skip to main content
Language:
Search Limited to: Search Limited to: Resource type Show Results with: Show Results with: Search type Index

Taking aim at toxic tampons

Herizons (Winnipeg), 1999-09, Vol.13 (3), p.15-17

COPYRIGHT 1999 Herizons Magazine, Inc. ;Copyright Herizons Fall 1999 ;ISSN: 0711-7485

Full text available

Citations Cited by
  • Title:
    Taking aim at toxic tampons
  • Author: Adair, Andrea
  • Subjects: Dioxins ; Disease ; Environment ; Environmental aspects ; Health ; Health & beauty aids ; Health aspects ; Illnesses ; Poisons ; Preventive medicine ; Sanitary napkins, tampons, etc ; Toxic shock syndrome ; Toxins ; Women ; Women's health
  • Is Part Of: Herizons (Winnipeg), 1999-09, Vol.13 (3), p.15-17
  • Description: The last time tampons were in the news it was because of the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). [Liz Armstrong] explains that TSS is caused from a toxin-producing form of bacteria, staphylococcus aureus: a common bacteria found in the nose, skin and vagina. She writes that, "scientists believe tampons are the perfect host for the bacteria because they absorb menstrual blood and provide a good surface for the bacteria to colonize." Deaths and disabilities caused by TSS led to a requirement that manufacturers standardize the absorbency of tampons. Health Canada advises women to change tampons every four to six hours and to use external protection overnight. The risks of TSS increases the longer the tampon is in. The risk is greater for women under 30, who haven't built up antibodies to the TSS bacteria. Methylcellulose in tampons associated with TSS were taken off the market and all-cotton tampons appear to reduce the risk of TSS. Some of those tampons are imported into Canada. Alternatives to chlorinated products include 100% cotton tampons, those made from organic cotton and tampons made from non-chlorine bleached cotton. Terra Femme imports 100% cotton tampons that have been manufactured using the oxygen bleaching process to sterilize and soften the cotton. Natracare, a U.K. company produces organically grown, 100% cotton tampons-no herbicides, pesticides or insecticides-and doesn't use chlorinated bleaching either. The yellow Natracare boxes also boast that the cotton is not genetically modified; Natracare tampons can be found in many mainstream stores. Terra Femme sells its products through health food and eco stores. And yes, environmentally-correct tampons cost more than those manufactured using cheaper, chemical processes.
  • Publisher: Winnipeg: Herizons Magazine, Inc
  • Language: English
  • Identifier: ISSN: 0711-7485
  • Source: ProQuest Central
Back to results list
INSPIRE LIBRARY - TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY (84-028) 37 755 057 Feedback
19 Nguyen Huu Tho St. Dist.7, HCM thuvien@tdtu.edu.vn

Copyright © 2017 INSPIRE LIBRARY - TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY

Searching Remote Databases, Please Wait