Sanitary pads in India found to be cancerous
popular sanitary napkin brands in India contain harmful chemicals that can cause cancer and infertility. Toxic chemicals such as Phthalates and VOCs, in organic and inorganic sanitary pads, sold in the Indian market have been found in the popular sanitary pads.
Phthalates are added to the plastic to increase its flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Phthalates may “induce alterations in puberty, the development of testicular dysgenesis syndrome, cancer, and fertility disorders in both males and females".
Researchers have also linked Phthalates to “asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer, obesity, type II diabetes, low IQ" and many more disorders.
The other chemical component found in sanitary pads are VOCs.
Long-term exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), found in sanitary pads, can induce irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, fatigue, loss of coordination, dizziness, and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system and can also cause cancer.
Both the chemicals can cause cancer.
While the two harmful chemicals can be found in various other products – such as paints, deodorants, air fresheners, nail polish -- but exposure through sanitary pads is what makes it more dangerous as the vaginal tissue is more permeable. The chemicals can pass through the vagina into the body more easily.
“The exposure is possible through various other routes but vaginal tissues have more permeable skin than the rest of the tissues," more
Phthalates are added to the plastic to increase its flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Phthalates may “induce alterations in puberty, the development of testicular dysgenesis syndrome, cancer, and fertility disorders in both males and females".
Researchers have also linked Phthalates to “asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer, obesity, type II diabetes, low IQ" and many more disorders.
The other chemical component found in sanitary pads are VOCs.
Long-term exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), found in sanitary pads, can induce irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, fatigue, loss of coordination, dizziness, and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system and can also cause cancer.
Both the chemicals can cause cancer.
While the two harmful chemicals can be found in various other products – such as paints, deodorants, air fresheners, nail polish -- but exposure through sanitary pads is what makes it more dangerous as the vaginal tissue is more permeable. The chemicals can pass through the vagina into the body more easily.
“The exposure is possible through various other routes but vaginal tissues have more permeable skin than the rest of the tissues," more
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What are the regulators and licensing authority doing? On what basis license was issued for manufacturing? And now when the dangers are established, authorities need to act immediately to withdraw from market and stop further manufacturing. At the same time firms of those who are in safe manufacturing product classification needs to be published for the information of all concerned. more
Nov 23
