UC Berkeley just completed and reported test results finding heavy metals present in every tampon brand tested, and the public is in an uproar!

To summarize the study, "Researchers evaluated levels of 16 metals (arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc) in 30 tampons from 14 different brands. The metal concentrations varied by where the tampons were purchased (US vs. EU/UK), organic vs. non-organic, and store- vs. name-brand. However, they found that metals were present in all types of tampons; no category had consistently lower concentrations of all or most metals. Lead concentrations were higher in non-organic tampons but arsenic was higher in organic tampons."

The study did not specify if these metals have or will cause specific medical harm but there is evidence showing many of these metals have been found to increase the risk of dementia, infertility, diabetes, and cancer. They can also damage the liver, kidneys, and brain, as well as the cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrine systems. In addition, metals can harm maternal health and fetal development.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? 

The researchers shared that the heavy metals may be present in tampons from the environment the fiber was grown in, or from compounds added during the manufacturing process such as pigments, whiteners, antibacterial agents, or other additives. 

There is a severe lack of regulatory oversight in the period care space. For example, this test was the FIRST time a lab tested metals concentration in tampons  - largely because it has never been required.

There is still NO federal requirement to share all ingredients on the box or to the customer. Many companies take advantage of this with tricky marketing copy or simply omitting ingredients on the box.

And, if tampons already have FDA approval, there are no requirements to continue testing and reporting the test results to the FDA or to any regulatory body. Therefore, many of these tampons and tampon manufacturers have had FDA approval for decades and there has been no oversight into the safety and efficacy of their products over time. Especially in recent years, as research has linked compounds like metals, plastics, bleach, chlorine, etc. to medical harm like being endocrine disruptors and carcinogenic (cancer causing) - and YES those ingredients are in the vast majority of tampons you see on the shelf!

HOW HEMPRESS TRANSCENDS: 

• Hempress products have no additives, period. As additives like whiteners, softners, antibacterial agents, etc. may have heavy metals or other dangerous compounds present.

• Hempress products have COMPLETE ingredient information on our packaging & website. To save time the ingredients are; organic cotton, transitionally organic hemp, and a plant-based biodegradable back sheet and adhesive...THAT'S IT! 

• Hempress sources our hemp fiber from organic and regenerative farms and our cotton is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified.
  

• Hempress fibers have been tested and received the highest safety standard; OEKE-TEX STANDARD 100.
  

• Hempress products are not made in any of the facilities where the products from this study were manufactured, but are produced IN-HOUSE where we have full control and oversight over what goes in our products. 
  

• Hempress products are made in the EU with the highest health and safety standards in the world - especially in the personal care space (most period care is made in China).
  

• All products and materials must undergo biocompatibility testing and are reviewed by gynecologists and dermatologists.

Lastly, in response to this shocking study we are undergoing third party testing on all our products to test the presence of metals as extra assurance to our claims.

Hempress was founded by Marilyn Austin and McKenna Avery as college students after learning there were no ingredient disclosure standards for period care products and most were filled with bleach and plastic. We set out on a mission to create the cleanest, most sustainable, and transparent period care products possible, which became Hempress. 

Despite the shocking news, we are hopeful this will encourage more regulation and oversight in the category and keep companies accountable to the products they create. At Hempress we are committed to the highest health and safety standards for our customers and will continue to always provide transparent and complete information about the products you use on your body.