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The Politics of Tampons
What You Can Do | Action Resources and Links | Canadian Resources
1997 Congressional Rep. Carolyn Maloney Wants Tampon Health Risks Made Public |
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-14) sponsored Bill HR 2900, the "Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1997" in the House of Representatives on November 11, 1997. The Bill is to "provide for research to determine the extent to which the presence of dioxin, synthetic fibers, and other additives in tampons and similar products used by women with respect to menstruation pose risks to the health of women, including risks relating to cervical cancer, endometriosis, infertility, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, immune system deficiencies, pelvic inflammatory disease, and toxic shock syndrome, and for other purposes."HR 2900 states that "Internal documents of the Food and Drug Administration suggest the agency has not adequately investigated the danger of dioxin in tampons, according to a 1992 staff report of a subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives."Rep. Maloney originally introduced HR 2900 as "The Women's Health and Dioxin Act of 1996" (HR 3796) in the 104th Congress (see below). Women, we need to work together to make sure that this bill becomes law! Write, call and demand that your elected reps sponsor HR 2900 and protect our health. Contact Rep. Carolyn Maloney at (202) 225-7944 or (212) 832-6531, or email her at: rep.carolyn.maloney@mail.house.gov |
May 1997 Proctor & Gamble Acquire Tampax |
A news release on May 1, 1997 confirmed rumours that PROCTOR & GAMBLE would purchase Tambrands, makers of TAMPAX tampons. Tambrands is the world leader in tampon sales, accounting for about 45% of all tampons sold in the world.The decision comes as a surprise to this writer, who still remembers when P&G were legally to answer for the deaths of many women who used their 'Rely' tampon.Rely was removed from the shelves after a landmark lawsuit, with P&G issuing a public letter dated September 22, 1980, stating, "This is being done despite the fact that we know of no defect in the Rely Tampon and despite evidence that the withdrawal of Rely will not eliminate the occurence of TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) even if Rely's use is discontinued. The disease has been identified in Canada, where Rely has never been marketed, and was found in several areas of the United before Rely was introduced into those areas." Women still suffer and die from menstrual TSS.What's wrong with this picture? Multinational tampon companies still put synthetic fibers, chlorine compounds and "secret" additives into tampons. Prior to the use of these "additives," when tampons were made with pure cotton, and Toxic Shock was NOT associated with tampon use.So why not get the additives and synthetics out of tampons: what's P&G waiting for? Well, they kind of got away with it last time. That 1980 letter also says, "Much additional research of the habits and practices of women who have had TSS is needed to understand the reasons for the association of this disease with tampons."Sure, blame the victims, make us feel dirty and ashamed so we'll suffer silently and not make big companies take responsibility ... Not! Hey, P&G! Where's the research you talked about 20 years ago? Did YOU pay for any? Can we see it yet?While we're at it, P&G, what about 'Ultra Pampers,' those chemical diapers that make babies sick (See "Super Diapers" Sunday Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester NY July 26, 1987)? And what about the "OLESTRA" side effects? Will it really destroy our digestive sytems? Anal leaking is not ok with me!"Incidentally, how much do you guys pay out in lawsuits? How much suffering do you encounter before you take people seriously? You have two words: SLAPP suit. I have two words: Precautionary Principle. (Note: interested readers can get more of a scoop on P&G at the following web sites: PAWS, Olestra Online , Harris v. Proctor & Gamble Cellulose Company |
| 1996 - Present: U.S. Congressional Representative Carolyn Maloney Wants Dioxin out of Tampons |
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-14) sponsored the "Women's Health and Dioxin Act of 1996" in the House of Representatives on July 11, 1996. The Bill requires the National Institute of Health to "Provide research to determine the extent to which the presence of dioxin in tampons poses any health risks to women," specifically "including risks relating to cervical cancer." Ms. Maloney has sponsored and supported a number of other noteworthy bills. |
| 1995: California Assembly Member Liz Figueroa Warns About Dioxin in Tampons |
Bill A.B. 1963 was intoduced in 1995 in California by Assembly Member Liz Figueroa(D), to require the California State Department of Health Services to "require that a warning be placed in a prominent location on the outside of the package of sanitary pads or tampons with a printed box surrounding it that provides as follows: WARNING: Use of this product will expose you to dioxin, known to cause cancer and birth defects." The legislation read "The Legislature finds and declares that women should be afforded the opportunity to avoid unnecesary health hazards whenever possible." and that "feminine hygiene products that contain dioxin are an unnecessary health hazard." Opposition to bill A.B.1963 included PROCTOR & GAMBLE and the AMERICAN FOREST AND PAPER ASSOCIATION. Opposing arguments included statements such as "The sponsor has not presented a definitive study showing either the presence of dioxin residue in sanitary products, or the direct health consequences of the amount of residue present" and "Opponents raise the issue that there is nothing in science technology to indicate that totally chlorine-free processes are better processes." Better for whom? |
| UPDATE: Class Action against Tampax and Playtex Tampons |
