By Charmaine Ndlela
Obstetric and reproductive organisations have urged calm after a University of the Free State (UFS) study detected endocrine-disrupting chemicals in some menstrual products, saying the research did not establish that the products cause infertility, hormonal dysfunction or cancer.
The South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG), together with the South African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG) and the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), said the UFS study did not assess health risks and did not prove harm to consumers.
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UFS said its research, which tested sanitary pads and liners sold in South Africa for chemicals including phthalates, bisphenols and parabens, was not designed to establish a direct causal link to disease, and called for further research.
In their joint statement, the medical organisations said any implication of harm to the general public had not been proven and urged the public not to panic.
The organisations said endocrine disruptors are common and found in low concentrations in a range of foodstuffs and household products, making their presence in menstrual products “not unexpected”.
“Previous published studies have indeed shown that small amounts of these endocrine disruptors are present in menstrual health products,” said Dr Jack Biko, president of SASREG.
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According to the organisations, a study conducted in China reported that sanitary pads contributed only 6.8% of total exposure from feminine personal care products.
“It is clear that perspective is required in interpreting the data. The findings should not be isolated to sanitary products, which appear to be a small contributor to the overall total of endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure,” Biko said.
The organisations noted that the UFS study did not recommend that any of the tested products be withdrawn from the market.
“Currently, we do not have evidence to recommend any change to usual practice, nor do we have evidence to advise patients to stop using menstrual health products,” he added.
However, they urged South African regulatory authorities to conduct further testing and additional studies to determine the safety of these products and clarify any potential long-term risks.
