Experts urge calm after study finds trace chemicals in sanitary pads and pantyliners
A recent scientific study detecting potentially harmful chemicals in some sanitary pads and pantyliners has sparked concern among many women in South Africa, but experts say the findings should be interpreted carefully and in context.
The study, which examined several widely used sanitary product brands, found the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in certain products. EDCs are substances that can interfere with the body’s hormonal system and have been linked in some research to reproductive and developmental issues when exposure occurs at significant levels.
However, medical specialists say the findings do not mean that the products cause disease or immediate harm.
According to Dr Jack Biko, President of the South African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG), much of the anxiety circulating online and in public discourse stems from how the research has been interpreted rather than from what the study actually concluded.
Speaking to Radio 786, Biko explained that the research was a basic science study, not a clinical trial.
“We can’t say it is the researchers. It is the interpreters of the research, the media, whether it’s the social media, mainstream media,” Biko said.
He added that the scientists involved did not claim that the products cause cancer or other illnesses.
“We spoke to the researchers and they say, no, they never said that it causes cancer. The only thing they said was that those companies stated that in their products, they are free from harmful chemicals, but we found that they are not free from harmful chemicals. They’ve got the same potentially harmful chemicals as the air, in water, in our clothes, in everything else, but in low concentrations.”
What the research aimed to do
Basic science studies like this typically focus on detecting and measuring substances, rather than determining their direct impact on human health.
In this case, researchers set out to determine whether sanitary products marketed as “chemical-free” actually contained any endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The analysis revealed that trace amounts of EDCs were present, contradicting claims that the products were entirely free of such substances.
Importantly, the study did not examine long-term health outcomes in women using the products, which would require clinical or epidemiological research involving human participants over time.
Why endocrine disruptors are studied
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been studied extensively in recent decades because they can mimic or interfere with hormones in the body. They are commonly found in everyday environments, including plastics, cosmetics, household products and even the air and water.
Because sanitary products come into contact with sensitive skin for extended periods, researchers have increasingly been examining whether such products could contribute to cumulative exposure.
Experts call for balanced understanding
While the findings raise legitimate questions about product transparency and manufacturing standards, experts say the presence of trace amounts of chemicals does not automatically translate into health risks.
Biko emphasised that the concentrations identified in the study were very low and comparable to levels found in many everyday environments.
For now, specialists recommend that consumers remain informed but avoid panic while further research continues to explore the issue.
Scientists say more comprehensive studies would be needed to determine whether long-term exposure to these substances through sanitary products could pose meaningful health risks.
In the meantime, the discussion sparked by the study may encourage greater transparency from manufacturers and more rigorous testing of personal hygiene products used by millions of women every day.
