It started with a viral panic. You probably saw the headlines or the TikToks. The idea that something you use for five days a month, every single month, might be leaching heavy metals directly into your bloodstream is terrifying. Honestly, it’s the kind of news that makes you want to throw out every box in your bathroom immediately.
But here’s the thing. While the study was real, the way it was reported was kinda messy.
In July 2024, researchers at UC Berkeley released a study that sent shockwaves through the wellness world. They tested 30 tampons from 14 different brands. What they found wasn't great: measurable concentrations of 16 different metals, including lead, arsenic, and cadmium.
Since then, everyone has been scouring the internet for a specific list of tampons with lead and arsenic so they can know exactly which brands to avoid. People want names. They want to know if their "organic" cotton brand is actually any safer than the cheap ones from the drugstore.
The reality is a bit more complicated than a simple "good vs. evil" list.
What the UC Berkeley study actually revealed
The lead author of the study, Jenni Shearston, a postdoctoral scholar at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, was pretty clear about the goals. This was the first time anyone had really looked at metals in tampons this closely. They didn't just look at one type; they looked at everything from store brands to top-tier organic labels.
Every single tampon tested had some level of metals.
Wait. Let that sink in. It wasn't just the "toxic" brands. Lead was found in 100% of the samples tested. Arsenic was found in several. The concentrations were low, but as any toxicologist will tell you, there is no "safe" level of lead exposure.
The study looked at products purchased from major retailers in the US, the UK, and the EU. This included both conventional (non-organic) and organic tampons. Surprisingly, the organic ones actually had higher levels of arsenic, while the non-organic ones had higher levels of lead.
Why are there metals in period products anyway?
It feels intentional, doesn't it? Like some corporate conspiracy. But the truth is usually more boring and, in some ways, harder to fix.
Cotton and rayon—the primary materials in tampons—are plants. Or, in the case of rayon, derived from wood pulp. Plants grow in soil. Soil contains minerals and, unfortunately, industrial pollution. If the soil has lead or arsenic, the plant absorbs it. It’s that simple.
Then you have the manufacturing process. Some metals are added on purpose. Titanium dioxide is often used as a whitening agent to make the tampons look "clean" and bright white. Other metals might get in there from the machinery used to process the fibers.
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The missing list of tampons with lead and arsenic
Here is the frustrating part for consumers: the researchers did not release a specific list of tampons with lead and arsenic by brand name.
They didn't name names.
Why? Because the point of the study wasn't to "cancel" a specific company. It was to show that this is a systemic issue across the entire industry. By naming one brand, they might give people a false sense of security that other brands are fine. They aren't. If the lead is in the soil where the cotton grows, it’s a global supply chain problem, not a single-brand failure.
However, we can infer a lot from the criteria used in the study. They tested:
- 14 different brands.
- Products from major US retailers (think Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart).
- Both "Big Brand" names like Tampax and Kotex, and "Clean" brands like Seventh Generation or L.
If you are looking for a brand that was "clean" of all metals in this study, it doesn't exist. They all had them.
Does this mean you’re being poisoned?
This is where we need to take a breath.
Detecting a metal is not the same thing as that metal being absorbed into your body. The study measured how much metal was in the tampon, not how much leached out of the tampon into the vaginal lining. The vagina is highly vascularized, meaning it absorbs things easily, but we don't yet have the data to say exactly how much of that lead ends up in your blood.
The FDA jumped in after the outcry, announcing they would conduct their own independent laboratory study to see if these metals actually "off-gas" or leach during use. As of late 2024 and early 2025, that research is ongoing.
Organic vs. Conventional: The Great Debate
For years, the "wellness" crowd told us to switch to organic cotton to avoid pesticides and bleach. And that’s still a valid argument for many. But when it comes to the list of tampons with lead and arsenic, organic doesn't mean "metal-free."
In the Berkeley study, organic tampons had higher arsenic levels.
Why? It might be the fertilizers used, or just the specific regions where organic cotton is grown. Arsenic is naturally occurring in the Earth's crust, and some regions have much higher concentrations than others.
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Conventional tampons, on the other hand, showed higher lead levels. This is often attributed to the use of pigments or the proximity of cotton fields to industrial sites or highways where leaded gasoline (though banned) has left a lasting legacy in the dirt.
So, if you switched to organic thinking you were escaping the heavy metal issue, you might have just swapped lead for arsenic.
