Occurrence of heavy metals in sanitary napkins from seven countries: Implication for risk management of female hygiene products

Abstract

Chemicals in sanitary napkins are easy to enter women's bodies, as these products are in contact with the skin of vagina and vulva directly, which has strong absorption capacity. However, available information regarding the occurrence of metals in sanitary napkins and their potential hazards, remains very limited. This study measured the concentrations of As, Co, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni and Cr in sanitary napkins collected from seven countries. Moderate levels of Pb, Cd, Zn and Cr and lower levels of other metals were found, in comparison to the metal concentrations reported for other products previously. Metal concentrations differed by producer, price and fragrance. These metals were originated mainly from the introduction of raw materials and the use of chemical additives during the manufacturing process. Relative to other skin-contacted products, the sanitary napkin contributed more to women's total metal exposure, although the exposure was lower than that of dietary intake. The summed non-carcinogenic risks from six metals and the carcinogenic risks from Pb were acceptable. However, more research is required to investigate metals in sanitary napkins and the associated health risks to women, owing to the variability in the metal concentrations and the complexity of actual exposure.