Some research, mostly conducted in animals, has found titanium dioxide to be harmful when inhaled and consumed, typically in large quantities. Pain Inserting a Tampon? ", In a statement provided by a spokesperson, the FDA said the agency regulates tampons as a medical device and "continues to allow for the safe use of titanium dioxide as a color additive when used according to the specifications requirements, including usage in amounts not to exceed the minimum reasonably required to accomplish the intended coloring effect.". However, rayon is processed with many chemicals such as carbon disulphide, sulphuric acid, ammonia, acetone and others. Is polypropylene a safe plastic to use in your home? They also have a longer lasting tampon than other types and can be inserted deep into the vagina without having to worry about them coming out. But if you are truly looking for organic, look for certifications on the packaging. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the compound is safe in regulated amounts meaning less than 1% of a food's weight to up to 25% of a sunscreen's concentration. 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. Existing research sheds little conclusive light on this claim. 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. That determination prompted authorities in the European Union to ban the substance as a food additive. The second reason? The FDA classifies tampons and pads as medical devices, and thus manufacturers of these products are recommended, but not required, to list their ingredients. Globally, cotton crops cover just 2.4% of the worlds cultivated land, but uses 6% of the worlds pesticides and 16% of insecticides- more than any other single major crop. And although there is no evidence that titanium dioxide in tampons is unsafe, it has never been officially investigated. Genetically modified cotton was introduced in 1996 (only 25 years ago) and is thought to be one of the worlds dirtiest crops. The National Library of Medicine noted that there's "inadequate evidence in humans" that the additive contributes to cancer. 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. Its pretty worth enough for me. Her team is working on a pilot project analyzing tampons for the presence of metals and pesticides. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Is the titanium dioxide in tampons toxic? Her video has 3.6 million views. Which is why you might be alarmed by recent claims on social media about tampons. Dr. Sabrina offers ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and implement lessons in our lives. Its use as a food additive was banned in the European Union. 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 it sounds scary, the experts stress theres little truth behind these worries. (LogOut/ She enjoys cooking, yoga, reading, music and walking her two rescue dogs. The vagina is an extremely sensitive organ and using plastic derived ingredients is a big no no! How he got caught. Passionate about periods? a lot of people online are upset with tampon brands (tampax and L. specifically) because they include titanium dioxide in the tampons, which apparently can cause reproductive harm. "As an oxide, titanium is found in minerals in the earth's crust and is also found with other elements, including calcium and iron. (The FDA says that manufacturers can have no more than 1 percent TiO2 in food.). But we dont know anything about how much is safe in tampons or if it accumulates in the body. 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?" Despite a small percentage ofTiO2 present in the product, low toxicity risk and an unsupported cause-and-effect exampleare both factors that led me to debunk this claim. "If you use these, STOP RIGHT NOW!! Not all regulatory agencies agree: The Canada Health Department, for example, like the FDA, found titanium dioxide to be a safe food additive. 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. Because lets face it- we should not be putting toxic chemicals inside of our bodies on a regular basis. But there is also no published research on vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide that can guarantee its safety. More:Which supplements are most likely to land you in the ER? Concerns over titanium dioxide, used by many tampon brands to keep the string looking white, spread to Facebook with one user issuing a warning to her followers. "According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regulated doses of titanium dioxide are not harmful, but this also varies based on use," Dr. Gohar says. 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. We go through many phases both before and after our monthly cycles based on the hormones being released. So now that you know why you should avoid conventional menstrual products at all costs, lets explore some healthier alternatives and brands! joni's non-applicator tampons are made with 100% organic cotton and nothing else. Paraffin is a by-product of the petrochemical industry and has to be intensively refined with bleach and other harmful chemicals in order to be useful. Some experts say that there's no need to lose sleep over having titanium dioxide in tampons. 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. The European Unionrecently banned it as a food additive but the FDA has not. Sunscreen can safely contain up to 25% titanium dioxide. Washington, DC ". 