Tampon Question?
Friday, July 30th, 2010 at
11:30 am
Has anyone else heard that the tampon companies put asbestos in the tampons to make you bleed more so that you have to buy more tampons? Supposedly, this is also a contributing factor to the rise in cervical cancer. I just heard this and I’m wondering how valid it is.
Tagged with: Asbestos • cervical cancer • tampon companies • tampons
Filed under: Asbestos Cancer
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yeah. definitely started by hoaxers. go here: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/t/tampons.htm
It’s a myth. That false info has been proven wrong over and over again. Cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus….not asbestos anyway.
i’ve never ever heard that. i would imagine that would be illegal….
noooo!! i have never heard of such a thing
Honey, It’s not true. That is illegal. Tampons and Toilet paper are more sterile then the meat and veggies we eat. Don’t stress!
No, not a fact.
90% of cervical cancer is caused by HPV. Tampons (or asbestos) do not cause cervical cancer.
I have heard that but its not true… how cruel would that be if it were true? Cervical cancer and all cancers can be caused by many things but something that may intrigue you more is the consumptions of meat and what it does to ones body. Think about all the chemicals and hormones they pump into cattle, chickens, ect. You eat their cheese, milk, meat, so your getting it too… look into the studies if you are concerned about your health. cervical cancer has be related to many of these studies findings in the food industry
This is a new myth.
Total myth, there has never been asbestos within tampons, however this myth did come from a real issue with tampons, as with anything online it often becomes like a game of Chinese whispers.
From the FDA;
"In the last six months, unfounded rumors on the Internet have suggested that U.S tampon manufacturers add asbestos to their products to promote excessive menstrual bleeding in order to sell more tampons. FDA has no evidence of asbestos in tampons or any reports regarding increased menstrual bleeding following tampon use.
Before any tampon is marketed in the U.S., FDA reviews its design and materials. Asbestos is not an ingredient in any U.S. brand of tampon, nor is it associated with the fibers used in making tampons. Moreover, tampon manufacturing sites are subject to inspection by FDA to assure that good manufacturing practices are being followed. Therefore, these inspections would likely identify any procedures that would expose tampons products to asbestos. If any tampon product was contaminated with asbestos, it would be as a result of tampering, which is a crime. Thus far, FDA has received no reports of tampering. Anyone having knowledge of tampon tampering is urged to notify FDA or a law enforcement officer."
Snopes page on asbestos in tampons : http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/tampon.asp
There are however real dangers when it comes to tampons, as well as current concerns there have been serious issues with tampons in the past in terms of TSS and Dioxin – these are just as concerning as the idea of asbestos added to tampons in order to make women bleed more. This is probably where the asbestos myth originated, as I said above it became like a game of Chinese whispers.
Tampon manufacturers used chlorine gas bleaching to make their tampons whiter, there was absolutely no reason for them doing this other than to play on menstrual taboos – i.e. menstruation is dirty, so women are of the mindset that they need whiter-than-white tampons in order to deal with menstrual flow. As well as additional environmental issues with this manufacturing method, a by-product of chlorine gas bleaching is dioxin. Dioxin is highly toxic and linked with cancer, as well as multiple other health problems such as immune system deficiency and fertility problems. Tampon manufacturers were some of the last manufacturers to stop using this manufacturing method, and that was only after many legal battles with health authorities on whether there was an acceptable or safe level of dioxin, it was determined there is no safe level of dioxin and thus in 1997 chlorine gas bleaching was banned in the interest of public safety.
Although tampon manufacturers no longer use chlorine gas bleaching they still use unnecessary manufacturing method that effect the environment and women’s health, as well as other peoples health through pollution. Tampon manufacturers are protected legally so that they do not have to tell consumers what manufacturing methods they use or what is contained within their tampons, so we do not know what risks commercial tampons have over organic, sponge or cloth tampons, however given their history and the experience of most women a hell of a lot of women no longer use commercial tampons, instead using other options such as sponges, pads or menstrual cups (menstrual cups being the most popular as they are internal but safer, cleaner, greener, cheaper and more convenient than tampons).
Tampons themselves are bad for the environment and for women’s’ health, this is because within the vagina they prevent normal cleaning functions that help protect the vagina, they give bacteria a place to multiply within the vagina, they dry out the mucosa within the vagina causing splitting, they leave fibres within the vagina, and they expand into the cervix. Expansion into the cervix and expansion adding to bloating does increase period pains, and most women who have switched from tampons (particularly commercial tampons) to pads or menstrual cups have confirmed that their periods become lighter; this is simply because the better health your vagina is in the easier your periods are.
Sites discussing tampon dangers and issues.
http://www.spotsite.org
http://www.seac.org/tampons
http://www.tamponalert.org.uk
http://www.life.ca/nl/46/maxi.html
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro
http://bloodsisters.org/bloodsisters
http://www.frontiernet.net/%7Eruthb/Tampons.html