The invention of Sanitary pads has changed the lives of women all over the world. Traditionally, they used materials like cloth, rags, husk, and even ash for dealing with menstrual blood. Most of these practices were unhealthy and they made the situation even worse.
On average a woman goes through around 450 cycles of periods in her lifetime. During this time she will use about 11,000-17,000 pads. Unfortunately, the things which they thought to be lifesavers can lead to life-threatening issues. If you are a woman, if you have been using pads, then you must be aware of the following.
1. Dioxins
Dioxins are highly toxic chemical compounds that may cause problems with reproduction, development, and the immune system. They are used in the manufacture of pads for bleaching cotton and wooden pulp. It will give the sanitary pads a pure white color. These chemicals through gradual use get accumulated in the fat tissues. As the vaginal membrane is very thin and permeable, it may enter the bloodstream slowly. This will cause hormone imbalances and result in birth defects and infertility. It may also end up in ovarian and cervical cancer.
2. Artificial Fragrance
Nowadays the manufacturers are producing scented pads to avoid the odor problems of menstrual blood. The majority of the girls and women are in love with these pads with the fragrance of flowers and aloe vera. These artificial fragrance components cause irritation of the vulva area accompanied by redness, rashes, and swelling. It may also lead to yeast infections.
3. Skin can't breath
Sanitary napkins contain a layer of super-absorbent gels that lock the moisture and generate heat in the vaginal area. Using these unbreathable pads for a long duration can result in the growth of bacteria in the vaginal area due to a moist and warm environment. The problems caused by these synthetic pads range from vaginitis to pelvic inflammatory diseases.
4. Lack of disposal mechanisms
Proper methods are not available for the disposal of synthetic pads. Hence people may toss these pads away. When these pads contaminated with blood are burnt, the waste management workers are exposed to toxic gases and may cause serious health hazards.
5. Not eco-friendly
Sanitary pads are made from non-biodegradable materials like plastic which may take more than 600 years to decompose. They also contain carcinogens, pesticides, herbicides, Sulphate gel, etc. which aggravates the environmental hazards.
If synthetic pads are not a healthy option, then what else can be used? To know about the alternatives available wait for the upcoming articles. Subscribe our mailing lists so that you don't miss the future posts.
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