"Well what do you know." For example, when the substance is applied via sunscreen, sufficient data have found titanium dioxide to be "generally recognized as safe and effective," per the FDA. . Fear of tampons may persist because of their association with toxic shock syndrome, Greves and Lincoln theorized. And thats it. Vaginal pH imbalances can lead to yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and can cause allergy related symptoms such as itching. But what about its relationship to cancer? 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 Its not like a company can throw anything in there, Lincoln said. Is Titanium Dioxide in Tampons and Pads Safe? It's also used in sunscreen because its whitening property helps it reflect sunlight. Image shows Paul Pelosi, bruised, in a booking mugshot. The use of titanium dioxide in tampons is not explicitly regulated, because the agency only "makes clearance or approval decisions for medical devices, such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups, as they are supplied in their final, finished form," the FDA spokesperson said. Preventing paraffin-related injury. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Several viral videos posted to TikTok and Instagram have claimed titanium dioxide, a whitening agent, is harmful for people who use tampons. Titanium dioxide is commonly found in countless everyday products including food, cosmetics, drugs, paper and toothpaste. Just because titanium dioxide may show signs of toxicity when eaten or inhaled, doesnt mean all exposure is dangerous. An additional two satellite groups underwent the same protocol for 45 days and for Most big companies will do anything to make a bit of profit. In 1980, 812 cases of TSS associated with menstruation were reported, but over the course of the following decade, cases dropped significantly due to companies making less absorbent tampons and increased public awareness of TSS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to Code of Federal Regulations, the mineral is considered "exempt from certification" in cosmetics, medical devices, and pharmaceutical drugs, meaning it has determined that the "certification of this color additive is not necessary for the protection of the public health. Reach out! Just bear in mind: If you have any specific health concerns to weigh, it's critical to reach out to your gynecologist or primary care physician to make the right choice for you. In each of those cases, the cancer was found to be correlational but not causational. So now that you know why you should avoid conventional menstrual products at all costs, lets explore some healthier alternatives and brands! They give women freedom.. All gender affirming care for children is 100% experimental. When Aunt Flo makes her monthly visit, some people prefer pads, while other swear by menstrual cups or tampons. We go through many phases both before and after our monthly cycles based on the hormones being released. Doctors say that tampons are safe. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The ban was related to really concern and hypothetical risks, she stressed. This brand is my go to- you can find it at Loblaws or even Amazon! 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. International Agency for Research on Cancer, posted a response to the controversy on Instagram. That is why its so important to take your own health into account and start educating yourself on common ingredients. Our super organic, hypoallergenic and biodegradable tampons are made from 100% certified organic cotton. Massachusetts events honor legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Fire breaks out at Wolfeboro grocery store. Is titanium dioxide safe in tampons or could it cause health issues? Plus, Gunter explained that titanium dioxide tends to stick to whatever fabric it is on, and is not easily washed out. "But while no study has positively linked titanium dioxide exposure to ovarian cancer, miscarriages, or UTIs, we also dont have the science to assure us that this kind of exposure is perfectly safe either." Its not like a company can throw anything in there, Lincoln said. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. "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. Needless to say, we need to start voting with our money and stop buying products that we know are not good for us. Titanium Dioxide, or TiO2, is a white coloring agent used in cosmetic products, toothpaste, deodorant, desserts and paint. This finding prompted the European Union to ban TiO2 as a food additive earlier this year, but in the U.S., the ingredient is still considered to be safe in food at the limits set by the FDA. Its very commonly used as a natural mineral and has been studied in rodents.. "So, if titanium dioxide is giving you anxiety that you just can't shake," there are plenty of period care products and trustworthy tampon brands you can try without the chemical, Dr. Gohar says. 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. 