What you need to know about Sanitary Pad

This warning about the dangers of women wearing various brands of absorbent sanitary pads

It is true that synthetic materials of the types used in some high-absorbency feminine sanitary products can trap heat and dampness, which may promote the growth of yeast and bacteria and (in rare cases) create the potential for toxic shock syndrome, but that issue is associated with the use of tampons rather than sanitary pads.

Facts:-

Do you know?

Did you know that most sanitary pads (and tampons) are made or bleached with chlorine compounds that contain trace of the organochlorine – dioxin.

Why our grand mothers is much healthier? See what they use. 100% natural cotton.

 


The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named dioxin the most potent carcinogen known to science.
A 1996 EPA study linked dioxin exposure with increased risks for endometriosis (an infection of the uterine lining).
The EPA has also concluded that people with high exposure to dioxins may be risk for other effects that could suppress the immune system, increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, reduce fertility, and possibly interfere with normal fetal and childhood development.

In overseas test, sanitary pads have been found to contain 400 parts per trillion (ppt) dioxin.
Although the paper industry has maintained that such levels are too low to cause any health problems, studies have shown that dioxin appears to migrate easily out of paper products.
Fish and other wildlife have died after exposure to the incredibly small dose of 38 parts per quadrillion dioxin.

The average women use approximately 15,000 pads over the course of her lifetime. The effect of continual exposure to dioxin, which is forever stored in fat cells, may become cumulative and deadly.
Manufactured with Lots of Chemicals

To make a sanitary pad, wood pulp fibers are first dispersed in water in large tub. Most of the chemical s and dyes required are added at this stage (The pulp is then scraped and brushed and inserted with air to make fleecy.

Some pads contain added rayon, which also originates from wood, for extra absorbency. The cellulose in the wood is dissolved in a caustic solution, and squirted into fine jets in an acid bath (The mixture then solidifies and dries into longer fibers).

Chemical processes included de-linking recycled material, washing with detergents and bleaching. (As a result, some traces of chemical used remain in the pad).
Additives are also used to enhance the properties of the pad. These include absorbency agents and wet-strength agent – often, polysorbate and area formaldehyde.

Further bleching, involving chorine, may take place to achieve that growing white look.

What You Can See
That’s the part you can’t see. But even the external parts on a sanitary pad that you can see are all not natural.
The plastic bottom – to prevent leakage – will usually be made of polypropylene or rayon.
The non-woven fabric covering on the pad is a lightweight material which is often polypropylene or rayon.
The back has 1 or 2 strips of pressure-sensitive adhesive covered with a strip of siliconised compound paper. (The pads are then packaged in plastic bags or shrinkwrapped. And the packet itself may be printed with patterns – again, a chemical process.)
Full of Bacteria
Sanitary pass can also harbor bacterial as they are not sterilized products. In 1987, CAP’s test of some popular brands sold here (Penang, Malaysia) found unacceptably high bacterial counts of up to 11,000 (over 10 times the international safety standard). This could lead to vaginal infection in women using the pads.

Sanitary products, like pads, can also be placed on the market without prior evidence of safety or efficacy, even in developed countries.

In Canada for example, tongue depressors, bandages and dental floss are all considered medical devices, but not women menstrual pads! Women are an all too easy target because they are bound by biology to menstruate for at least 35 years. Women are thus a captive market – and potentially easy victims of numerous types of sanitary pad (and tampon) trauma.
It is thus important that women know the facts so that they can seek safer alternatives – liking using cloth, which is not only safer, but can also be reused many times. (in fact, women have safely relied on home-made menstrual products, using any available absorbent material, for most of history.)
  
 What Sanitary pads are made from Wikipedia**:

“The materials used to manufacture most pads are derived from the petroleum industry and forestry. The absorbent core, made from chlorine bleached wood pulp, could be reduced to make slimmer products with the addition of polyacrylate gels which sucks up the liquid quickly and holds it in a suspension under pressure. The remaining materials are mostly derived from the petroleum industry, the cover stock used is polypropylene non woven, with the leakproof barrier made from polyethylene film. The extraction, production and manufacture of these plastics contributes Nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and Carbon dioxide – ozone depleting gases; human toxins that lead to cancer and birth defects as well as chemicals that cause the acidification of trees.”

