‘No harm’ from chemicals in sanitary pads — Motsoaledi

Chemicals found in sanitary pads and panty liners do not cause any harm, and those who are more exposed to these chemicals are men rather than women, Health ministerAaron Motsoaledisaid. Motsoaledi was briefing the public following a study that found hormone-disrupting chemicals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals [EDC] in somesanitary pads and panty linerssold in SA. The study, which was conducted by theUniversity of the Free State(UFS) and caused an uproar, detected parabens, phthalates and bisphenols in several menstrual products, raising questions about potential long-term health risks and product regulation.

However, Motsoaledi said concentrations of ECDs in sanitary pads were low and that findings did not mean harm. “Twenty publications [studies] have been produced over the years aboutendocrine-disrupting chemicalsin sanitary pads, and all have not demonstrated any inference of clinical harm to the people using these products … exposure to EDC is actually higher in men than in women due to occupational exposure …

“Concentrations of EDCs in menstrual products are very low. Those findings of EDCs in sanitary pads do not automatically translate into harm in the human body,” Motsoaledi said. “This is very important.

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They [EDCs] are ever-present in low concentrations in various foodstuffs, in household products, in personal care and beauty products, cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioners, body lotions, lipsticks, which many of you are wearing today, clothing, which all of us are wearing, and electronics, which many of you are carrying,” he said. Motsoaledi said the findings of these chemicals were not surprising. “It’s not surprising to us at all; previous studies have confirmed that they are found in menstrual health products …

The potential risks of endocrine-disrupting chemicals to disrupt hormones are still theoretical and not yet established in practice. “No link of clinical harm was established by the study mentioned in that report.

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