The FDA is investigating tampon safety which was prompted by a study in 2024 which found that there were some low levels of metals like arsenic, lead and cadmium in some tampons.
The investigation of the safety of tampons by the FDA also includes a literature review of existing research and also internal laboratory studies to determine if metals are released from tampons during use and see if the metals are absorbed into the body.
The FDA also stated tampons have to meet FDA requirements before the tampons can be sold, although the new research also aims to better understand the safety of metals in the context of real world use.
Manufacturers of tampons are also required to test the products safety and effectiveness before they are approved for the market.
The goal of the tampon safety investigation by the FDA is to better assess the potential health risk that are associated with the metals that are found in tampons.
And the FDA is also reviewing all existing scientific evidence on the topic to inform it's risk assessment.
And the FDA is also conducting their own tests on the tampons to measure the amount of metals that are released from the tampons under conditions which also mimic normal use of the tampons.