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?" OB-GYN Dr. Jen Gunter posted a response to the controversy on Instagram, calling concerns about it "fearmongering. It also appears insunscreen and cosmetics, two categories in which the ingredient is also generally considered safe. St. Petersburg, FL 2023Well+Good LLC. Some country-level occupational health and safety organizations cite a lack of high-quality studiesfrom which they can draw any concrete conclusions about the long-term risks of accessed Aug. 9, 2022, Chemical Safety Facts, "Titanium Dioxide | Use, Benefits, and Chemical Safety Facts," accessed Aug. 8, 2022, International Agency for Research on Cancer, "Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans VOLUME 93 Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc," 2010, International Agency for Research on Cancer, "Studies of Cancer in Experimental Animals - Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc," 2010, Healthline, "Titanium dioxide in food Should you be concerned?" [TiO2] may cause cancer based on studies done on animals, and it I am less concerned with the level of titanium dioxide in tamponsthan I am with how social media users dangerously, and unchecked, amplifymisinformation. We need to know the truth about tampons. That determination prompted authorities in the European Union to ban the substance as a food additive. In a previous blog post, Jayesh. Is polypropylene a safe plastic to use in your home? While it sounds scary, the experts stress theres little truth behind these worries. Tampons are great. Titanium dioxide has recently been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen possible carcinogen to humans. Dr. Sabrina offers ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and implement lessons in our lives. 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. (LogOut/ No added chemicals. Aug. 6, 2022, theSkimm, "What To Know About Titanium Dioxide In Tampons and Skittles," Aug. 4, 2022, The Vajenda, "Titanium dioxide isn't making tampons into toxic death sticks," Aug. 3, 2022, Kimberly-Clark, "U by Kotex Ingredients and Purposes," accessed Aug. 8, 2022, L. (tampon brand), "FAQs," accessed Aug. 9, 2022, Tampax, "What are tampons made of?" Not all regulatory agencies agree: The Canada Health Department, for example, like the FDA, found titanium dioxide to be a safe food additive. As I mentioned earlier, vaginal pH imbalances can lead to different bacterial and fungal infections. All rights reserved. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.). Still, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has an established what it calls a "permissible exposure limit" to keep industry workers safe. "The potential risks of titanium dioxide vary depending on the method of exposure," says Dr. Eyvazzadeh. The second reason? Dr. Philip M. Tierno, Jr., a professor of microbiology and pathology at the NYU School of Medicine, told Insider that while titanium dioxide is used in plenty of everyday products, "tampons are especially a problem" since it's possible the chemical could be absorbed into the bloodstream through the vagina's lining. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. Someone had posted a TikTok about the dangers of the additive, claiming it caused cysts and cancers, and it went viral. However, that is unfortunately not the case for pads and tampons. TiO2 It is mined from the Earth and then processed into an inorganic solid white compound most commonlyused as a pigment in paints, food coloring, sunscreenand cosmetic products. "could no longer be considered safe" as a food additive, ban TiO2 as a food additive earlier this year, classifies tampons and pads as medical devices, are recommended, but not required, to list their ingredients, may cause cancer based on studies done on animals, government sets limits on exposure for workers, not found any clear link between lung cancer, titanium dioxide can cause alterations to the reproductive system, 26 percent of the global population are of reproductive age. Theyre really tightly regulated. In Canada and the USA, organic claims must be verifiable but only a percentage of the product needs to be organic, and that percentage must be displayed. 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. However, a recent study conducted in November 2020 demonstrated that micro plastics are released from propylene infant feeding bottles. Should you be splurging to make your body less acidic? Theyre really tightly regulated. (n.d.). Consuming rice and beans, milk, cheese, butter and eggs causes disease by age 30. Titanium dioxide can also be in food, according to the National Library of Medicine. "I've been on my period for 13 days, I have ovarian cysts that they have to check for cancer, and I've used five of these," she says holding an empty container of L. tampons. A few weeks ago, Dr. Jennifer Lincoln started receiving messages on social media from people worried about titanium dioxide in tampons. Its really pervasive because its a whitening agent. Theres no evidence of cancer due to titanium dioxide in tampons but that may be because there simply arent any studies in this regard. In an interview with Popsugar, ob Suspect in Whaling Museum's $75,000 artifact theft 'seemed likable'. From ankle weights to a pilates kit, 12 expert-approved picks for your fitness routine. Inhaling titanium dioxide may also result in adverse respiratory reactions, Dr. Gohar says. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider You would think that with all of the evidence behind the dangers related to this ingredient that it would not be used in menstrual products, however there is very little regulation as you can see! If you dont want to take any chances with this ingredient, try these organic products instead. 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. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what-s-the-risk-titanium-dioxide Titanium dioxide has bubbled up to the top of our feed again, but this time it's not in Skittles, it's in tampons. Organic doesnt necessarily mean better and non-organic doesnt equal danger. There are many substances, including medications, that we safely encounter or consume on a regular basis. "[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.
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