Did you know that.... 

• Modern tampons have been around since the 1930s.
• Tampons are used by up to 70 percent of menstruating women in the US today.
• The average woman uses 11,000-17,000 tampons in a lifetime.
• The claim that commercial tampons are harmful or possibly cancerous is not an urban legend, it is true.
  

What is TSS? How is it connected to tampons?

• It wasn't until manufacturers started adding synthetic materials in the 70s, in order to increase absorbency, that tampons were linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
• 3 out of 4 of the super-synthetic absorbent fibers were banned in the 80s, but most tampons still carry the synthetic fiber rayon.
  
• TSS is caused by a particular bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) that can produce toxins in the body.
  
• Only about 10% of all TSS cases are reported to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), and many mild cases go unnoticed every year.
  
• Studies have shown that 100% cotton tampons do not produce the TSS toxin from the bacteria, while tampons with rayon or other synthetic fibers do.
• The same studies have concluded that the use of organic tampons may reduce the risk of TSS compared with tampons that contain rayon.
  
• According to the CDC, the relative risk of TSS generally increases as the absorbency of the tampon increases.

What is Dioxin?

• Dioxin is a byproduct of the chlorine bleaching used in the production of most tampons.  
• Dioxin is a carcinogen that settles in fat cells and builds up over time.
• Dioxin is linked to cancer, endometriosis, immune system suppression, and hormone disruption.
• Dioxin is also the active chemical in Agent Orange.
  
• Using tampons that are totally chlorine-free can reduce a woman's exposure to dioxins.
• Using tampons that are made of organic cotton can also help reduce dioxin exposure.

Why does the FDA not agree that tampons are dangerous?

• Even though the FDA has concluded that dioxin is linked to cancer and other serious medical issues, it has not concluded that commercial tampon products contain enough dioxin to cause harm.
• However, the FDA does not independently test the amount of dioxin in tampons. Their conclusions are based off of information provided by the paper mills who are bleaching the cotton.
• In general, the FDA relies solely on data provided by feminine hygiene manufacturers in determining product safety. While they aware of the serious risk that dioxin imposes in general, they are not interested in its toxicity in tampons or other feminine products.

Why don't I see ingredients listed on a tampon box?

• The FDA has received numerous requests to require ingredient labeling for tampons, but has declined to do so, despite dioxin risk and consumer-safety concerns.
• In 1987, an FDA scientist stated that "It is critical to an adequate risk assessment that the level of dioxins in tampons be measured."
• He also stated that "the capacity to measure such dixoin levels exists within FDA. Extraction data for dioxin from these products would improve the accuracy of any risk assessment."
• Ultimately, the FDA felt it did not have the authority to adopt ingredient labeling requirements, since there was no information indicating that such labeling is necessary for the safe and effective use of tampons. The FDA also failed to conduct any such study that might have evaluated the risk of dioxin levels in tampons, despite its ability to do so.
• The FDA essentially created a catch-22, stating that they could not require ingredient labeling without any research that showed that ingredient labeling was necessary.
• The FDA still concludes that "Though TSS is extremely rare, tampon users should still be aware of it....All tampons are associated with the risk of TSS, and it's important for women to know the signs......If a woman becomes ill or has any concerns at all about TSS, she should remove her tampon immediately and contact her doctor." (From FDA website - 2 paragraphs before "Other Tampon Ingredients." )