If you’ve been keeping half an eye on the local news, you doubtlessly heard about recent research findings from the University of the Free State (UFS). The research topic was endocrine disruptors found on / in various sanitary products being sold throughout South Africa. If this research potentially affects you or someone you love, read on for an easy-to-grasp summary of the research and some action steps you can take to minimise the risk.
What are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)?
Let’s start at the beginning.
Broadly speaking, EDCs are chemicals that interfere with the body’s endocrine (hormone) system. They act as “messengers” that may mimic, block or redirect the body’s natural hormones. The research focused on three classes of EDCs, used industrially in the production of sanitary products.
At this point, it is important to note how hormones work in the body. The endocrine system is an incredibly intricate, complex, fine-tuned system. The entire concept of a hormone is that a tiny amount, secreted in one place, has a massive effect in a distant organ.
Let’s illustrate just how tiny an amount of hormone is needed. Typical children will produce less than 15 mg of growth hormone during their first TWENTY years of life. This number is a rough estimate, but it drives the point home. An amount no more than a pin head is enough to turn a baby into an adult.
In other words, when it comes to EDCs, size does not matter.
Secondly, hormonal signals are all inter-connected. A change in one hormone produces changes in many other hormone systems. Think of a childhood mobile, hanging from the ceiling (not a cell phone!). If you disturb one part of the mobile, the entire mobile begins to move rhythmically to re-establish equilibrium.
Another helpful image is that of a pebble thrown into a large, still lake. The ripples grow ever wider and reach ever further over time until even the most distant shore of the lake is affected.
In other words, disrupting the endocrine system at one point has multiple effects on many organs with long-term consequences. It is this relentless, slow, ever-widening progression of disruptive effects that needs to be appreciated.
The UFS study focused on three common EDCs. They have complicated names, but take the effort of getting to know their names.
* Bisphenol C (BPC): This compound is added to many plastics. BPC mimics oestrogen in the (male or female) body. It can block some effects and enhance others, leading to various fertility issues.
* Phthalates (PAEs) are used to make plastics flexible. They are known to cause fertility issues in men (low testosterone, sperm count and motility) and women (germ cell damage), premature puberty and endometriosis. In children, PAEs impact brain development. They are known thyroid hormone disruptors and linked to a higher incidence of obesity and diabetes.
Beyond this, PAEs are known thyroid hormone disruptors and lead to raised inflammatory markers. Concerningly, PAEs cross the placenta and affect the fetus as well. They are rapidly absorbed via skin contact.
* Parabens are mainly used as preservatives. Their antibacterial action and stabilising effects may be a reason for their inclusion in sanitary products. They have weak oestrogen-mimicking effects. While not as potent as BPCs, they are very commonly used in many cosmetic and hygiene products. They do cross the placenta and may cause fetal damage if present during pregnancy.
What Was Studied?
The UFS study analysed 16 commercially available sanitary pads and 7 panty liners sold in South Africa. In total, 23 products belonging to 16 brands were studied. These products were tested for the presence of three classes of EDCs.
Two of the products were labelled “Free from harmful chemicals” while one was labelled “Organic”.
You can read a summary of the research here and download the full PDF here.
What Did The Study Find?
The study found at least two EDCs in every single product tested, including those marked “Free from harmful chemicals” and “Organic”. Most of them contained all three EDCs.
What Does This Mean?
The EDCs in these sanitary products are in direct contact with sensitive skin that easily absorbs chemicals. Occasional use is unlikely problematic, but long-term use over years of menstruation will lead to significant cumulative exposure.
What is more, exposing young girls to these EDCs via sanitary products is particularly concerning, since it may alter their fertility for life. Use during pregnancy is likewise highly problematic, as the body is more susceptible to subtle hormonal cues and the unborn child’s fertility may be affected for life.
How Big Is The Problem?
If you listened to our dear Minister of Health, there is no problem. There will be no product recall. Nobody will be punished. He said that the study did not establish a cause and effect relationship between the use of the products and health outcomes in women. According to him, previous studies have not shown clinical harm.