On May 25, a class action lawsuit was launched in Missouri against the manufacturers of Tampax and Playtex tampons. Plaintiffs alleged that the manufacturers have known for over ten years that the rayon in their tampons placed women at much higher risk of developing tampon-related Toxic Shock Syndrome. On March 14, 1996, the Missouri Courts denied a motion for class certification because, among other reasons, legal standards governing the issues (e.g. negligence) are not the same throughout the United States. The court further found that, even if all cotton tampons are determined to be safer, individual issues regarding causation (including whether a plaintiff had TSS and whether it was caused by her use of a defendant's tampons) and damages would remain for individual adjudication. |
| 1992: U.S. Congressional RepresentativeTed Weiss Uncovers FDA Tampon Dioxin Report |
On June 10, 1992, at a hearing of the the Human and Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee, "The Health Risks of Dioxin," the late Rep. Ted Weiss (D-NY) brought attention to a report from an FDA scientist that strongly suggested that the risk of dioxin exposure from tampons was quite high. The scientist reported on March 27, 1989, that the " most effective risk management strategy would be to ensure that tampons and menstrual pads for good measure contained no dioxin."On October 8, 1987 an FDA briefing paper recommended that, "It is critical to an adequate risk assessment that the level of dioxin in tampons, sanitary pads, diapers and other medical devices be measured. The capacity to measure such levels exists within FDA."The hearing found that the manufacturers of rayon (which most tampons contain) said that there was no dioxin in rayon. FDA officials concluded that there was dioxin in rayon, and stated that if they did have a problem with medical devices, "menstrual products would be the greatest simply because of the mass of the material and the duration of exposure."The FDA reported that INTERNATIONAL PLAYTEX stated that "they did measure some dioxin in their own pulp mills" on March 31, 1989. PROCTOR & GAMBLE representatives visited FDA headquarters on August 2, 1989 to discuss three of their products: tampons, pads and panty liners. The company reported that dioxin was in these products and urged FDA to obtain dioxin contamination information from other manufacturers. As of June 10, 1992, FDA had not measured the level of dioxin in the menstrual products. Well, grrls, that was seven years ago, and, as of August 23, 1996 FDA still had no plans to measure the dioxin in these products. And who are these "other manufacturers? |
| WHAT WE'VE FOUND (With a Lot of Help From You!) |
In the Terra Femme Tampon Health Survey, we surveyed over 1,000 women in person, over the telephone, and the internet for over a year. We did this because so many women had so many things to say to us about tampons, and we couldn't find any research to confirm or deny our increasing suspicions.We found an average of 25% of survey participants reporting a cluster of 4 or more symptoms related to Toxic Shock Syndrome TSS; 3% of women stated that they had been diagnosed with the TSS. An official diagnosis means that a woman has had to have at least 6 major symptoms . Mild cases may never be diagnosed; however the toxin produced in a woman's body through these "lesser" exposures can mean that a suppressed immune system or her use of tampons can trigger TSS any time. We know of no follow-up studies of survivors of Toxic Shock Syndrome.Health authorities require tampon manufacturers to state the incidence of TSS as occuring in between 1 and 17 women per 100,000 (up to .00017 percent). The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta acknowledges that only about 10% of all cases of TSS are actually reported (In Canada, doctors are not required to report incidences of tampon-related TSS!). Using an average from the FDA's own statistics (9 cases of TSS per 100,000 women), this means that 6,120 women will contract TSS, and that 367 will die each year. Not enough for a class action? If our survey is correct, with a population of about 68 million menstruating American women, and a case fatality rate of 6% for TSS cases, this means that 2.04 million women have been exposed to the TSS toxin, and that 122,400 women will die of the disease this year. We invite health professionals to contact us for information about the survey, and we encourage formal, INDEPENDENT studies to begin as soon as possible. We believe that sufficient evidence exists to warrant a class action and further protection for women who use tampons. |
| WHAT CAN YOU DO? | Bio Business is asking U.S. and Canadian governments to assure women that all tampons are safe. We strongly encourage women NOT TO BUY FROM COMPANIES THAT SELL MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS CONTAINING CHLORINE OR RAYON (even if they introduce a "special line" for women who want more "natural" products).If they're still making tampons with RAYON and CHLORINE compounds, they're still placing women at unnecessary risk!.Women have a right to know what's in tampons before they use them.
You CAN affect the way these important health issues are dealt with by contacting politicians and the media. Together, we can move mountains! Here's a sample letter to send as is, or to change to suit yourself:Dear ...........................................................,After reading through the information provided by the Terra Femme website, I became aware of "The Women's Health and Dioxin Act of 1996," and Califonia bill AB1963, to regulate the sale and manufacture of menstrual products. I was also surprised to learn of the dioxin hearings during the 102nd Congress, and the class action lawsuit against the manufacturers of Tampax and Playtex tampons.Women must be given the opportunity to avoid unnecessary health hazards whenever possible, and we expect our health to be a government priority. I ask that you immediately investigate and act upon the available information, and demand legislative changes to determine the extent to which the presence of dioxin and rayon in tampons pose health risks to women, including increased risks of Toxic Shock Syndrome and cervical cancer.Please notify me of any decisions that you make in this regard.Yours truly, Your Name, address, telephone number |