A shocking new study from the University of the Free State (UFS) has found that every sanitary pad and panty liner tested in South Africa contained hormone‑disrupting chemicals, raising serious health concerns for millions of women and others who menstruate.
For many, sanitary pads and liners are trusted, essential items used monthly during a vulnerable time. The idea that these products may carry endocrine‑disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is therefore deeply unsettling.
Researchers analysed popular brands sold in local shops – the same products used by millions every month – and the results were stark:
“Endocrine‑disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were detected and quantified in all tested samples, with each pad and liner containing at least two of the target EDCs,” the university reported.
What the researchers tested
The UFS team examined:
- 16 sanitary pads
- 7 panty liners
for 20 different endocrine‑disrupting chemicals, including:
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Bisphenols
These chemicals are known to interfere with hormones in the human body.
The key findings included:
- 100% of panty liners contained phthalates
- 100% of sanitary pads contained bisphenols
- Most products contained multiple types of chemicals
- Phthalates were more common in liners
- Bisphenols were more common in pads
Menstrual health activist Candice Chirwa reacted by asking:
“I wonder what chemicals are in our period products and I wonder if it could be contributing to period symptoms we experience?”
Why endocrine‑disrupting chemicals matter
EDCs are substances that can disrupt the body’s hormonal (endocrine) system. Over time, exposure has been linked in scientific literature to:
- Reproductive problems
- Hormone‑related cancers
- Other long‑term health effects
The UFS researchers warned that menstrual products may be a “hidden source of toxic exposure”.
“Although daily doses may seem low, the long‑term, repeated contact with sensitive tissues poses cumulative health risks, including reproductive toxicity and cancer,” they said.
Because pads and liners are used:
- For several days each month,
- Year after year,
- In direct contact with highly sensitive genital tissue,
even low levels of chemicals may add up over time.
First study of its kind in South Africa
This is the first comprehensive South African study to assess chemical contamination in menstrual products sold locally.
The research team included:
- Janine Blignaut – PhD candidate
- Dr Gabre Kemp – Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry
- Prof Elizabeth Erasmus, Prof Deon Visser and Prof Marietjie Schutte‑Smith – Department of Chemistry
Their work highlights an urgent need for:
- Stricter regulation of menstrual products,
- Full ingredient transparency, and
- Further research into health impacts and safer alternatives for people who menstruate.
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