By Lee Kyung-min
The government has concluded that sanitary pads pose no health risks to women after a second round of studies on all products on the market.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety disclosed Thursday the results of a study of 666 sanitary pads made by 61 manufacturers on the levels of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Of the total, 492 pads were manufactured by 19 local companies, and 167 were imported from 40 overseas companies.
The analysis was prompted by a scandal involving sanitary pads sold earlier this year.
The VOC compounds including benzene and formaldehyde, listed as human carcinogens, easily vaporize, a major health concern for women as they could be absorbed into their bodies while wearing them during menstruation.
The ministry study showed that of 74 VOCs initially suspected of being in the pads, 24 were not found at all. Of the remaining 50, the level of 43 was negligible, with a delayed analysis on seven compounds for which a toxicity study has not yet been conducted.
“We concluded there were no safety issues concerning the use of sanitary pads currently available on the market,” the ministry said. “Our study concluded that no significant amount of VOCs was found in the products. We inform the public that it is safe for women who wear seven pads per day for seven days in a month until menopause.”
The 74 compounds were among 84 that were under ministry review. The ministry released a first study in September on the levels of the 10 most harmful VOCs alleged to be in the pads.
In that study, which used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, a method to identify certain substances in a test sample, the ministry said the findings showed some negligible amounts of VOCs were found.
The ministry also said 380 diapers all met safety requirements, with 10 diapers made by the top five manufacturers having negligible VOC levels.
It added that a special team will conduct an epidemiological study seeking to identify the cause of illnesses and side effects associated with the use of sanitary pads.
The team will be comprised of officials from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Ministry of Environment and Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). A deliberation body will be set up soon to set up regulations designed to reduce the number and amount of VOCs.
Despite the findings, however, many women remain undecided over whether they should continue to use the products.
“I am thinking about using a menstrual cup instead of disposable pads. I heard that it takes some getting used to before properly inserting and removing the cup, but I’m willing to do that for my health,” a woman surnamed Lee said.