Other human studies, however, have not found any clear link between lung cancer and titanium dioxide. And thats it. They are very similar to Natracare and do not contain genetically modified cotton or any of the other chemicals that we discussed. But the same 2010 assessment by the International Agency for Research on Cancer did not find adequate evidence that the same was true for humans. While the EFSA in the United States declared titanium dioxide unsafe as a food additive in 2021, the FDA has ruled it safe for use as a colorant. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Sunscreen can safely contain up to 25% titanium dioxide. So manufacturers add preservatives, fragrance and bleach to make it more appealing. "Exposure can irritate eyes, nose, and throat, and causes cancer," TikToker monirubio8 reads from a state government webpageon titanium dioxide. "But it's the dose, it's the route that makes the 'poison,' and so just because something might cause lung cancer, for example, doesn't mean it's going to cause an issue in a tampon. Another TikToker, zt0n3r.hippie, responded by saying "now I know" the cause of her own reproductive health problems. While it sounds scary, the experts stress theres little truth behind these worries. The decision was based on available scientific research which, although not totally conclusive, found that an accumulation of titanium dioxide in the body could possibly contribute to genotoxicity (i.e., damage at the DNA level that may lead to cancer). A blonde woman holding a large box of tampons suggested that the minerals presence in the products could cause period cramps, ovarian cysts, Its important to question ingredients and read the studies for a balanced view to understand any risk. The second reason? So today, I wanted to write a blog on the hidden dangers found in our menstrual products and what products to use instead! The product in question in the TikTok video is one that is labeled as organic and yet it contains titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide, or TiO2, is a naturally occurring mineral comprised of titanium and oxygen. L. brand tampons use titanium dioxide as pigment in the thread that attaches the string to the absorbent part of the tampon. According to the company, TiO2 represents less than 0.1% of all the ingredients they use to manufacture their tampons. joni co-founder, Jayesh Vekariyain addition to holding an MBAhas a masters in pharmacology with a research interest in endocrine hormones and reproductive health with more than nine years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry. Sometimes referred to as titanium white or Pigment White 6, titanium dioxide is all around us. And it would be a stretch to correlate a possible connection in rats to a true cause-and-effect in humans. To say this guy likes his scientific studies is an understatement. Cancer is a complex phenomenon that can be correlated with many factors. However, a recent study conducted in November 2020 demonstrated that micro plastics are released from propylene infant feeding bottles. And as of March 2022, the FDA maintains its position that titanium dioxide may be safely used as a food coloring.. We follow them for beauty tutorials and fashion tips, fitness and more. Because there's so little conclusive research on the potential effects of titanium dioxide, you're not going to find clear, concise guidance for tampon shopping by studying up. Case in point: exposure to titanium dioxide may destroy good gut microbes, cause gut dysfunction and increase intestinal inflammation, according to a February 2021 systematic review of animal studies published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.. What To Know About Titanium Dioxide In Tampons and Skittles, Titanium dioxide isn't making tampons into toxic death sticks, Titanium Dioxide | Use, Benefits, and Chemical Safety Facts, "Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans VOLUME 93 Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc, Studies of Cancer in Experimental Animals - Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. No added chemicals. In the study, 48 regions were surveyed to estimate the global exposure to infants up to 12 months. 20006, Florida What is Titanium Dioxide (and should you be worried)? Titanium dioxide is commonly found in countless everyday products including food, cosmetics, drugs, paper and toothpaste. "Our high-quality ingredients are rigorously tested and meet strict safety and government regulations around the world.". Video shows Elon Musk talking about what every failed leader he met had in common. This finding prompted the European Union to ban TiO2 as a food additive earlier this year, but in the U.S., the ingredient is still considered to be safe in food at the limits set by the FDA. "Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring substance that is often used in food and other topical products to create a whiter and brighter look," Dr. Gohar says. ", The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved titanium dioxide for human consumptionin 1966, cementing its presence in a variety of foods, including candies and other processed foods. There are several health concerns regarding TiO2. Most people assume that their personal products are safe and are willing to use them regardless of ingredients which is why big companies are still using cheap and unsafe ingredients. Its really pervasive because its a whitening agent. Propylene is a plastic that is found in food containers like those that hold yogurt, cream cheese and butter products. He added that the vaginal mucosa has lots of blood vessels, which allow it to absorb what's in tampons, leading to complications like toxic shock syndrome. Titanium dioxide is used in all kinds of products as a whitener, including toothpaste, sunscreen, and yes, period care. In the emergency room, I assess five primary routes of exposure for a substance when assessing for toxicity: inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestionand absorption. It's unclear exactly how many brands use TiO2 in their menstrual products. "To date, there