Feminine hygiene products are personal care products used by women during menstruation, such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. Here is a summary of the information found in the search results regarding feminine hygiene products:
Positive:
- Feminine hygiene products are designed to help women manage their menstrual flow and maintain personal hygiene during menstruation.
- FDA-cleared tampons are made of cotton, rayon, or a blend of the two, and the absorbent fibers used in these tampons are made with a bleaching process that is free from elemental chlorine, which prevents products from having dangerous levels of dioxin.
Negative:
- Some feminine hygiene products may contain hazardous chemicals, such as fragrances, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), pesticides, and preservatives, which can have potential health effects.
- ANSES found traces of fragrances, PAHs, and pesticides in some feminine hygiene products with carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic effects.
- Some feminine hygiene products may contain hazardous substances in low concentrations, which may have come from raw materials being contaminated or as unwanted by-products during production processes such as bleaching or gluing.
- The Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemi) found 21 chemicals that were either hazardous or suspected of being so in the 35 feminine hygiene products they analyzed.
Ingredients or materials:
- Feminine hygiene products may use ingredients that are known to be harmful, such as DMDM Hydantoin, benzethonium chloride, benzocaine, butylparaben, D&C Red 33, diazolidinyl urea, dioxins and furans, ethylparaben, and ext. Violet 2.
- Some feminine hygiene products may contain cotton, rayon, or a blend of the two.
- Other ingredients or materials found in feminine hygiene products include surfactants, hot melt adhesives, and antioxidants.
In summary, while feminine hygiene products are designed to help women manage their menstrual flow and maintain personal hygiene during menstruation, some products may contain hazardous chemicals or substances that can have potential health effects. It is important to be aware of the ingredients or materials used in these products and to use them safely.
