Tampon Warning to ALL Women:

 This contains more than you ever wanted to know about tampons (certainly more than I ever wanted to know) but it is vitally important that women are educated about the risks they are facing, the alternative products, and how to pressure industry to give us safe products. Only if the manufacturing companies hear from enough women (consumers) will they change their current products to a safer one.  
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If you are a woman and use pads, but especially if you
      use tampons, read this and pass it on to your friends,
      significant others, sisters, mothers, daughters, etc. Thanks!

Check the labels of the sanitary pads or tampons that
you are going to buy the next time and see whether you
spot any of the familiar signs stated in this email.

No wonder so many women in the world suffer from
cervical cancer and womb tumors. Have you heard that
tampon makers include asbestos in tampons? Why would
they do this?

Because asbestos makes you bleed more, if you bleed
more, you're going to need to use more. Why isn't this
against the law since asbestos is so dangerous?
Because the powers that be, in all their wisdom (not),
did not consider tampons as being ingested, and,
therefore, didn't consider them illegal or dangerous.

This month's Essence magazine has small article about
this and they mention two manufacturers of a cotton
tampon alternative. The companies are: Organic
Essentials @1-800) 765-6491 and Terra Femme
@(800)755-0212.

A woman getting her Ph.D. at University of Colorado at
Boulder sent the following:
  "I am writing this because women are not being
informed about the dangers of something most of us
use: tampons. I am taking a class this month and I
have been learning a lot about biology and women,
including much about feminine hygiene. Recently we
have learned that tampons are actually dangerous (for
Other reasons than TSS). I'll tell you this - after
learning about this in our class, most of the females
wound up feeling angry and upset with the tampon
industry, and I for one, am going to do something
about it. To start, I want to inform everyone I can,
and email is the fastest way that I know how.

             HERE IS THE SCOOP:

Tampons contain two things that are potentially
harmful: Rayon (for absorbency), and dioxin (a chemical
used in bleaching the products). The tampon industry
is convinced that we, as women, need bleached white
products in order to view the product as pure and
clean. The problem here is that the dioxin, which is
produced in this bleaching process, can lead to very
harmful problems for a woman. Dioxin is
potentially carcinogenic (cancer-associated) and is
toxic to the immune and reproductive systems. It has
also been linked to endometriosis and lower sperm
Counts for men. For both sexes, it breaks down the
immune system.

 Last September, the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) reported that there really is no set
"Acceptable" level of exposure to dioxin given
 that it is cumulative and slow to disintegrate. The
 real danger comes from repeated contact Karen Couppert
 "Pulling the Plug on the Tampon Industry"). I'd say
 using about 4-5 tampons a day, five days a month, for
 38 menstruating years is "repeated contact", wouldn't
 you? Rayon contributes to the danger of tampons and
 dioxin because it is a highly absorbent substance.

 Therefore, when fibers from the tampons are left
 behind in the vagina (as usually occurs), it creates a
 breeding ground for the dioxin. It also stays in a lot
 longer than it would with just cotton tampons. This is
 also the reason why TSS (toxic shock syndrome) occurs.

             WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
   Using feminine hygiene products that aren't bleached
 and that are all cotton.  Other feminine hygiene
 products (pads/napkins) contain dioxin as well, but
 they are not nearly as dangerous since they are not in
 direct contact with the vagina. The pads/napkins need
 to stop being bleached, but, obviously, tampons
 are the most dangerous.

    So, what can you do if you can't give up using
 tampons? Use tampons that are made from 100% cotton,
 and that are UNBLEACHED. Unfortunately, there are very
 few companies that make these safe tampons. They are
 usually only found in health food stores.

 Countries all over the world (Sweden, Germany, British Columbia, etc.) have demanded a switch to this safer tampon, while the U.S. has decided to keep us in the dark about it. In 1989, activists in England mounted a campaign against chlorine bleaching. Six weeks and 50,000 letters later, the makers of sanitary products switched to oxygen bleaching (one of the green methods available) (MS magazine, May/June 1995).

  Another great, inexpensive alternative would be to use natural SEA Sponges. Just moisten, and insert. Remove and rinse thoroughly in hot water whenever you use the bathroom.  I suggest getting two and double them up at night or on heavy days.  They are completely soft (non-abrasive to the vaginal wall, unlike tampons) safe, and natural - no chemicals.  Also no waste every month.  You can boil them in water and a little vinegar every couple of months.

             WHAT TO DO NOW:

  Tell people. Everyone. Inform them. We are being
manipulated by this industry and the government, let's
do something about it! Please write to the companies: Tampax (Tambrands), Playtex, O.B., Kotex. Call the 800 numbers listed on the boxes. Let them know  that we demand a safe product

   ALL COTTON UNBLEACHED TAMPONS!