NCC investigates nine sanitary pad suppliers amid reports of harmful chemicals

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has initiated its own investigation into nine sanitary pad suppliers. This follows a study conducted by the University of the Free State (UFS), titled “The presence of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in sanitary pads: A study done in South Africa”. The research was conducted by Janine Blignaut (PhD candidate), Dr Gabre Kemp from the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, and Professors Elizabeth Erasmus, Deon Visser and Marietjie Schutte-Smith from the Department of Chemistry.

The study found that certain sanitary pads and panty liners may contain harmful endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including parabens, phthalates and bisphenols. The findings showed widespread contamination across all products tested Bisphenols were detected in 100% of sanitary pads and 75% of pantyliners, while parabens were found in more than 81% of pads and 75% of liners. Phthalates were present in all pantyliners tested and in 50% of sanitary pads.

These endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are linked to health complications such as hormonal imbalance, infertility, endometriosis and cancer. However, the researchers noted that these substances are not always added intentionally, but may migrate into products from plastics, adhesives and manufacturing processes. “Our study highlights a concerning reality regarding the safety of menstrual products,” said Professor Visser, Head of the Department of Chemistry at the UFS, in a statement. “Many sanitary pads and liners contain hormone-disrupting chemicals, even when they are marketed as being ‘free from harmful chemicals’.” The NCC has initiated an investigation against the following suppliers whose products were apparently tested in the study.