About a year after reports that heavy metals, including lead and arsenic, were found in tampons from popular brands raised concerns among many women, a new study by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has concluded that the amount of metals released during use does not pose a health risk.
The new study, published in the journal Toxicological Sciences, was conducted following a 2024 study that identified 16 metals in tampons. However, the earlier study did not address the key questions raised by the findings: whether the metals are released from tampons during use and, if so, whether exposure to them could harm health.
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The new study, published in the journal Toxicological Sciences, was conducted following a 2024 study that identified 16 metals in tampons
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Although heavy metals were found in tampons, researchers found no evidence of a health risk from exposure to them.
To answer these questions, researchers examined 11 types of tampons from six brands and five manufacturers legally marketed in the United States. They tested which metals were present in the products and how much could potentially be released under strict testing conditions, then conducted a toxicological risk assessment to estimate the maximum possible lifetime exposure.
Their conclusion was that exposure levels to all of the metals detected were far below levels considered dangerous.
“The new findings are certainly reassuring,” said Dr. Moran Agassi Zeitler, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist and menopause consultant at Maccabi Healthcare Services in the Sharon district. “The previous study showed that trace amounts of metals are present in tampons, but it did not examine the truly important question — whether they are released during use and, if so, whether the amount could be harmful. The FDA study examined this under strict conditions and found that the estimated exposure is very low and does not pose a health risk.”
'The FDA study examined this under strict conditions and found that the estimated exposure is very low'
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Lead, arsenic and titanium: What does it mean?
The study identified 19 metals, including lead, arsenic and cadmium at trace levels. Although the metals were detected in tampons, the risk assessment found no significant toxicological concern from the amounts that could be released.
Some of the metals may originate from natural raw materials used to manufacture tampons, after absorbing metals from soil. Other metals may be unintentionally introduced during the manufacturing process. Researchers noted that titanium dioxide, which is used to whiten some products, may explain the presence of titanium.
“The mere detection of a substance does not necessarily mean there is a danger,” Agassi Zeitler explained. “In medicine and toxicology, the question is how much of the substance is present, how much is released from the product and how much is actually absorbed by the body. With lead, we do aim to reduce exposure as much as possible, but even here it is important to distinguish between laboratory-detectable presence and meaningful biological exposure.”
Dr. Moran Agassi ZeitlerPhoto: Avivit IsaacsonShe added: “It is important to remember that lead and arsenic can also be detected in tiny amounts in natural foods we consume every day. Therefore, their mere presence does not by itself indicate danger — the significance depends on the amount of exposure and the extent of absorption.”
Tampons are typically made from cotton, viscose or a combination of both. Tests found differences in metal composition between products: Tampons made primarily from viscose contained higher levels of lithium and zinc, while products containing more cotton had higher concentrations of calcium and iron.
'There is no reason to stop using tampons'
One of the main limitations of the 2024 study was that it examined which metals were present in tampons, but not whether they were released under conditions simulating use or whether they could be absorbed through the vaginal lining or enter the bloodstream.
In the new study, FDA researchers examined the amount of metals that could potentially be released from tampons and used the data to conduct a risk assessment based on a conservative scenario of lifetime use. According to the FDA, even under this scenario, the amount released was too low to cause harm.
“At this point, there is no evidence that tampon use leads to exposure to metals at levels that pose a health risk,” Agassi Zeitler said. “This is precisely why the second study was conducted, because the original study did not answer that question. One of the main limitations of the 2024 study was that it did not examine metal release during use, absorption through the vaginal lining or transfer into the bloodstream. The current study examined the potential for release and exposure and conducted a toxicological risk assessment, and it did not find that exposure poses a health risk.”
There is currently no medical basis for recommending that women stop using tampons because of concerns about heavy metals.
'There is currently no medical basis to recommend that women stop using tampons'
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According to Agassi Zeitler, the findings do not justify switching to another menstrual product. “There is currently no medical basis to recommend that women stop using tampons or switch to another product because of concerns about heavy metals. The choice between a tampon, pad or menstrual cup can remain a matter of comfort and personal preference. The FDA continues to define tampons as a safe option for use.”
All menstrual products marketed in the United States are regulated by the FDA as medical devices. In October 2025, the agency published updated draft guidance for manufacturers, including recommendations for testing contaminants in menstrual products and increasing transparency regarding their ingredients. The guidance is also intended to standardize performance and safety testing for tampons and other products.
“The first study raised an important question and it was appropriate to investigate it, but the headline ‘heavy metals found in tampons’ sounds much more frightening than what the actual data show,” Agassi Zeitler concluded. “At this point, there is no reason to stop using tampons because of this concern. At the same time, I fully support continued oversight, testing and transparency from manufacturers — and that is exactly the direction the FDA is moving toward.”