UK tampons found to have pesticide levels 40 times higher than drinking water limit

Traces of glyphosate, which is a pesticide linked to cancer, have been found.

A report from the Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK), the Women’s Environmental Network and the Pesticide Collaboration has found traces of glyphosate in some products.

Glyphosate is a pesticide that is linked to cancer.

It is concerning as chemicals absorbed through the vagina directly enter the bloodstream, which means even small traces of the pesticide could lead to severe health risks.

The study saw 15 boxes of different UK tampons tested, and glyphosate was found in one of the boxes, at 0.004 mg/kg.

The EU and UK maximum residue level for drinking water is 0.0001 mg/kg, making this 40 times higher than permitted levels of glyphosate in drinking water.

Speaking with The Guardian, Amy Heley, from the Pesticide Collaboration, said: "If this level of glyphosate is deemed to be unsafe in the water we drink, why is it allowed to appear in our period products?

"Our investigation reveals that women, girls and those who menstruate may not be protected from exposure to harmful chemicals.

"And yet, most people remain completely unaware that this is even an issue."

It is believed that the pesticide may have entered some of the products as weedkillers are used to grow cotton.

Josie Cohen, the interim director at Pan UK, said: "We were genuinely shocked to find glyphosate in tampons sitting on UK shelves. This harmful chemical is already impossible to avoid since it’s sprayed by councils in streets and parks and contaminates much of our food and water due to its overuse in farming.

"We urgently need to reduce our overall toxic load and shouldn’t have to worry about glyphosate and other highly hazardous pesticides in our period products. This is a blatant gap in health and safety regulation that the government urgently needs to address."