In response to fears of dioxin residues in feminine hygiene products, bleaching with elemental chlorine gas is no longer used. According to the FDA, sanitary products are now bleached via one of the following methods:

• Elemental chlorine-free bleaching:  These methods include the use of chlorine dioxide gas as the bleaching agent as well as totally chlorine-free processes. Some elemental chlorine-free bleaching processes can still generate dioxins at extremely low levels.   In practice, however, this method is considered to be dioxin free by the FDA.
• Totally chlorine-free bleaching.  These methods are completely dioxin-free. Totally chlorine-free methods include, for example, use of hydrogen peroxide as the bleaching agent.

Is the dioxin really and truly gone with these new bleaching methods?  The FDA reports that dioxin can “theoretically” be created with chlorine free bleaching.  In practice, however, it appears dioxin is still very much present. A study sponsored by the FDA Office of Women’s Health published in 2005, found “detectable levels of dioxin in seven brands of tampons,” including at least one 100 percent cotton brand.
- See more at: http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/nontoxic-alternatives-to-tampons-and-sanitary-napkins/#sthash.bp7e6KMZ.dpuf

The Toxic Culprits

Non-organic Conventionally Grown Cotton
If you are choosing a product that contains non-organic cotton then the cotton used in these products has been sprayed by pesticides and herbicides which are known carcinogens. Around 84 million pounds of pesticides are sprayed on 14.4 million acres of conventional cotton crops each year, and that is in the United States alone. The Environmental Protection Agency has declared that 7 of the top 15 pesticides in the US are known human carcinogens. The chlorine bleaching of cotton for manufacturing creates Dioxin.
Rayon
This is an interesting fiber, it is neither synthetic nor natural. It is the first semi-synthetic fiber made by man. This is because it is made from naturally occurring polymers (wood pulp). It is manufactured by a 16 step process using many chemicals, that is quite alarming for a product we wear on our bodies as clothing and next to the most private parts of our bodies as feminine care products. It is the chlorine bleaching process of the wood pulp that creates dioxin. Rayon also increases the absorbency of tampons which increases the incidence of TSS.
Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic fiber made from petroleum, coal, water and air in a chemical reaction with alcohol and acid. Polyester is like a plastic cloth. It does not absorb moisture, but will absorb oils. It is used in the lining of feminine care pads and the wrappers, coating and applicators of tampons.
Polyacrylate
Is a super absorbent polymer made from acrylic acid combined with sodium hydroxide (also known as lye or caustic soda). Acrylic acid is corrosive and severely irritating to skin and the respiratory tract. We are all pretty familiar with lye used in the making of soap, and we all know if you get this on your skin it will burn it. Polyacrylate is used in super absorbent sanitary pads and diapers.
Polypropylene and Polyethylene
Both of these are thermoplastic polymers. They are used in the pad liners, wrappers and packaging of feminine products. Both of these off-gas and are potential skin irritants. Plastics do not allow for good airflow to the vaginal opening which can cause rash and a breeding ground for yeast and bacterial infection. These can be recycled, but most never are.
Other Ingredients
The other ingredients have been shown to have little adverse health effects on our bodies according to the research I have done, but these other ingredients have been shown to have adverse consequences to the environment, which does affect our lives. You have to greatly consider how the lesser known ingredients may potentially harm your health and the environment. All of the ingredients have the potential to change the vaginal ph levels and the vaginal environment in general which leads to increased risk of yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis. Tiny scratches from disposable pads and tampons increase risk for STD’s as well.

