Researchers at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the University of Notre Dame tested 59 reusable personal hygiene products.
These included period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups, reusable incontinence underwear and pads.
PFAS was detected at levels “consistent with intentional use” in nearly 30-percent of the samples
Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) are used in several household and industrial products. These included non-stick cookware, water resistant fabrics and apparently feminine hygiene products.
Associate Professor and Researcher Marta Venier said this study is important because a lot of the users are switching to reusable products for sustainability concerns.
“We think that this study can give them some information about the chemicals that are included in this product and what it entails, both for health issues and environmental issues,” she said.
Venier said the findings are useful for regulators, manufacturers and consumers.
“The fact that these chemicals, these products, stay In contact with the skin for prolonged periods of time over many, many years, potentially, then it's information that we think it's useful.”
Venier wanted to point out that it’s still not known how or if PFAS is absorbed into the skin — a potential next area of study.
The good news is that nearly 70-percent of the samples didn’t contain PFAS — so making these products without forever chemicals is possible.
She said more research is needed on more products to detect PFAS, can't comment on the origin of the PFAS in these products. As a rule, they don't release brand names used in the study.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS are found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the nation and the globe, and in the blood of humans.
According to IU this is the first confirmation of PFAS in reusable feminine hygiene products.
A different 2024 study revealed toxic heavy metals in popular tampon brands.
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