Toxic tampons sold in Sweden

Among other things, lead and arsenic have been found in tampons. ZumaWire/MVPHOTOS

A variety of heavy metals were detected in tampons sold in Sweden. Swedish Radio (SV) Reveal.

Swedish radio’s P3 Nyheter commissioned a chemical analysis of 12 different tampons on Swedish store shelves.

These tampons came from ten different brands, and lead, arsenic and cadmium were detected in them.

Several experts stressed to SV that the levels of heavy metals found were very low.

But at the same time, it’s still unclear how these substances affect the body.

– We can’t really speculate how much is okay because we don’t know, the researcher Lorena Francini The Swedish National Research Institute (RISE) told SV.

– More research is needed to understand whether these substances can be removed from tampons and whether they can be absorbed by the body.

Mercury-free

Similar tampon studies have been done in the U.S. before, and Francini said the Swedish situation looked better because no substances such as mercury were found in any of the samples.

Heavy metal concentrations were also slightly lower in Sweden.

Inspector Margarita Daho The Swedish Chemicals Agency says the lower the levels of heavy metals, the less danger they pose.

– These concentrations (in tampons) are even very low and probably in the same category as what we get from food and drinking water, Daho said.

Food Agency Some heavy metals are excreted from the body, but most are very slow. Cadmium and lead can stay in the body for decades.