TAMPON DANGERS-CARCINOGENS
From: Lucille (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 21 Oct 1998 21:18:55 -0500 (CDT)
I am writing to you to offer you this current information on the use of
tampons and it's carcinogenic properties. Please share this information
with your colleagues and patients, encourage an end to this dangerous
product that can and does injure women. Please pay particular attention
to the article by Karen Houppert "Pulling the Plug on the Tampon
Industry" as Found at: http://critpath.org/~tracy/spot.html. Nearly all
major brand tampons contain synthetic fibers (which are conducive to the
bacteria which cause toxic shock) and go through a chlorine bleaching
process (chlorine is highly carcinogenic).
Please take into account, when diagnosing your patients, that you
include questions about tampon use and the resulting symptoms.
The following is being circulated widely here in Silicon Valley (San
Jose, California) and we are all extremely worried about it. There is
information here regarding alternative unbleached 100% cotton products,
as well. This group and many others are focusing on informing the
public and protecting women. Please support us and read on.
RE: TAMPON ALERT - CONTINUED DANGER (See important websites thoughout
and at the end of this message)
I received the following over the internet. This is being forwarded by
email all over Silicon Valley. This is so important to us all. It
would appear that the Toxic Shock Syndrome, in another form
(carcinogens), is still with us.
Please do read this, even if you don't use tampons. Please take note of
it, for your own health or that of a friend, loved one or a patient of
yours. Physicians need to know this information in diagnosing symptoms
of their patients and informing those with no current complaints, but
who may be using tampons and subject to prolonged exposure.
--
=======================================================
TEXT OF THE INTERNET MESSAGE:
This seemed important enough to pass on:
This is a message I received from a friend of mine. The information
appears to be legitimate and of concern to most of us. Please pay
particular attention to
I heard many tampon makers would include asbestos in the tampon. Why?
Because asbestos makes you bleed more... if you bleed more, you're
going to need to use more. Why wasn't this against the law since
asbestos is so dangerous? Because the powers that be, in all their
wisdom (not), did not consider tampons as being ingested, and therefore
wasn't illegal or considered dangerous.
This month's Essence magazine has a small article about this and they
mention two manufacturers of a cotton tampon alternative. The companies
are:
* Organic Essentials @ (800) 765-6491 and the
* Black-owned terra femme @ (800) 755-0212.
A woman getting her Ph.D. at University of Colorado @ Boulder sent
this. Read on if you value your health ...
I am writing this because women are not being informed about the dangers
something most of us use - tampons. I'm taking a class this month and I
have been learning a lot about biology and the woman, including much
about feminine hygiene. Recently we have learned that tampons are
actually dangerous (for other reasons than TSS). Read on if you're
interested, if not, that's fine too. But I'll tell you this - after
learning about this in our class, most of the females wound up feeling
angry and upset with the tampon industry, and I for one, am going to do
something about it. To start, I want to inform everyone I can, and
e-mail is the fastest way that I know how.
HERE'S THE SCOOP:
Tampons contain two things that are potentially harmful:
Rayon (for absorbency) and dioxin (a chemical used in bleaching the
products). The tampon industry is convinced that we, as women, need
bleached white products - they seem to think that we view the product as
pure and clean. The problem here is that the dioxin produced in this
bleaching process can lead to very harmful problems for a woman.
Dioxin is potentially carcinogenic (cancer-associated) and is toxic to
the immune and reproductive systems. It has been linked to
endometriosis as well as lower sperm counts for men - for both, it
breaks down the immune system.
Last September the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that
there really is no set "acceptable" level of exposure to dioxin - given
that it is cumulative and slow to disintegrate, the real danger comes
from repeated contact (Karen Houppert "Pulling the Plug on the Tampon
Industry"). I'd say using about 5 tampons a day, five days a month,
for 38 menstruating years is "repeated contact", wouldn't you? Rayon
contributes to the danger of tampons and dioxin because it is a highly
absorbent substance and therefore when fibers from the tampons are left
behind in the vagina (as usually occurs), it creates a breeding ground
for the dioxin, and stays in a lot longer than it would with just cotton
tampons. This is also the reason why TSS (toxic shock syndrome) occurs.
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
Using feminine hygiene products that aren't bleached (which causes the
dioxin) and that are all cotton (the rayon will leave fiber1s and
"breeding grounds" in the vagina). Other feminine hygiene p0roducts
(pads/napkins)contain dioxin as well, but they are not nearly as
dangerous since they are not in direct contact with the vagina. The
pads/napkins need to stop being bleached, but obviously tampons are the
most dangerous. So, what can you do if you can't give up using tampons?
Use tampons that are made from 100% cotton, and that are unbleached.
Unfortunately, there are very, very few companies that make these safe
tampons. They are usually only found in health food stores. Countries
all over the world (Sweden, Germany,British Columbia, etc.) have
demanded a switch to this safer tampon, while the U.S. has decided to
keep us in the dark about it. In 1989, activists in England mounted a
campaign against chlorine bleaching. Six weeks and 50,000 letters
later, the makers of sanitary products switched to oxygen bleaching (one
of the green methods available) (Ms. magazine, May/June 1995).
Personally I think it's time that the U.S. switches, and we need to
make our voices heard.
WHAT TO DO NOW:
Tell people. Everyone. Inform them. We are being manipulated by this
industry and the government, let's do something about it! Tell everyone
to write to the companies - Tampax (Tambrands), Playtex, O.B., Kotex.
Call the 1-800 numbers on the boxes.
LET THEM KNOW THAT WE DEMAND A SAFE PRODUCT - ALL-COTTON, UNBLEACHED
TAMPONS.
WEBSITES TO LOOK AT: (This is what I found when I searched with
"tampons" on the web:
Health: Women's Health: Menstrual Cycles
Toxic Tampons Pose Health Risks
Read an article in Earth Island Journal which highlights the dangerous
chemicals present in most tampons -- chlorine and dioxin. Dioxin has
been linked to cancer and immune suppression. Found at:
http://www.earthisland.org/ei/journal/tampons.html (NOT
THERE ANYMORE)
NATRACARE: This is a company that manufactures a full line of
non-chlorine bleached feminine tampons. Chlorine bleach causes the
formation of dioxin, a substance linked to cancer, endometriosis and
immune system suppression. Found at: http://www.indra.com/natracare/
S.P.O.T. (A MUST SEE SITE)
More bad news on the women's health front. Nearly all major brand
tampons contain synthetic fibers (which are conducive to the bacteria
which cause toxic shock) and go through a chlorine bleaching process
chlorine is highly carcinogenic).
Found at: http://critpath.org/~tracy/spot.html (THIS IS A VERY IN-DEPTH
STORY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF INDUSTRY ATTITUDES AND HOW THE INDUSTRY AND
THE FDA HAS SWEPT THIS UNDER THE TABLE, INSPITE OF THE EVIDENCE. AND
MUCH MORE!)
The Tampon Health Web Site
Seeks to educate the public about the hidden dangers of using commercial
brand tampons.
Found at: http://critpath.org/~tracy/spot.html
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