The National Department of Health says sanitary pads and panty liners remain safe for use despite the presence of very small amounts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, following consultations with leading local and international health experts.
This follows the release of a study by the University of the Free State that found the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in a range of products sold in South Africa.
The study, titled “The presence of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in sanitary pads: A study done in South Africa,” revealed that certain sanitary pads and pantyliners may contain potentially harmful chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, and bisphenols.
These substances, commonly referred to as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, were linked to a range of health complications including hormonal imbalances, infertility, endometriosis, and certain cancers.
In a recent media briefing, National Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the department engaged scientific and clinical specialists from several institutions to determine whether the chemicals detected in some menstrual products pose any risk to users and whether regulatory action was necessary.
Among those consulted were the South African Medical Research Council, the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists working together with the South African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy, the National Health Laboratory Service, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority’s (SAHPRA) chief executive officer, Boitumelo Semete, said sanitary products are classified as low-risk medical devices under the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965, meaning manufacturers are not required to obtain a licence but must still comply with global safety standards.
“Under the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965, sanitary products are regarded as low-risk medical devices. Thus, exempting the manufacturers from the need for a licence. While this is said, manufacturers must still comply with global standards,” Semete said.
She added that there is currently no scientific proof linking the chemicals detected in sanitary products to serious illnesses.
“There has been no causality determined for the EDCs found in these sanitary products linking them to cancer, infertility, and endometriosis to name but a few. Further, SAHPRA has not received any reports of adverse events from the public. The public can contact SAHPRA to report any adverse events. SAHPRA will continue to monitor these products in partnership with other regulators. It is our considered view that these products remain to be safe for use by the public,” she said.
The World Health Organization also emphasised the public health importance of menstrual products, warning that they should not be removed from the market without strong scientific evidence of harm.
WHO country representative Shenaaz El-Halabi and chemical safety technical officer Richard Brown said access to menstrual hygiene products is an important part of universal health coverage.
“WHO recognizes that access to menstrual products is an important part of universal health coverage. This means that products which contribute to this important public health benefit should not be withdrawn unless there is good reason to do so, such as evidence of harm that outweighs the public health benefits. No clear evidence of harm to health from these types of products has been identified to date,” they said.
The organisation also noted that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals can come from many different everyday products used globally.
“It is known, including from WHO assessments, that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals can arise from the use of many different types of personal care products which are widely used. This is a global issue. Regulatory decisions have to take into account all relevant considerations, including the public health context,” the experts said.
They added that regulators in other parts of the world also weigh the presence of such chemicals against the health benefits of the products when making policy decisions.
“WHO understands that balancing the presence of chemicals against the public health benefits of products, including these types of menstrual products, is factored into regulatory policy decisions in other jurisdictions elsewhere in the world, for example in the European Union. WHO is not aware of any cases globally where access to these important health products has been withdrawn because of concerns over health effects arising from endocrine-disrupting chemicals.”
It is revealed that the researchers from the University of the Free State have also clarified that their study does not claim that short-term use of menstrual products causes specific diseases.
The university said the research was not designed to establish a direct causal relationship between detected chemicals and illnesses in women.
“The research does not claim that short-term use of menstrual products causes specific health conditions. Similarly, the study was not designed to establish a direct causal relationship between the detected chemicals and diseases in women,” the institution said. It added that the findings were intended to contribute to scientific understanding rather than guide consumer decisions,” the department revealed.
“The research findings and their publication are not intended to constitute medical advice, consumer directives, or product usage recommendations - they present peer-reviewed scientific data and identify areas warranting further scientific and clinical enquiry. The research does not recommend that current products be withdrawn from the market.”
Health experts consulted by the department agreed that the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in sanitary pads was not unexpected, as the substances are found in many everyday consumer products and have previously been documented in menstrual items.
They also noted that the levels detected in the products were low and that regulatory authorities in South Africa will continue to oversee the products as they did before the study was conducted.
Crucially, experts emphasised that no study so far has established a causal relationship between the chemicals detected and adverse health outcomes in women or girls, reassuring the public that sanitary pads remain safe to use.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za