56 girls died because of using whisper, stayfree, etc. One Single pad for the whole day because of the chemical used in Ultra Napkins. Which converts liquid into gel. It causes cancer in bladder & uterus. So please try to use cotton made pads and if you are using ultra pads, Please change that within 5 hours, per day, at least. If the time is prolonged the blood becomes green & the fungus formed gets inside the uterus & body. Please don't feel shy to fwd this message to all girls and even boys so that they can share with their wives n friends, whom they care for. This is a public service message........... Pass it 2 all the ladies you care for without hesitating. Awareness is important Stay safe, healthy and blessed.. Analysis: Circulating messages suggest that 56 girls have died recently because of using the sanitary pads like Whisper, Stayfree and others. It is also said that prolonged use of these sanitary pads can cause infections and other complications. It is also said that the sanitary pads contain harmful chemicals that may lead to Cancers in women using them. Let us look into these facts in detail. About the Issue Although there are no credible reports to validate that 56 girls have died because of using sanitary napkins, it is a fact that the chemicals used in the commercially available sanitary pads, tampons and even diapers have raised some concerns throughout the world. This is mainly because of the undisclosed ingredients used in the making of these sanitary pads. The manufacturers of these tampons and sanitary pads are not required to disclose the ingredients, as these feminine hygiene products are considered “medical devices.” The conventional sanitary pads available in the market are thought to contain crude oil, plastic and other potentially harmful chemicals, used in odor neutralizers and fragrances. Even the chemicals used in the absorbent materials of sanitary pads raised health concerns, and so did the bleaching agents used to make them appear pure. These were in fact thought to pose health risks as mentioned in the messages. Testing Sanitary Pads Andrea Donsky of naturallysavvy.com inquired into this issue, calling the Procter & Gamble Company to find out what is in their 'Always Infinity' pads. The only ingredients the service reps of the company could give her were - foam and a patented ingredient called Infinicel, which is a highly absorbent material that can hold up to 10 times its weight. Andrea held a fire test to check and compare the safety and quality of commercially available sanitary napkins and their organic counterpart. As shown in the video, she tested Always Infinity pads from Procter & Gamble with undisclosed ingredients along with Natracare pads made of 100% organic cotton, cellulose from wood pulp and corn starch. When set on fire, the commercial Always Infinity pads burned quickly with foul smell, emitting lot of black smoke - indicating the possible presence of more chemicals like synthetic fibers and petrochemicals. Presence of Dioxins Dioxin is a known human carcinogen. U.S. House Resolution (HR) 890's Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1999 reported that Dioxin is a byproduct of chlorine-beaching processes that are used in the manufacture of paper products, including sanitary pads, panty liners, tampons and diapers. The effects of dioxin were reported to be cumulative and may stay in the body for 20 years after exposure. Even the World Health Organization lists dioxin as one of the "dirty dozen - a group of dangerous chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants." However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied dioxin and indicated that the largest problem with dioxin is from food, not tampons or sanitary pads. "Although dioxins are found in trace amounts in both cotton and pulp sanitary products, exposure to dioxins through tampons and diapers does not significantly contribute to dioxin exposures in the United States." Other Chemicals Another chemical called Furan, which is similar to Dioxin, is also found in bleached paper products, including sanitary pads, tampons and diapers. A study from Korea extracted the chemicals found in various sanitary pads and tampons throughout the world. Although the results varied with the different products, banned toxic substances like octachlorinated dioxin (OCDD), hexachlorodibenzofuran (HxCDF) and octa-chlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) were detected. Other Issues in Women It should be noted that the skin around the vaginal area in women is more permeable to wide range of artificial chemicals. Moreover, a woman’s body may often be at its weakest during menstruation, so the woman’s health could be affected with usage of harmful sanitary pads and tampons. It should also be noted that many of these sanitary pads are not air permeable, and when used for prolonged hours can cause irritation, grow bacteria and cause infections. This is why it is very important for sanitary pads and panty liners to allow air flow. Government Actions In January 2003 U.S. House Resolution 373, named the tampon safety legislation, was introduced in Congress by Carolyn Maloney, directing the Institute of Health "to research health risks to women---including endometriosis and cancers of the breast, ovaries, and cervix---from the presence of dioxin, synthetic fibers, and other additives in feminine products." The Endometrioses Association in their report indicates, "Until research addresses the risks, health experts recommend unbleached, organic cotton sanitary pads and tampons (without plastic applicators)." Not much is known about these studies since then. Conclusion Considering the aforementioned facts, it is evident that there is certain amount of risk/side effects of using the commercially available feminine products, especially with the ones whose ingredients are not disclosed. It should also be noted that these feminine products have environmental issues while disposing them. It is because of these potential risk factors, some women have opted for organic sanitary pads as an alternative and others have decided to use reusable sanitary pads. Experts also advise women to change their sanitary pads every few hours, like after four hours. We believe that more efficient studies into these issues are mandatory. The companies should also be regulated to disclose the ingredients they are using in their feminine hygiene products. source