Nothing here to see. Keep moving.
If you believe governments and large corporations have your best interests at heart, you may now stop reading.
The rest of us smell the interior of a luxury German vehicle found mysteriously parked at a discreet location with keys sticking in the ignition?
Is It Time To Panic?
Getting your knickers into a twist won’t help anyone, but there could / should be more outrage. Women’s trust was (knowingly) abused and their bodies permanently harmed without their knowledge or consent. Sadly, there will be no public outcry, except for a few social media activists. Womanhood is not sexy, politically speaking. Getting women to act like (preferably infertile) men and calling it emancipation is much sexier. So, just put on your big girl panties and protect yourself and those you love. There won’t be any justice (yet). It is time to plan for a different future. The 16 brands were not named (for fear of litigation, obviously), but you can figure out for yourself that the options for health-conscious consumers are very limited. Those trying to move over to a safe, clean brand report how hard it is to find out which brands are really clean. Every conceivable stumbling block is placed in the way of a woman who wants to keep her body clean of harmful chemicals.
So What’s A Pretty Girl Gotta Do?
Experts are calling for better regulation and transparency from manufacturers. Don’t hold your breath. It’s time to move on to other solutions.
* OEKO TEX Standard 100
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is a globally standardised and independent testing and certification system for textiles and related materials. It verifies that products are free from harmful levels of noxious chemicals and substances that could pose risks to human health.
Products are rigorously tested for over 350 harmful substances, categorised into groups.
Certification is divided into 4 classes based on skin contact and user vulnerability. Class II relates to “Textiles close to skin (not baby)” and includes underwear and sanitary products.
Certifications are valid for 1 year only and require renewal with annual re-testing or production monitoring.
Certified products may display the “OEKO-TEX® Standard 100” label (see the header image of this email for an example). The institute’s name, certification number and class must also be displayed.
The focus of this certification is solely on chemical safety. It indicates eco-friendliness and consumer safety, especially for sensitive products like sanitary items.
Certificates are issued by the OEKO-TEX® Association, an international cooperative of 18 independent, accredited textile testing and research institutes from 12 countries (primarily Europe, but global reach). Headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland.
Their official website is located here. Here you can verify certifications via their label check tool by entering the certification number.
In South Africa, brands like Gentle Day use this mark to signal low levels of EDCs.
* Consider Alternatives
Look into rather using menstrual cups, period underwear, or reusable, organic cotton pads. These options may not offer the same convenience of your current solution, but won’t expose your body to harmful and unwanted chemicals.
* Regularly Change Products
This is a second-rate option, but for some, it may be the only option. Changing pads every 4 to 6 hours reduces the time chemicals have to leach into the skin.
* Use Barrier Creams
This is also a second-rate option, but worth a mention. Examples of a safe barrier cream include lanolin, tallow or zinc oxide. Some EDCs will still readily penetrate the skin despite barrier cream application, so do not see this as an ideal solution. Also, beware of barrier creams that in themselves contain EDCs.
The Eagle Eye’s View
Conspiracy theorists are the media’s favourite punch bag. However, when a large corporation knowingly mis-labels its sanitary product as “Free from harmful chemicals” or “Organic”, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that this is done deliberately to harm women, in particular their fertility. When a Minister of Health rushes to the defence of these unscrupulous corporations, it looks even more like a conspiracy at a very high level. When it forms part of a consistent pattern of devious behaviour designed to harm women (like asbestos in talc powder, EDCs in hair relaxers / straighteners and sunscreens, heavy metals in cosmetics), a global pattern emerges. We may not know who is behind the current scandal, nor who is receiving what to lull the public back to sleep, but it is time to recognise that being a fertile, healthy woman is under fire from many angles. A pinch of paranoia and a ton of vigilance are advised.
This message is sent purely because we value and respect your health. You need an independent source of information that can be trusted in the midst of almost overwhelming noise. These days, trust is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity. We are committed to remaining trustworthy and honest in the midst of all the lies and half-truths being peddled in the media.
To your (free) health!
The Team at Integrow Health
