In a first study, researchers found arsenic, lead and other metals in tampons from the U.S., EU and UK

This is a bid of shoddy science! It appears the minute amounts found are fairly harmless. Exposure to such metals can not be absolutely and totally prevented. They are too ubiquitous and removing them would be extremely expensive.

There is no mentioning where these tampons were manufactured or where exactly in which part of the tampon the metals where found. It appears, the manufacturers of the tampons are not being disclosed.

Again, another scientific organisation, i.e. the American Chemical Society, is found to use ideology driven language by referring to women as "people"! Disgusting!

Even the study researchers of UC Berkeley (left wing) used the horrible expression "people who menstruate" in the abstract of their paper. Most of the researchers are women, but apparently without spine!

"In what researchers say is the “first study of its kind,” arsenic, cadmium, lead and 13 other metals have been detected in tampons sold in the European Union, the US, and the UK. Researchers evaluated a total of 60 name- and store-brand tampon samples—some made from organic cotton and others of nonorganic cotton. All categories showed concentrations of the metals and metalloids.

The researchers measured the elevated mean concentration of lead at 120 parts per billion (ppb); cadmium at 6.74 ppb; and arsenic at 2.56 ppb. By comparison, for bottled water, the US Food and Drug Administration imposes an allowable limit of 5 ppb for lead; 5 ppb for cadmium; and 10 ppb for arsenic. ...
Studies estimate that as many as 86% people who menstruate [!!!] in the US use tampons. Continued lead exposure is linked to a number of neurological disorders, renal problems, and cardiovascular issues. ...
And in the amount of time that a tampon is in the body, is it able to leach out?” ..."

"... Researchers evaluated levels of 16 metals (arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc) in 30 tampons from 14 different brands.
The metal concentrations varied by where the tampons were purchased (US vs. EU/UK), organic vs. non-organic, and store- vs. name-brand. However, they found that metals were present in all types of tampons; no category had consistently lower concentrations of all or most metals. Lead concentrations were higher in non-organic tampons but arsenic was higher in organic tampons. ..."

From the highlights and abstract:

"Highlights

• 16 metal(loid)s were evaluated in different kinds of tampons.

• Several toxic metals, including lead, were detected.

• Tampon use is a potential source of exposure to metals in menstruating people.

• The highest concentration was found for zinc (geometric mean = 52,000 ng/g)

• A geometric mean lead concentration of 120 ng/g was found in our samples.

Abstract

Background

Between 52–86% of people who menstruate in the United States use tampons—cotton and/or rayon/viscose ‘plugs’—to absorb menstrual blood in the vagina. Tampons may contain metals from agricultural or manufacturing processes, which could be absorbed by the vagina’s highly absorptive tissue, resulting in systemic exposure. To our knowledge, no previous studies have measured metals in tampons.

Objectives

We evaluated the concentrations of 16 metal(loid)s in 30 tampons from 14 tampon brands and 18 product lines and compared the concentrations by tampon characteristics.

Methods

About 0.2 – 0.3 g from each tampon (n = 60 samples) were microwave-acid digested and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine concentrations of arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc. We compared concentrations by several tampon characteristics (region of purchase, organic material, brand type) using median quantile mixed models.

Results

We found measurable concentrations of all 16 metals assessed. We detected concentrations of several toxic metals, including elevated mean concentrations of lead (geometric mean [GM] = 120 ng/g), cadmium (GM = 6.74 ng/g), and arsenic (GM = 2.56 ng/g). Metal concentrations differed by region of tampon purchase (US versus European Union/United Kingdom), by organic versus non-organic material, and for store- versus name-brand tampons. Most metals differed by organic status; lead concentrations were higher in non-organic tampons while arsenic was higher in organic tampons. No categoriy had consistently lower concentrations of all or most metals.

Discussion

Tampon use is a potential source of metal exposure. We detected all 16 metals in at least one sampled tampon, including some toxic metals like lead that has no “safe” exposure level. Future research is needed to replicate our findings and determine whether metals can leach out of tampons and cross the vaginal epithelium into systemic circulation."

How researchers found arsenic and lead in tampons Don’t panic: Scientists are unsure whether the findings indicate a health risk

First study to measure toxic metals in tampons shows arsenic and lead, among other contaminants (original news release)

Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s (open access)

This is one of the women believing she is "people who menstruate": The lead author postdoctoral scholar Jenni A. Shearston (Source)

Graphical abstract

Apparently, the researchers disassembled the tampons

Fig. 1. A tampon separated into its components, including the (A) non-woven outer covering, (B) withdrawal string, (C) inner absorbent core, (D) applicator, and (E) wrapper.