Do you care about your environment?
I know the answer is yes, since you're reading this article. What follows will surely be useful for you in order to make your own choices and protect our only home: Earth.
Did you know that most synthetic tampons and sanitary pads contain dioxin? This is a highly toxic product for humans and other forms of life. The problem is that our body doesn't know how to get rid of it and just stores it where it can. This is what's called a "forever chemical": perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS.
Since the vaginal wall is very absorbent, and even more fragile during menstruation, these products have no difficulty penetrating our bodies. They pose a risk of cervical cancer, a weakened immune system, and vaginal infections.
Do you know why dioxin is found in our feminine hygiene products? It's to make them whiter. Yes, that's the only reason! It's the same with disposable products such as toilet paper, baby diapers, and incontinence pads.
The other product found in disposables is the infamous glyphosate; products used on vegetable, fruit, and of course, cotton crops. Since disposables are made of plastic and cotton, you are in contact with this product during your most vulnerable time of the month.
This type of substance is not indicated on the packaging because no law requires it! Moreover, if you flush your disposable sanitary pads down the toilet, there's a chance you're polluting waterways and putting significant pressure on wastewater treatment systems.
A somewhat sad anecdote
I saw it with my own eyes about 20 years ago. My husband and I went for a walk on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. That year, the river was at its lowest, and we were able to walk half the distance between the South Shore of Montreal and Montreal. Every 10 steps, we found plastic tampon applicators, used condoms, and the plastic layer of disposable sanitary pads. It was a real dump.
We later learned that occasionally, the city of Montreal would empty the untreated wastewater reservoir into the river for maintenance. What a disaster! If you want more information on reusable feminine hygiene products, I invite you to read this article by the David Suzuki Foundation.
Choose English in the top right-hand corner. You can never be too informed.
What choice will you make?
We all have an impact on our environment. Will you be part of the solution or the problem? It's up to you to think about it, now that you have more information on the subject.