Breaking down the specific metals found
It wasn't just lead and arsenic. The researchers found a cocktail of elements.
- Lead: Found in 100% of samples. It's a neurotoxin. No bueno.
- Arsenic: Higher in organic brands. Linked to cancer and skin issues.
- Cadmium: Found in several samples. Hard on the kidneys.
- Zinc and Copper: Often added for antimicrobial properties or just present from the soil.
The concentrations were in the "parts per billion" range. To put that in perspective, that's like one drop of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. But because we use tampons for decades over a lifetime, the cumulative effect is what has doctors worried.
Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a prominent OB-GYN, has noted that while we shouldn't panic, we should definitely be demanding better regulation. Right now, the FDA regulates tampons as medical devices, but they don't require companies to test for these specific heavy metal contaminants before they hit the shelves.
What should you use instead?
If the list of tampons with lead and arsenic basically includes every tampon on the market, what are you supposed to do? Bleed through your jeans?
Luckily, we live in the golden age of period tech. If you want to lower your exposure, you have options that don't involve sticking cotton grown in potentially contaminated soil inside your body.
Menstrual Cups and Discs
Most are made of medical-grade silicone. This is an inert material. It doesn't absorb liquids, and it doesn't "shed" fibers. It’s also way cheaper in the long run. Brands like DivaCup, Saalt, and Hello Disc have become the gold standard here.
Period Underwear
Thinx, Knix, and Modibodi have had their own share of drama (specifically around PFAs, another "forever chemical"), but many have since reformulated to be PFA-free. These are great for light days or as a backup.
Pads
External products are generally considered lower risk because the skin on your labia is a much tougher barrier than the internal mucous membrane of the vagina. If you use pads, you're significantly reducing the "absorption" factor.
Plastic-Free Applicators
If you aren't ready to give up tampons, at least look for ones that don't use plastic applicators. While not directly related to the lead issue, it reduces your overall chemical load (phthalates and BPA).
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The industry response (or lack thereof)
After the study dropped, major brands like P&G (Tampax) and Kimberly-Clark (Kotex) issued statements. They basically said: "Our products are safe and meet all FDA requirements."
Technically, they are right. The FDA doesn't have a limit for lead in tampons. You can't break a rule that doesn't exist.
This is where consumer advocacy comes in. Groups like "Women’s Voices for the Earth" have been pushing for the Menstrual Products Right to Know Act, which would force companies to list every single ingredient and contaminant on the box.
Until then, we are playing a guessing game.
How to minimize your risk today
You don't have to wait for a government ban to take action. If you're concerned about the list of tampons with lead and arsenic, here’s a common-sense approach to your next cycle.
First, stop using tampons for your entire period. If you can use a pad or period underwear at night, you're cutting your exposure by a third. Simple math.
Second, look for brands that voluntarily test for heavy metals. Since the 2024 study, some smaller brands have started posting their lab results online. If a company won't show you their COA (Certificate of Analysis), they probably aren't testing for it.
Third, avoid the "extra" features. You don't need scented tampons. You don't need "super-white" tampons. You certainly don't need tampons with plastic "pearl" applicators if you can avoid them. The simpler the product, the fewer opportunities for contamination.
The bottom line on the tampon metal scare
We need to stop blaming ourselves for the products available to us. It’s not your fault that the soil has lead in it.
The UC Berkeley study was a wake-up call, not a death sentence. It highlighted that our regulatory systems for "medical devices" that women use every day are outdated. The fact that we are only just now, in the mid-2020s, getting this data is actually the most shocking part of the whole story.
Is there a "safe" tampon? Maybe. But until the FDA sets hard limits and requires testing for every batch, we are the ones doing the legwork.
Actionable steps for your next cycle:
- Check for Transparency: Look for brands like August or Natracare that have been more vocal about their testing processes following the Berkeley report.
- Diversify Your Products: Switch between cups, pads, and tampons. Reducing the duration of internal exposure is the most effective way to lower potential absorption.
- Pressure the FDA: Support legislation that requires ingredient transparency. Change only happens when the "cost" of bad PR outweighs the cost of better testing.
- Stay Informed but Calm: The levels found were low. You aren't going to get lead poisoning from a single tampon. This is about long-term health and demanding better standards for the future.
Don't let the fear paralyze you, but don't let the "it's fine" corporate talk hush you either. You deserve to know exactly what is going into your body.