Research

Current Research Questions

Current research topics include:

  • What chemicals are present in tampons? Can these chemicals get into people鈥檚 bodies and impact health?
  • Can menstrual blood be used to measure chemical exposure relevant to reproductive system disorders?
  • How have Environmental Impact Statements and community engagement influenced air pollution and health outcomes resulting from highway expansion projects?
  • How has CO鈥檚 Public Protection from Toxic Air Contaminants law changed exposure to air toxics in the Denver metro area?

Publication Spotlight

Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s

  • Shearston JA, Upson K, Gordon M, Do V, Balac O, Nguyen K, Yan B, Kioumourtzoglou MA, Schilling K. (2024). Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s.听Environ Int; 190, 108849.听
Metaloid_tampons
Abstract

Background: Between 52鈥86% of people who menstruate in the United States use tampons鈥攃otton and/or rayon/viscose 鈥榩lugs鈥欌攖o absorb menstrual blood in the vagina. Tampons may contain metals from agricultural or manufacturing processes, which could be absorbed by the vagina鈥檚 highly absorptive tissue, resulting in systemic exposure. To our knowledge, no previous studies have measured metals in tampons. We evaluated the concentrations of 16 metal(loid)s in 30 tampons from 14 tampon brands and 18 product lines and compared the concentrations by tampon characteristics.

Objective: We evaluated the concentrations of 16 metal(loid)s in 30 tampons from 14 tampon brands and 18 product lines and compared the concentrations by tampon characteristics.

Methods: About 0.2 鈥 0.3听g from each tampon (n听=听60 samples) were microwave-acid digested and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine concentrations of arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc. We compared concentrations by several tampon characteristics (region of purchase, organic material, brand type) using median quantile mixed models.

Results: We found measurable concentrations of all 16 metals assessed. We detected concentrations of several toxic metals, including elevated mean concentrations of lead (geometric mean [GM]听=听120听ng/g), cadmium (GM听=听6.74听ng/g), and arsenic (GM听=听2.56听ng/g). Metal concentrations differed by region of tampon purchase (US versus European Union/United Kingdom), by organic versus non-organic material, and for store- versus name-brand tampons. Most metals differed by organic status; lead concentrations were higher in non-organic tampons while arsenic was higher in organic tampons. No categoriy had consistently lower concentrations of all or most metals.
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Disscusion: Tampon use is a potential source of metal exposure. We detected all 16 metals in at least one sampled tampon, including some toxic metals like lead that has no 鈥渟afe鈥 exposure level. Future research is needed to replicate our findings and determine whether metals can leach out of tampons and cross the vaginal epithelium into systemic circulation.

Ongoing Projects

Period(ic) Study
Environmental Impact Study
Colorado Air Toxics
Vaginal Absorption of Chemicals

Publications

For a complete list of publications click :听