the ingredients list," says Flynn. But we dont know anything about how much is safe in tampons or if it accumulates in the body. If you think of all the cosmetics and dyes and candy and food its everywhere, Dr. Jennifer Wu, an OB-GYN at Lenox Hill Hospital, told TODAY. An image shows gas prices on Jan. 6, 2021. It can also be found in a variety of beauty products and lotions such as sunscreen. Although the vagina is a mucous membrane through which a chemical could be absorbed we dont know for sure if this actually happens and if it does how much glyphosate is actually absorbed. Ive been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. Check out my personalized services and be sure to follow me on Instagram for updates , Carbon disulfide US EPA. According to Safe Cosmetics.org, titanium dioxide does not penetrate healthy or even unhealthy, burnt skin, and so "poses no local or systemic risk to human health" when used topically. Theyre really tightly regulated. "They use it to make the string look whiter.. TikTokers are raising concern about an ingredient in an organic tampon brand that they say is causing symptoms like heavy bleeding and ovarian cysts. "[P]revious studies have shown that titanium dioxide can cause alterations to the reproductive system, including reducing the ovarian follicles and leading to the formation of ovarian cysts," she says. Tampons are great. However, these studies were conducted on mice who orally consumed titanium dioxide, so we'll still need extensive clinical research on humans before we can definitively link TiO2 with reproductive disruptionor assume those risks definitely come from other intakes of the ingredient. In fact, joni tampons are 100% organic cotton. Most big companies will do anything to make a bit of profit. This lack of data is incredibly frustrating, given that 26 percent of the global population are of reproductive age and presumably using pads and tampons on the regular to manage their cycles. Massachusetts events honor legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Fire breaks out at Wolfeboro grocery store. Another TikToker, zt0n3r.hippie, responded by saying "now I know" the cause of her own reproductive health problems. 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. He added that the vaginal mucosa has lots of blood vessels, which allow it to absorb what's in tampons, leading to complications like toxic shock syndrome. Titanium dioxide in food Should you be concerned? Not all eco products are equal and use the The classification as bio-inert material has given the possibility to normal-sized (>100 nm) titanium dioxide particles (TiO2-NPs) to be extensively used in food products and as ingredients in a wide range of pharmaceutical products and cosmetics, such Pain Inserting a Tampon? 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