In July 2024, researchers from UC Berkeley and Columbia University published what they described as the first study ever to measure the metallic content of tampons. The findings made headlines around the world — and prompted the US Food and Drug Administration to launch its own investigation two months later.

If you're a parent with a daughter approaching her first period, this is information worth understanding. Not to cause alarm — the researchers themselves are clear that more work is needed — but because informed families make better choices.

Here's what the study actually found, what it means, what it doesn't mean, and what alternatives are available.

---

The 2024 tampon study: what happened

Researchers tested 30 tampons from 14 brands and 18 product lines, purchased from major retailers in the US, UK, and Greece. They tested for 16 metals and metalloids including lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, chromium, and zinc.

The results: all 16 metals were detected in at least one tampon. Lead was found in every single product tested — all 30 from all 14 brands. The researchers noted this was, to their knowledge, the first time anyone had ever measured the metallic content of tampons.

The researchers were careful to note an important limitation: the study measured the presence of metals in the tampon material itself — it did not measure whether those metals leach out into the body during use. That question remains under investigation.

---

Which metals were found — and why they matter

Of the 16 metals detected, three are classified as having no established safe level of human exposure:

Other metals detected across samples included chromium, vanadium, mercury, nickel, and cobalt — all present at varying concentrations across different brands and product types.

---

How do metals get into tampons?

The researchers identified several possible pathways — and importantly, none of them require deliberate negligence. These metals can enter the supply chain at multiple stages:

• Soil and water absorption — cotton is an effective accumulator of metals naturally present in soil and groundwater, particularly near industrial sites or where certain fertilisers are used
• Air contamination — cotton fields near industrial facilities may be exposed to airborne metal particles
• Manufacturing processes — some metals may be introduced intentionally during production as pigments, whitening agents, or antimicrobial compounds
• Rayon production — the chemical processing of wood pulp into rayon, a common tampon material, may introduce trace contaminants

There are currently no regulations requiring tampon manufacturers to test their products for metals before sale in the US or most other markets. The researchers specifically called for this to change.

---

Does "organic" mean safer?

This is one of the most important nuances in the study — and one that surprised many people. Organic tampons are not automatically lower in metals. In fact:

The researchers concluded that no tampon category — organic or non-organic, store brand or premium — had consistently lower metal concentrations across the board. Choosing organic does not eliminate the issue, it simply shifts which metals are more or less present.

---

What happened after the study was published

The study was published in July 2024 and received widespread media coverage. Two months later, in September 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration announced it had launched its own formal investigation into tampon safety.

The FDA investigation is focused on determining whether metals detected in tampon materials can leach out during use — the critical question the original study was unable to answer. Results from that investigation have not yet been published.

The study's lead author also called on regulators to require manufacturers to test their products for metals — something that is not currently required in the US, UK, or EU.

---

Why this is especially relevant for teens

There are two reasons this research is particularly relevant for young people approaching their first period.

First, the vaginal tissue has a higher capacity for chemical absorption than most other skin on the body — a fact the researchers specifically highlighted as their reason for concern. Any chemicals present in tampon materials have more potential to enter the bloodstream than they would through, say, skin on the arm.

Second, a teen who starts using tampons at age 12 or 13 and continues through her reproductive years will use tampons for decades. The cumulative exposure question — which no study has yet examined — is one that researchers say needs urgent attention.

None of this means tampons cause definitive harm. The science isn't there yet. But it does mean that for a first-time user, it's worth considering alternatives — particularly ones with established safety certifications.

---

What to use instead

The good news is that for teens just starting their period journey, there are well-established alternatives to tampons that avoid this issue entirely — and that many find easier to use.

• Period underwear — external protection with no insertion required. The absorbency is built into the fabric, so there are no synthetic materials inside the body. OEKO-TEX® certified options like Cheeki are tested for 100+ harmful substances.
• Menstrual cups — reusable medical-grade silicone cups that collect rather than absorb flow. A good option for older teens comfortable with internal products, though there is a learning curve.
• Menstrual discs — similar to cups but worn differently, sitting at the base of the cervix. Also medical-grade silicone.
• Reusable cloth pads — external protection made from certified safe fabrics, washed and reused like period underwear.

For first periods especially, period underwear tends to be the easiest and least intimidating starting point. There's nothing to learn, nothing to insert, and nothing to worry about positioning correctly. Your daughter just puts them on and gets on with her day.

---

Frequently asked questions

---