is no published research that has researched the impacts of vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide," Eyvazzadeh said. The ban was related to really concern and hypothetical risks, she stressed. If people just do a quick Google search, it can be a bit confusing.. Thank you so much for reading my blog! In a previous blog post, Jayesh. T his past August, a video about titanium dioxide in tampons went viral on TikTok. If you think of all the cosmetics and dyes and candy and food its everywhere, Dr. Jennifer Wu, an OB-GYN at Lenox Hill Hospital, told TODAY. We see tampons as something that could potentially harm us, Lincoln said. joni's non-applicator tampons are made with 100% organic cotton and nothing else. There's also a little bit of evidence to suggest that the common ingredient may be an endocrine disruptor, says Flynnmeaning it may affect a person's hormonal system. Theres no evidence of cancer due to titanium dioxide in tampons but that may be because there simply arent any studies in this regard.. Dr. Sabrina offers ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and implement lessons in our lives. Preventing paraffin-related injury. You cant just say just because you breathe something in and it causes cancer that its also going to cause cancer in a different route, Lincoln explained. accessed Aug. 9, 2022, Chemical Safety Facts, "Titanium Dioxide | Use, Benefits, and Chemical Safety Facts," accessed Aug. 8, 2022, International Agency for Research on Cancer, "Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans VOLUME 93 Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc," 2010, International Agency for Research on Cancer, "Studies of Cancer in Experimental Animals - Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc," 2010, Healthline, "Titanium dioxide in food Should you be concerned?" Because of the mixed evidence, it was classified as "possibly" carcinogenic. Below, Dr. Eyvazzadeh and Erin Flynn, MPH, DNP/FNP, an LGBTQ+ care expert with birth control startup Favor, share the complicated truth behind this question. So while there is no evidence of danger, "we also dont have the science to assure us that this kind of exposure is safe either. Whats lost in translation is that its really related to the inhalation of titanium dioxide, not (when it's) used internally, such as a tampon," she explained, adding that the research is in rats. 2023Well+Good LLC. "According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regulated doses of titanium dioxide are not harmful, but this also varies based on use," Dr. Gohar says. But there is also no published research on vaginal or vulvar exposure to titanium dioxide that can guarantee its safety. But TiO2 is insoluble in water meaning that it cannot be dissolved into smaller particles. Ive been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. On its own, paraffin is greasy and has an unpleasant odour. ", The post was flagged as part of Facebooks efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. The classification as bio-inert material has given the possibility to normal-sized (>100 nm) titanium dioxide particles (TiO2-NPs) to be extensively used in food products and as ingredients in a wide range of pharmaceutical products and cosmetics, such "[P]revious studies have shown that titanium dioxide can cause alterations to the reproductive system, including reducing the ovarian follicles and leading to the formation of ovarian cysts," she says. In this study, food-related TiO 2 NPs (anatase, 40 nm) were given to rats by oral gavage for 90 days at doses of 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg bw. Keep in mind that products labeled as natural don't mean anything and are a form of greenwashing. Theres really two reasons why people think that it could cause cancer, and I can understand why because its confusing, Lincoln, an OB-GYN and author of the book, Lets Talk about Down There: An OB-GYN Answers all Your Burning Questions Without Making You Feel Embarrassed for Asking, told TODAY. OB-GYN Dr. Jen Gunter posted a response to the controversy on Instagram, calling concerns about it "fearmongering. Find him on Instagram@dr.daignault. Color Additives Exempt from Certification - Titanium Dioxide - Foods, Color Additives Exempt from Certification - Titanium Dioxide - Cosmetics, Color Additives Exempt from Certification - Titanium Dioxide - Drugs, Color Additives Exempt from Certification - Titanium Dioxide - Medical Devices, The Facts on Tamponsand How to Use Them Safely, Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-The-Counter Human Use, European Union: Titanium Dioxide Banned as a Food Additive in the EU, Opinion on Titanium dioxide (TiO2) used in cosmetic products that lead to exposure by inhalation, Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive, Safety assessment of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive, Critical review of the safety assessment of titanium dioxide additives in food, Titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a food additive: Current science report. To decrease this risk, regularly use a sunscreen with a Broad-Spectrum SPF value of 15 or higher and other sun protection measures including: limit time in the sun, especially from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats, and sunglasses New study explores the benefits,harms. Is this an emergency? However, these studies were conducted on mice who orally consumed titanium dioxide, so we'll still need extensive clinical research on humans before we can definitively link TiO2 with reproductive disruptionor assume those risks definitely come from other intakes of the ingredient. "If you use these, STOP RIGHT NOW!! Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) occurs when a super-absorbent tampons is inserted for longer than medically recommended, which may lead certain types of bacteria to grow. Fitness, Acupuncture & Healthy Lifestyle Blog. PEGS or polyethylene glycols are petroleum-based compounds that are widely used in the cosmetic industry as thickeners, solvents and softeners. 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