Introduction
With various public health initiatives and increasing awareness, feminine hygiene has become a much-talked topic. Menstrual hygiene, health, and sanitation have received utmost importance and are considered essentials in every woman’s life to reach their full potential. Menstruation is a physiological process; hence, menstrual products are necessities, not luxuries. WHO estimated that roughly two billion individuals lack access to basic sanitation facilities. Only 16% of women in India have access to hygiene products, particularly sanitary napkins. Most rural parts still consider it taboo to use sanitary pads and still practice unsafe methods such as using cloth or temp pads made of husk, ash, or sand. Yet another significant hurdle is a lack of knowledge of appropriate sanitary measures, particularly during menstruation.
Poor sanitation and menstrual hygiene are responsible for various health hazards, such as repeated urinary infections or reproductive problems. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced a new menstrual hygiene scheme to promote menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. The prime goal of this scheme was to ensure that every woman has access to high-quality sanitary napkins and can thus practice safe and appropriate menstrual hygiene and sanitation. Therefore, sanitary napkins are a quintessential element of feminine hygiene products as they are considered safe.
What Are Sanitary Napkins?
Sanitary napkins are feminine hygiene products fabricated to absorb and retain menstrual fluid at all times. The first sanitary napkin was introduced and commercialized in 1896; it was made of simple cotton and gauge. Progressively, the search for cheap and more absorbable materials led to the use of various materials, including wood pulp, cloth, and paper. With the advent of science and technology came the plastic revolution, which transformed the face of sanitary napkins. Super Absorbent Polymers, Polyethylene, and other polymers became the vital constituents of sanitary pads. Competition and commercialization increased the demand for cheaper yet more absorbent pads, which ultimately brewed a plastic sanitary napkin with few or nil natural ingredients.
What Are Sanitary Napkins Made Of?
Most sanitary manufacturing companies are not entitled to disclose the composition or ingredients of the pad as they are listed under the category of medical products. Hence they are exempted from disclosing the components. However, the basic components are:
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The Fluid Receiving Layer: It is a thin perforated layer that allows the menstrual fluid to pass through it to the absorbent layer. This helps prevent leakage and keeps the top surface dry. The propylene sheets are most commonly used as this top fluid-receiving layer.
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Distribution Component: The distribution component helps spread the fluid evenly, thereby increasing the possibility of retaining more fluid.
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Absorbent Layer: Absorbent layer helps absorb menstrual fluid and also retain it. This forms the significant bulk of the sanitary napkin. It primarily comprises superabsorbent polymers, cotton, wood pulp, and viscose.
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Liquid Impervious Membrane: This layer acts as a barrier to prevent leakage. Polyethylene is generally used to fabricate this back cover.
An average sanitary napkin comprises:
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Fluff pulp – 48%
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Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate plastic – 36%
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Adhesives – 7%
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Superabsorbent – 6%
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Release paper – 3 %
What Are the Health Risks Associated With the Use of Sanitary Napkins?
Sanitary napkins are an indispensable element in a woman's day-to-day life. However, their safety has been questioned time and again. With increasing health awareness and knowing the ill effects of plastics and toxic chemicals, the components used in sanitary napkins are analyzed for the various health hazards they can cause. Multiple studies have reported that certain chemicals used in manufacturing these sanitary napkins can cause serious health problems. Manufacturers, in an attempt to increase performance and marketing, have propagated the use of plastic and their derivatives, which are toxic to the environment and delicate skin. Human skin is a very delicate porous structure highly permeable to most substances. Hence, elements in constant contact with the skin are effortlessly absorbed into the bloodstream and circulated throughout the body. The skin around the vagina is even more delicate, thus making it vulnerable to various problems. The vulva and the vaginal tissue are supplied by a rich neurovascular bundle that allows the direct transfer of chemicals to the circulatory system.
The health risks associated with sanitary napkins are described below:
Chemical Hazards:
The various chemicals used in sanitary napkins are potent toxins to human health. They can cause multiple systemic illnesses that can even be fatal on prolonged use.
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Dioxin:
They are subjected to a bleaching process to make the pads appear white. Chlorine is used to bleach the cotton or other materials in the absorbent layer. This bleaching process results in byproducts such as dioxin, a potent carcinogenic. They are responsible for various inflammatory diseases and even cancers of the reproductive and genital organs. Studies have associated dioxins with infertility, damaged immune system, and even chronic illness such as diabetes. The dioxins accumulated in the body can remain in the fat stores for up to 20 years as they are not easily removed from the body.
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Super Absorbent Polymers:
Super Absorbent Polymers that are added to sanitary napkins to increase their absorption capacity are linked with toxic shock syndrome, a fatal illness caused by bacterial toxins.
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Pesticides:
The cotton cultivated is heavily sprayed with pesticides and insecticides that require a significant amount of chemicals to treat them. Despite being treated, these cotton are heavily laden with insecticides or herbicides, which can cause infertility, hormonal dysfunction, thyroid imbalance, depression, anxiety, endometriosis, and diabetes.
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Plastics:
Plastics are known as environmental biohazards. Every sanitary napkin incorporated plastics in various forms to make them impermeable. Plastics trap moisture and heat and thus create an environment favorable for the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast. It can also cause physical problems such as itching, irritation, chafing, soreness, dryness, and burning sensation.
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Fragrances:
Sanitary napkins are loaded with scents and artificial fragrances, which are a combination of various chemicals. These chemicals can cause allergic reactions on the skin; some are carcinogenic.
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Phthalates:
The phthalates used in sanitary napkins are linked to cardiac conditions, birth defects, reproductive problems, and even genitourinary cancers.
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Volatile Organic Compounds:
The volatile organic compounds such as Benzene, toluene, acetone, and chloroform used in pads increases the risk of impaired neurocognitive development, asthma, cancers, and reproductive illness.
Pads or No Pads?
Considering the fact that only 42% of women are using some of which are make-a-do pads, the remaining 58 % still need access to basic hygiene products. No doubt sanitary pads are safer than unhygienic menstrual practices; however, are the chemical-laden napkins worth the risk? Few stringent laws and rules when implemented can prevent the manufacture and distribution of these sanitary napkins thus reducing the health hazards associated with it.
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The safety of the products should be made more discernible as it would help women decide and choose the best for them.
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It should be legalized that manufacturers mandatorily disclose the ingredients of sanitary napkins, as every woman should be able to assess the safety of the products they are using.
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Government should set specific standards and regulations for the chemicals used in sanitary napkins.
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Alternatives or natural substitutes to the chemicals and fragrances used should be initiated.
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Lastly, while marketing and advertising the products, appropriate information regarding product safety and warnings should be promoted.
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Promote the usage of menstrual cups and cotton disposable sanitary napkins.
Conclusion
Sanitary napkins are quint essential products of feminine hygiene. Their safety and efficacy should be of prime concern while manufacturing them. Substituting chemicals with natural and organic products may be more favorable and prevent health hazards. Switching to menstrual cups and disposable cotton napkins would promote green menstruation by not only preventing health hazards but also reducing environmental perils.
