Taanusha Kurup

XII M
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Taanusha Kurup of standard XII has completed the
biology project in partial fulfillment of the curriculum of ALL INDIA
SENIOR SECONDARY CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (AISSCE)
(CBSE).

This project was carried out at R.N PODAR SCHOOL during academic year
2023-24

External Examiner Internal Examiner

________________________ _________________________

School Stamp Principal’s Signature

___________ ___________
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my deepest regards to the principal , Mrs.Avnita Bir, for
providing us with the infrastructure and facilities of the project.

I would like to further extend my thanks to my biology teacher Merlyn Maam ,

Biology HOD Padma Maam under whose guidance this project was performed.

Her constant support and invaluable guidance helped me to achieve completion

of this project.

I also want to express my gratitude to the Biology Department of the school

Last but not the least I want to thank my family for their moral support
Index
1. Introduction
2. Theory
3. Harmful chemicals in Period Products
4. Solutions and Alternatives
5. Result
6. Bibliography
AIM
To determine contents of Period Products - Pads , Tampons
Introduction
Period products are used to soak up menstrual blood that comes from the
vagina.

Menstruation is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the
inner lining of uterus through vagina.

Menstrual Pads

Pads should be changed every 3–4 hours, even if you have a light flow. Regular
changing prevents buildup of bacteria and stops odor.

Tampons

Tampons absorb blood from inside the vagina. A tampon is also made of
absorbent material, but it's compressed into a small tube. Tampons come in
different sizes and absorbencies for heavier and lighter periods.

Menstrual Cup

A device which looks like a diaphragm. Like a tampon, a menstrual cup is

inserted into the vagina. Instead of absorbing blood, the cup catches it before it
flows out of the vagina. Menstrual cups are made of flexible materials, like
rubber or silicone.
Theory
A new study has revealed that sanitary pads can have devastating effects on
women’s health. Here’s how it increases the risk of cancer and infertility.

Sanitary pads are a go-to when periods come. We believe it to be the safest and
the most comfortable way to deal with it. While many people are aware that
sanitary pads contain fragrances and chemicals that may harm their skin, are
you familiar with the health problems they can lead to? A new study has
shocked India, revealing that the most commonly used sanitary pads in India by
women, can pose some serious health threats. The chemicals found in these
sanitary pads can be reportedly severely harmful and may increase the risk of
cancer and infertility in women.

Sanitary pads may increase the risk of cancer and infertility for women

According to reports, the study conducted by a New Delhi-based non-profit

organization, Toxic Link, found that the sanitary pads made by some of the
most popular brands in India contain chemicals that can potentially increase
your risk of cancer and infertility. For the study, the researchers examined 10
different types of sanitary pads (organic and inorganic) made in India. They
found that phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are two of the
most commonly used chemicals in these pads.
“This is a shocking revelation for, a large number of girls and women use pads,
and this will panic them. As per the research, traces of phthalates and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) found in all the samples have the ability to form
cancerous cells. The pads are known to cause infertility. If the chemicals get
absorbed by the body, women may experience problems.”

Numerous other harmful chemicals commonly available in sanitary products,

including toxic chemicals such as carcinogens, reproductive toxins, endocrine
disruptors, and allergens, are found in sanitary pads. “The presence of harmful
chemicals, including carcinogens, is a devastating revelation.”
Harmful chemicals in Period
products
When it comes to harmful effects of chemicals in sanitary pads , three come into play
- VOCs(Volatile Organic Compounds) and pthalates and PFOA’s

Over the past three years, feminine hygiene products have been turning up
contaminated by PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Also known as
“forever chemicals,” these ubiquitous and persistent manufacturing chemicals have
been linked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to a range of health
ills, including: decreased fertility, high blood pressure in pregnant people, increased
risk of certain cancers, developmental delays and low birthweight in children,
hormonal disruption, high cholesterol, reduced effectiveness of the immune
system—leading to decreased efficacy of vaccines—and more.

It is the presence of the chemicals in menstrual products that is causing the most stir
of late, not least because of the close contact the items make to women’s bodies and
the fact that so many of them are advertised as “natural” or “organic.”

