'Forever Chemicals' Identified in Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, July 25, 2025 -- Reusable feminine hygiene products often contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to a study published online July 22 in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
Alyssa Wicks, Ph.D., from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, and colleagues examined PFAS content in reusable feminine hygiene products in the United States and abroad. Fifty-nine reusable feminine hygiene products across five product categories underwent total fluorine screening via particle-induced gamma-ray emission spectroscopy.
The researchers found the greatest rates of intentional PFAS use (>110 ppm total fluorine) for period underwear and reusable pads (33 and 25 percent, respectively). Nineteen of these products were chosen for a targeted analysis of 31 ionic and 11 neutral PFAS; 100 percent of the extracted products had PFAS, with the most abundant compounds 6:2 and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohols. Tested products were sourced from North America, South America, and Europe, all of which had one or more item with levels consistent with intentional fluorination. At least one product in each category did not contain intentional fluorine.
"Since reusable products are on the rise due to their increased sustainability compared to single-use products, it's important to ensure that these products are safe," coauthor Marta Venier, Ph.D., from Indiana University in Bloomington, said in a statement. "This is crucial, especially for adolescents and young women, who are more vulnerable to potential negative health effects."
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Posted July 2025
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