Tampon Myth and Truth

Tampon Myth and Truth Dr. Travis Stork: With so many medical headlines everywhere we turn, it can be hard to tell a medical fact from fiction, so Prevention Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Liz Vaccariello is here to give us the 411 about a common health hearsay, today the question is this, is it true that tampons contain asbestos and dioxin? Liz Vaccariello: Travis, the FDA regulates tampons like a medical device, and they have found absolutely no asbestos in tampons, and only a trace amount of dioxin, but enough just to be less than negligible. Dr. Travis Stork: So I'm going to go on the record and say I've never used a tampon with dioxin and asbestos? Liz Vaccariello: It is a bold thing to admit to America. The deal is that the dioxin levels in tampons are so low that you don’t have to worry about it. There is a 0.2% of the amount of dioxin in a tampon that the exposure levels are deemed safe. Dr. Travis Stork: So .2% of what would be deemed dangerous. So minuscule amounts of what – so it's basically nothing. Liz Vaccariello: It's basically nothing. And if you're worried about dioxin. Most dioxin is trapped in animals. It exacerbates its self in the fat of the animals. So if you're concerned of the way meat protein and then instead turned to beans or nuts. Dr. Travis Stork: A plant based diet. Liz Vaccariello: Yeah, a plant based diet. Dr. Travis Stork: Now dioxin can be an endocrine disruptor, some people thin can lead to maybe high risk of diabetes. And I remember as a kid growing up, when I was in Missouri for a period they actually shut down an entire town called Times Beach and it became a ghost town because of concerns. And so people are scared when they've heard the word dioxin. Liz Vaccariello: It’s an environmental pollutant in our air and water, in our soil, that’s why in the cotton it's used for tampon, but in just such negligible amount as to not be a concern. Dr. Travis Stork: Well, hey, another great reason to add plant based food to your diet, right? Liz Vaccariello: Always a reason to eat healthy. Dr. Travis Stork: Well, that is a great health you're saying answer, thank you for separating from fact from fiction.