T H E
D A I L Y
T R A
V E S T Y
29 March 2000
Vol. 1, Issue 59
We are printing the following health information
mostly for our female readers.
Male readers who think this message does not
concern them, consider the female loved ones in your lives and give that a
second thought.
DOESN'T HURT TO KNOW....
I am writing this because women are not being informed about
the dangers of something most of us use -- tampons. Recently we have
learned that tampons are actually dangerous (for other reasons than TSS).
I'll tell you this, after learning about this in our class, most of the females
wound up feeling angry and upset with the tampon industry, and I for one am
going to do something about it. To start, I want to inform everyone I can,
and email is the fastest way that I know how.
Here is the scoop: Tampons
contain two things that are potentially harmful: Rayon (for absorbency), and
dioxin (a chemical used in bleaching the products). The tampon industry is
convinced that we, as women, need bleached white products-in order to view the
product as pure and clean.
The problem here is that the dioxin
produced in this bleaching process can lead to very harmful problems for a
woman. Dioxin is potentially carcinogenic (cancer-associated) and is toxic
to the immune and reproductive systems. It has also been linked to
endometriosis and lower sperm counts for men-- for both, it breaks down the immune
system. Last September the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported
that there really is no set "acceptable" level of exposure to dioxin given that
it is cumulative and slow to disintegrate.
The real danger comes from
repeated contact (Karen Houppert "Pulling the Plug on the Tampon
Industry"). I'd say using about 4-5 tampons a day, five days a month, for
38 menstruating years is "repeated contact," wouldn't you? Rayon
contributes to the danger of tampons and dioxin because it is a highly
absorbent substance. Therefore, when fibers from the tampons are left behind in
the vagina (as it usually occurs), it creates a breeding ground for the
dioxin. It also stays in a lot longer than it would with just cotton
tampons. This is also the reason why TSS (toxic shock syndrome)
occurs.
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES? Using feminine hygiene products
that aren't bleached and that are all cotton. Other feminine hygiene
products (Pads/napkins) contain dioxin as well, but they are not nearly as
dangerous since they are not in direct contact with the vagina. The
pads/napkins need to stop being bleached, but obviously tampons are the most
dangerous. So, what can you do if you can't give up using
tampons?
Use tampons that are made from 100% cotton, and that are
UNBLEACHED. Unfortunately, there are very, very few companies that make
these safe tampons. They are usually only found in health food
stores. Countries all over the world (Sweden, German, British Columbia,
etc.) have demanded a switch to this safer tampon, while the US has decided to
keep us in the dark about it.
In 1989, activists in England mounted a
campaign against chlorine bleaching. Six weeks and 50,000 letters later,
the makers of sanitary products switched to oxygen bleaching (one of the green
methods available). (MS magazine, May/June 1995.)
Two companies producing safe tampons are Organic
Essentials @ (800)765-6491 and Terra Femme @ (800)755-0212.
WHAT TO DO NOW: Tell people. Everyone.
Inform them. We are being manipulated by this industry and the government,
let's do something about it! Please write to the companies: Tampax
(Tambrands), Playtex, O.B., Kotex. Call the 800 numbers listed on the
boxes. Let them know that we demand a safe product-- ALL COTTON UNBLEACHED
TAMPONS.
Reminder: In order not to lose the impact of this email, I
suggest that anyone who wants to forward to your friends, PLEASE copy this mail
and paste to a NEW message.
That way will not distort the whole message
with all the forward arrows. Please do this with consideration and
seriousness. Thanks!
Lynne Huffer
Professor
Rice
University
Department of French Studies, MS-31
Program in The Study of
Women & Gender
6100 Main Street
Houston, TX 77005-1892
Phone:
713-737-5625
Fax : 713-285-5951
Little girls, like butterflies,
need no excuse.