Over recent years, numerous studies have discovered concerning ingredients in period products, including heavy metals such as arsenic, toxic pesticides at levels 40 times above the drinking water limit, and most recently, 'extremely high' concentrations of toxic chemicals known as PFAs in reusableproducts.

Presently, in the UK, there is no specific legislation requiring manufacturers to list ingredients or prevent residues from appearing in the products. In certain instances, periodproducts are "less regulated than candles", Helen Lynn, senior consultant and research fellow at Women's Environmental Network, toldThe Independent.

What are the health risks?

Valentina Milanova, founder of gynaecological health company Daye, and Justyna Strzeszynska, founder & CEO of Joii, an AI-powered period care platform, explained what women need to be aware of.

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Justyna told Reach: "There is no evidence yet of anyone getting metal poisoning from a tampon, but the conversation is shifting toward chronic exposure and what happens when we use these products for 30 or 40 years. That is where we need more research."

Valentina added: "The key issue is chronic, repeated exposure. Menstrual products are used internally, for hours at a time, month after month, for decades. Even low-level exposure matters when it's cumulative.

"Certain heavy metals are known endocrine disruptors at sufficient doses, while pesticide residues and dioxins have been associated with immune disruption, hormonal interference and increased inflammation. Fragrances are a common trigger for vulvovaginal irritation, contact dermatitis and microbiome imbalance."

What to look for

When it comes to choosing safer products, both experts concur that brands which voluntarily list all ingredients and share their testing protocols are a "huge green flag". However, Valentina cautioned against being swayed by "vague claims like 'natural' or 'non-toxic'".

She further advised: "Be wary of greenwashing. Organic alone doesn't guarantee safety if no contaminant testing is done."

Justyna encouraged people to avoid "extras" in their products, such as fragrances, dyes or coatings that promise 'freshness'. She suggested: "If you're worried about internal exposure, consider switching between tampons and external pads or period underwear during cycles."

Why do these substances appear in period products?

Justyna explained to Reach: "It's important to know these aren't usually 'added' by manufacturers on purpose. Instead, they often get there naturally, as cotton plants can absorb metals from the soil or water as they grow. Even organic cotton isn't a total shield, as it can still be grown in soil that contains natural elements like arsenic."

At present, manufacturers have the discretion to test or list ingredients on their period products in most instances. Some, like Valentina's Daye, go above and beyond what regulations would mandate across the industry.

She elaborated: "At Daye, we've been testing our tampons for heavy metals and other contaminants since 2019, long before this topic entered the mainstream. We do this not because regulation requires it, but because women deserve to know what they're putting into one of the most absorbent and biologically sensitive parts of the body. Our testing protocols and results are publicly available as part of our commitment to transparency."

While alarming findings have been reported by studies for decades, Justyna believes the "tide is turning" on regulation and the importance of regulating period products. She stated: "In the US, they are treated as medical devices, but in the UK, they haven't faced the same level of mandatory ingredient disclosure.

"There's a massive push at the moment for aMenstrual Actthat would compel brands to be 100% transparent about what is in their cotton and their processing."

Valentina concurs, stating that progress has been made, but the pace is "slow and fragmented". She added: "In the UK and EU, manufacturers must meet general safety standards, yet there are no harmonised requirements for contaminant testing or transparency.

"Public pressure is clearly shifting the conversation and that matters. But we're not yet at a point where regulation consistently protects women across markets. Until it does, responsibility sits largely with manufacturers willing to go beyond the minimum."