Environmental Perspective on Menstrual Hygiene Management Along with the Movement towards Biodegradability: A Mini-Review

Abstract

The topic indicated in this mini-review is an essential factor for the improvement of society through a clean environment movement. Now, this era of microbes forces us to make such kind of development for creating hazard free and healthy life. Girls in rural areas use old cloths, tissue paper, cotton, wool pieces, or a combination of these items to manage menstrual bleeding. Qualitative studies indicate that only those girls who know about several conventional sanitary pads, they prefer to use it. But for many girls, such pads are unavailable or unaffordable. These pads, when flushed, swell up due to saturation with liquid results in sewage blockage, which is a global problem. Sanitary products with the blood of an infected woman/girl may contain hepatitis and HIV viruses where pathogens can live up to 6 months and will retain in soil/water bodies. Incineration is a technique to dispose of menstrual waste. But the burning of pads releases gases that affect health and environment, where the chemical dioxins are toxic and carcinogenic. Considering this drawback, biodegradable sanitary napkins made from natural fibers are a perfect alternative route creating a hazard-free environment. This article focus on the development of different biodegradable sanitary napkins that are made up of the fiber of different plasnts like jute, banana, cotton, water hyacinth bamboo etc. This development provides infection and irritation-free menstruation using bio-active materials of plant origin, which also possess anti-microbial properties. The final implementation of this product will also benefit society by employing rural women empowerment.