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). If a tampon shortage in the USA wasnt enough, theres now a terrifying TikTok about the effects of titanium dioxide in tampons with an emotional story that hits home for menstruators. "The Sun is out of place, the Moon is out of place and the stars are out of place. Here arefivesteps you can start applying today: Do this, not that:Simple swaps to boost your wellness, More:Why Epsom salt should be a staple in your home medicine cabinet, Michael Daignault, MD, is a board-certified ER doctor in Los Angeles. Some cotton farmers earn less than $2.00 a day for their cotton and spend up to 60% of their annual income on pesticides. However, titanium dioxide isn't just a popular ingredient in food. The video has 630,000 views and nearly 14,00 comments. The second reason? It's primarily used to help make white foods appear whiter (like milk and candy) or to lengthen the shelf life of foods that are sensitive to UV light. No added chemicals. If you Google titanium dioxide and cancer, you are going to see studies that show it has been linked with cancer. They found values ranging from 14,600-4,550,000 particles per capita per day, depending on the region. When titanium dioxide is used, we assume it isnt in large quantities. Lets unpack this TikTok and follow the evidence. Bottom line: "When it comes to period products, the priority should be using products that you feel comfortable with and are accessible to you," he says. A few weeks ago, Dr. Jennifer Lincoln started receiving messages on social media from people worried about titanium dioxide in tampons. And as of March 2022, the FDA maintains its position that titanium dioxide may be safely used as a food coloring. "Titanium dioxide doesnt dissolve in water, meaning the nanoparticles arent going to dissolve from the tampon string and get into the blood that might be pooling in the vagina and then get absorbed by the body." It is the mostwidely used white pigment because of its brightness and very high refractive index meaning that its "brilliant whiteness" does not allow light to pass through. OB-GYN Dr. Jen Gunter posted a response to the controversy on Instagram, calling concerns about it "fearmongering. Lincoln said this led some to believe that the substance has been proven to be cancerous. There is some For us, choosing organic is a proactive choice. So when asked if titanium dioxide in tampons can cause cancer, Jayesh says, I dont know because it simply hasnt been studied for this application. Have an idea for an article? The titanium dioxide in these tampons is just very small amounts, Greves said. But it said that the concern of genotoxicity the ability for a substance to harm a cells DNA could not be completely ruled out. The Food and Drug Administration considers tampons medical devices, which means the agency has oversight on whats in them. Its really pervasive because its a whitening agent. Inhaling titanium dioxide may also result in adverse respiratory reactions, Dr. Gohar says. It's unclear exactly how many brands use TiO2 in their menstrual products. Theyve got their ingredients listed on the box and on their website.. 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. All gender affirming care for children is 100% experimental. And it functions the same in tampons: Titanium dioxide serves as a coloring agent to make your period products appear whiter, Dr. Gohar says. (2020). However, paraffin is far from clean! Lincoln said this led some to believe that the substance has been proven to be cancerous. PEGS or polyethylene glycols are petroleum-based compounds that are widely used in the cosmetic industry as thickeners, solvents and softeners. But if we are exposed to these same substances via a different route than how they are intended, or at a higher dose, they can be toxic. He is also a former United States Peace Corps Volunteer. There is no published research available currently that has examined the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide. Aimee Eyvazzadeh, MD. A recent TikTok video went viral with thefalse claim that the titanium dioxide used in L. brand organic tampons is responsible for miscarriages, cancerand a host of other medical problems. Sunscreen, for example, can have up to 25% titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and both the FDA and EU consider it to be safe. Image shows Paul Pelosi, bruised, in a booking mugshot. Non-organic period care may also have fragrances or use bleach that can cause irritation, so its important to find the product that works for you individually and use it as directed. First produced commercially in 1923, titanium dioxide is found in toothpaste, printer paper, sunscreen, concealer, paints, drug tablet coatings, candies, plastics, chewing gum, eye shadowand coffee creamers, just to name a few. https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/titanium-dioxide-in-tampons-pads-48908320, https://www.canada-organic.ca/sites/default/files/organic_labelling_in_canada_booklet_aug2018.pdf, https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2014/10/23/organic-101-organic-brand-nameorganic-package. There is some evidence to suggest that titanium dioxide may have a carcinogenic effect in some formats. However, there are no trials to validate this finding in humans. We see tampons as something that could potentially harm us, Lincoln said. Heres What Your Bodys Trying to Tell You, National Library of Medicine Titanium dioxide, U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Questions and Answers: FDA posts deemed final order and proposed order for over-the-counter sunscreen, European Food Safety Authority: Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive, U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, New Jersey Department of Health: Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Titanium Dioxide, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Impact of Food Additive Titanium Dioxide on Gut Microbiota Composition, Microbiota-Associated Functions, and Gut Barrier: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Animal Studies. Suggest that titanium dioxide may also result in adverse respiratory reactions, Dr. Gohar says brands use TiO2 their! Affirming care for children is 100 % experimental toxic chemicals inside of our bodies on pilot... 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