If you are a woman and you use sanitary pads, but especially if you use tampons, read this and give it to your friends. For men reading this, please pass it on to friends, loved ones, sisters, mothers, daughters, etc. Thanks!
Check the labels on the sanitary pads or tampons you are going to buy next time and see if you see any of the familiar signs in this letter. It is no wonder that there are so many women in the world with cervical cancer and uterine tumors. They cannot include “asbestos” as an ingredient, but beware of anything other than unbleached organic cotton.
Have you ever heard that tampon manufacturers include asbestos in tampons? Why would they do this? Because asbestos makes you bleed, if you bleed more, you will need to use more tampons … and this is money in the manufacturer’s pocket the more we use and buy. Why isn’t this against the law since so much evidence has been found that asbestos is so dangerous? The powers that be, in all their wisdom (no), do not consider tampons to be “ingested” and therefore asbestos as an ingredient is not considered illegal or dangerous.
In 2002 Essence magazine ran a short article about this and they mention two manufacturers of an alternative to cotton tampon. The companies are: Organic Essentials and Terra Femme. Since then many more companies have sprung up. Another thing to consider, albeit a bit off topic, is the fact that tampons and sanitary pads fill up and make a huge contribution to landfills. Can I personally offer some wonderful alternatives? I have had great success with the sponge. It is reusable, renewable and biodegradable. To find sponges, go to http://www.jadeandpearl.com/catalog/index.php and search for Sea Pearls. Also visit http://www.lunapads.com/. The best thing is their polka dot briefs, a pair of briefs that have a built-in pad!
Do you need more info? Well, here it is: tampons contain two things that are potentially harmful, rayon for absorbency and dioxin, a chemical used to whiten products. The tampon industry is convinced that we, as women, need white bleached products to see them as “clean.” The problem here is that the dioxin produced in this bleaching process can lead to harmful side effects. It has been found to be carcinogenic (associated with cancer) and is toxic to the immune and reproductive systems. It has also been linked to endometriosis, a lower sperm count in men, and in men and women, which destroys the immune system. The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that there really is no “acceptable” standard level of exposure to dioxin, since it accumulates in our bodies and slowly disintegrates. The real danger comes from repeated contact (Karen Houppert “Unplugging the tampon industry”). Wouldn’t you agree to use 4-5 tampons a day, 5 days a month, for 38 years of menstruation is “repeated contact”? Ray contributes to the danger of tampons and dioxins because it is a highly absorbent substance. Therefore, when the fibers of the tampons stay in the vagina (as they usually do), it creates a breeding ground for dioxin. It also stays on longer than cotton tampons. This is also the reason why toxic shock syndrome (TSS) occurs.
So now that you are informed, make a decision with your money and send a message to the companies that make unsafe products. Remember: 100% UNBLACHED COTTON, or try some tampon alternatives from any of the websites mentioned above. A great resource is your local health food store.
