Weaving Voices for Health & Justice (Weave), formerly Women’s Voices for the Earth, welcomes the FDA’s continued attention to the safety of menstrual products. Any effort to better understand chemical exposures associated with these products is an important step forward.

The FDA’s recent study found that the levels of heavy metals released from tampons under the conditions tested pose a negligible toxicological risk. Those findings provide valuable information and contribute to our understanding of menstrual product safety.

At the same time, this study should not be viewed as the final word on tampon safety.

Menstrual products represent a unique route of exposure. Tampons are used internally and come into direct contact with highly absorptive vaginal tissue. Yet, we still know remarkably little about how chemicals are absorbed through vaginal tissue, how repeated exposure over decades may affect reproductive health, or how certain chemicals may influence the vaginal microbiome. These are important scientific questions that deserve continued research.

Heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and lead are environmental contaminants that can enter products through agricultural production, manufacturing, and other points in the supply chain. They have also been detected in food, drinking water, cosmetics, and other consumer products. Their presence in everyday products highlights the need for stronger efforts to reduce contamination wherever possible.

At Weave, we do not believe contamination should be treated as inevitable or acceptable. Consumers deserve confidence that the products they rely on every month have been thoroughly evaluated for safety and manufactured with the highest possible standards.

That is why we continue to advocate for:

• Stronger pre-market testing for toxic contaminants in menstrual products.
• Greater efforts by manufacturers to prevent and minimize contamination throughout the supply chain.
• Greater transparency about product ingredients and contaminants so consumers can make informed choices.
• Continued independent research to better understand long-term exposures and health outcomes associated with menstrual product use.

Scientific progress is rarely driven by a single study. The FDA’s findings are an important contribution to the evidence base, but they should also serve as a catalyst for continued research, greater transparency, and stronger oversight. Every person who menstruates deserves products that are not only effective, but also backed by robust science and meaningful consumer protections.