In a series of lab analyses commissioned between 2020 and 2022 by the consumer
watchdog site Mamavation and Environmental Health News, 48% of sanitary pads,
incontinence pads, and panty liners tested were found to contain PFAS, as were 22%
of tampons and 65% of period underwear.
PFAS have a very long half life—or the amount of time it takes for the concentration
of a chemical in the body or the environment to drop by half, and then by half of
that half, and so on until there are only trace amounts left. “They take a very long
time to leave our bodies.”

The concentrations found in feminine hygiene products tend to be much higher than
those permitted in tap water, and while they are not ingested the way water is, they
are potentially just as dangerous since the vaginal area is exceedingly vascularized,
making it more vulnerable to contaminants.

EDC’s

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC’s) are known to be exogenous chemicals that

can interfere with the human body’s hormone function and produce complex,
mosaic effects . EDC’s interfere with the body's endocrine system, but that is not
where the interference stops. EDC’s can also affect the development, reproductive,
neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic and immune systems in humans . Also it is
explained that EDC’s can mimic natural hormones as well as maintain similar modes
of action, transport, and storage within tissues which can lead to cancerous effects

A summary of the harmful chemicals studied is given below:

● Effect of pthalates
● Effect of VOC’s
● Effects of PFA’s
● Effects of ECD’s
 ● Harmful Effects
● developmental malformations
● interference with reproduction
● increased cancer risk
● disturbances in the immune and nervous system function.

Sanitary Pad Menstrual Cup

Tampon Period Panty

Solutions and Alternatives
Some of the alternatives to using sanitary pads are

● Menstrual Cup and Tampon

● Period Panty with thick cotton lining
● Reusable Cloth Pads
● Avoid using any pads containing fragrances, and make sure that the pad is
made with a soft material that does not lead to allergies or infections.
● Keep your vagina clean to keep likely infections at bay.
● It would be benificial for users to use period products with transparency of the
contents of their product
● The government should make laws to regulate the use of pthalates , VOC’s and
PFA’s
● Period product manufacturers should be required to disclose the ingredients.
Result
Users of sanitary pad are advised to make the switch to a sustainable and safer
modes of collection of vaginal blood discharge

In conclusion, the presence of harmful chemicals in menstrual hygiene

products is a significant concern that demands our attention. Throughout this
essay, we have delved into the various types of harmful substances that can be
found in these products, ranging from dioxins and phthalates to fragrances and
synthetic materials. These chemicals have the potential to pose risks to women's
health, as well as the environment.

It is evident that further research and regulation are needed to ensure the safety
of menstrual hygiene products. Women deserve access to products that are not
only effective but also free from potential harm.These options not only
minimize the exposure to harmful chemicals but also contribute to a more
sustainable future
Bibliography
1. Steinemann, A. (2011). Fragranced consumer products: exposures and effects
from emissions. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 4(2), 181-196.

2. Zota, A. R., & Calafat, A. M. (2010). Woodruff TJ. Temporal trends in

phthalate exposures: findings from the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey, 2001–2010. Environmental Health Perspectives, 121(3),
235-241.

3. Serrano, S. E., Karr, C. J., & Seixas, N. S. (2019). Phthalates and diet: a
review of the food monitoring and epidemiology data. Environmental Health,
18(1), 24.

4. Environmental Working Group (EWG). (2021). Chem Fatale: Potential

Health Effects of Toxic Chemicals in Feminine Care Products.

5. National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2021). Dioxins. National Institute of

Environmental Health Sciences.
[https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/dioxins/index.cfm]

6. Friends of the Earth. (2019). Menstrual Products and Health: A Brief

Review.

7. Women's Voices for the Earth. (2021). Chem Fatale 2: State of the Art on
Menstrual Products Research.
8. Greenpeace. (2019). Wipe Out.
[https://www.greenpeace.org/archive-international/en/press/releases/2019/Wi
pe-Out-The-chemicals-in-making-period-products-investigation]

9. National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). (2017). Poison in Personal

Care Products.
[https://www.nrdc.org/resources/poisoning-personal-care-products]

10. Ngo, A. D., Taylor, R., & Roberts, C. L. (2016). Paternal exposure to Agent
Orange and spina bifida: a meta-analysis. European Journal of Epidemiology,
31(2), 119-129.