How These Ingredients May Affect Your Fertility and Your Health

Dioxin
Dioxin is grouped in a class of endocrine disruptors called Persistent organohalogens. Dioxins disrupt estrogen. Dioxin works as an anti-estrogen, by binding with Ah receptors*. This inhibits estrogen receptor binding, inhibiting estrogen action. Dioxin accumulates in our bodies and is stored in fat cells over time. Dioxin may also be present in breast milk, which then passes onto our babies. This is very concerning as this chemical has the potential to be passed to the baby in utero and then once again while breastfeeding.
Dioxin is a group of highly toxic chemicals that are a by-product of industrial processing using chlorine to manufacture herbicides and pesticides, process pulp and bleach paper products (including the raw materials for feminine care products) as well as incinerate waste. Dioxin is considered a Persistent Organic Pollutant, POP for short, that slowly over time accumulates in our bodies. This pollutant is carried in the air and in our water systems as well, which affects the entire food chain and planet. Dioxin is not only present in feminine care products, but most paper products we use including napkins, paper towels, tissues, make-up removal pads, toilet paper, diapers, ect. Many of these products we use near delicate tissues and openings on our bodies.
The EPA’s Report On Carcinogen’s notes Dioxin as a “known human carcinogen”. Studies have shown Dioxin to trigger biological responses within the body that are carcinogenic processes, these include gene expression, altered metabolism, altered cell growth and differentiation, as well as steroid-hormone and growth-factor transduction pathways. This is a serious problem when we consider this chemical may be altering our DNA. Our DNA is what make our offspring unique, damaged DNA may lead to genetic problems within our bodies which can be passed on to our children.
In a study using monkeys it was shown that Dioxin increased the severity and growth of endometrial tissues as well as promoted survival of endometrial tissue. Scientists are not clear on the exact connection of mechanism that causes this to happen, but does it really matter exactly why at this point? If you suffer from endometriosis you are going to want to avoid anything that may potentially contribute to endometrial tissue growth and survival! Growth of endometrial tissue has the potential to increase your chances of infertility, extreme pain and may spread to vital organs, the urinary system or bowels which may lead to life threatening conditions.
Non-organic Cotton
Five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton crops are known carcinogens. They are cyanide, dicofol, naled, propargite, and trifluralin.
Dicofol- Is an endocrine disruptor that affects estrogen.
Trifluralin- this one is also an endocrine disruptor that affects metabolism and the entire reproductive system.
Polyester and Rayon
A study published in 1993 showed that wearing polyester underwear decreased sperm count and sperm motility in humans, dogs and rats. While the study could not find exact reasoning for the cause the hypothesis was electrostatic magnetic field. Whatever the cause, if we are putting polyester in the vagina, next to our cervical opening by using a tampon, or if next to the vaginal opening by using pads lined with polyester, you know it has to affect female fertility as well. Polyester is known to off gas and cause skin irritation as well. To top it off polyester is a petroleum based product, which we all know is a non-renewable source. The production of polyester has been shown to be very damaging to the environment with harmful emissions. Polyester also takes massive amounts of water to produce. Most synthetic polyesters are not biodegradable.
Rayon and Polyester fibers can be abrasive to the delicate tissues of the labia and vagina which can lead to scratches and ulcerations. The Rayon in tampons has been found to create cuts and ulcerations on the cervix and vaginal walls, especially upon insertion and removal of the tampon. These may also leave microscopic fibers which can affect the vaginal tissues and are absorbed into the blood stream.
A Note about the Vagina: The vagina is made up of fatty tissues and glands, these tissues are highly absorbent and fat is known to store chemicals. It is one of the most delicate places on the female body and toxic chemicals, synthetic fibers and fragrances were never intended to be placed near, on or in this area of our bodies. We need to take care of her, respect her and treat her with the healthiest choices in feminine care products!
Consider this, the average woman in developed countries will use disposable feminine care products for 5 days of every month, for about 40 years. Based on this average, each woman will use 9,600 tampons or disposable pads over the course of those 40 years.

Make The Switch Today!
It is easy to see why switching to natural feminine care products is important for many different reasons. You will not only be protecting your health, but the health of the entire planet. This is also a chance to not only change for ourselves but for our daughters, sisters, mothers and girlfriends. Change can be infectious.  So stand up today by making healthy choices for your health and the planet. Maybe some of you out there have daughters, you can teach them what you have learned about the feminine care products industry and start them off right with natural feminine care products. Protect your health, protect your fertility! I have convince my mother, wife and sister to switch years ago and after doing the research for this article I am so glad I did. We believe women deserve better for their health, you are the bearers of the future generations of the planet!


Change Bio Seleza Sanitary Pads, See What is the benefits

References:
1) http://makingloveinthekitchen.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/tampax-tampons.pdf
2) http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/basics/chemlist.htm
3) http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1289/ehp.0211015
4) *http://www.greenfacts.org/glossary/abc/ah-receptor.htm
5) http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/toc11.html
6) http://www.ecochoices.com/1/cotton_statistics.html
7) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayon
8) Shafik, Ahmed (1993), “Effect of different types of textile fabric on spermatogenesis: an experimental study”, Urological Research 21(5):367–370
9) http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Polyester.html
10) Birnbaum LS, Cummings AM 2002. Dioxins and Endometriosis: A Plausible Hypothesis. Environ Health Perspect 110:15-21. doi:10.1289/ehp.0211015
11) ** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_pad
12) http://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/scary-statistics/
13) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superabsorbent_polymer
14) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene 15) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene