It amazes me now when I think about how naive I was in my late teens and twenties about chemicals in all the personal care products I used. I can honestly say I didn’t even consider it; it didn’t enter my mind at all. I just wanted to look and feel the best I could and used whatever products that would make me feel absolutely stunning and was marketed so well by the most beautiful young girl that particular month!
This naivety also included my use of tampons and sanitary pads. I actually remember reading on the ‘how to’ tampon insertion instructions that I could suffer from toxic shock syndrome (TSS)!!! I didn’t even give it a second thought I just kept on reading. Fast forward over 20 years and my world, mind and knowledge have changed dramatically. My three year old daughter even reads (or pretends to…) the ingredients list on everything she picks up and says to me “no chemicals mum” or “it’s organic!”.
Today, many women are concerned about the toxins in tampons and sanitary pads. But TSS is not the only danger in using these products. The following article from Treehugger summarises these major concerns and why I would recommend to all women out there to change to organic tampons and sanitary pads right away.
”The chlorine bleaching that is used to make tampons and sanitary pads look "clean" produces dioxin, a known carcinogen and pollutant. Dioxin settles in the fat cells of our bodies and stays there for the rest of our lives, building up cumulatively over time. Therefore, increased exposure means increased risk.”
Plastics in sanitary pads are also a danger to ourselves and our environment, the ocean, fish and other sea life. This is something I wasn’t fully aware of until recently and was completely shocked by. Treehugger quotes Natracare, "Since 1985, the trend has been towards thinner sanitary pads using less wood-based pulp and increased use of synthetic super absorbents made from petroleum. Apertured plastic film is mostly used as a cover on sanitary pads and liners today, and is often called the 'Dri-weave top sheet'. In reality, it is simply just loaded polyethylene film - or plastic with holes in to you and me... Disposal of used sanitary products is either by flushing out to sea, incineration, or depositing in landfill sites. Various pollutants, including dioxins, are continually deposited in the sea through sewage waste and air pollution from incinerators. This not only irreversibly damages and contaminates fish and other sea life; it inevitably results in human exposure to these toxins when we consume these plants and animals."
Natracare are my tampon and pad product of choice these days and I wouldn’t under any circumstances go back to super synthetic, unhealthy ones. They’re readily available in local health food and online shops which is wonderful. If you’ve just started on your journey to use less toxins in your home for the health of your family please change to organic tampons and pads right now, for you. Wouldn’t you rather use products that “are made from certified organic and natural, plant-derived materials that are chemical and additive free, and biodegradable, containing only organic and natural ingredients sourced from sound ecologically managed producers and certified free from animal testing.” Take a look at Natracare.
Today, women are conscious of not wanting to load their beautiful bodies with toxins and synthetic chemicals (my three year old daughter even knows this!). Back in my teens and twenties I’m sure the words “toxins” and “synthetic chemicals” weren’t even in my vocabulary! Women today want natural and most of all SAFE products for themselves, their families and the planet and I don’t think that is too much to ask for…do you?
This naivety also included my use of tampons and sanitary pads. I actually remember reading on the ‘how to’ tampon insertion instructions that I could suffer from toxic shock syndrome (TSS)!!! I didn’t even give it a second thought I just kept on reading. Fast forward over 20 years and my world, mind and knowledge have changed dramatically. My three year old daughter even reads (or pretends to…) the ingredients list on everything she picks up and says to me “no chemicals mum” or “it’s organic!”.
Today, many women are concerned about the toxins in tampons and sanitary pads. But TSS is not the only danger in using these products. The following article from Treehugger summarises these major concerns and why I would recommend to all women out there to change to organic tampons and sanitary pads right away.
”The chlorine bleaching that is used to make tampons and sanitary pads look "clean" produces dioxin, a known carcinogen and pollutant. Dioxin settles in the fat cells of our bodies and stays there for the rest of our lives, building up cumulatively over time. Therefore, increased exposure means increased risk.”
Plastics in sanitary pads are also a danger to ourselves and our environment, the ocean, fish and other sea life. This is something I wasn’t fully aware of until recently and was completely shocked by. Treehugger quotes Natracare, "Since 1985, the trend has been towards thinner sanitary pads using less wood-based pulp and increased use of synthetic super absorbents made from petroleum. Apertured plastic film is mostly used as a cover on sanitary pads and liners today, and is often called the 'Dri-weave top sheet'. In reality, it is simply just loaded polyethylene film - or plastic with holes in to you and me... Disposal of used sanitary products is either by flushing out to sea, incineration, or depositing in landfill sites. Various pollutants, including dioxins, are continually deposited in the sea through sewage waste and air pollution from incinerators. This not only irreversibly damages and contaminates fish and other sea life; it inevitably results in human exposure to these toxins when we consume these plants and animals."
Natracare are my tampon and pad product of choice these days and I wouldn’t under any circumstances go back to super synthetic, unhealthy ones. They’re readily available in local health food and online shops which is wonderful. If you’ve just started on your journey to use less toxins in your home for the health of your family please change to organic tampons and pads right now, for you. Wouldn’t you rather use products that “are made from certified organic and natural, plant-derived materials that are chemical and additive free, and biodegradable, containing only organic and natural ingredients sourced from sound ecologically managed producers and certified free from animal testing.” Take a look at Natracare.
Today, women are conscious of not wanting to load their beautiful bodies with toxins and synthetic chemicals (my three year old daughter even knows this!). Back in my teens and twenties I’m sure the words “toxins” and “synthetic chemicals” weren’t even in my vocabulary! Women today want natural and most of all SAFE products for themselves, their families and the planet and I don’t think that is too much to ask for…do you?
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