A new lawsuit in California accuses Carefree menstrual pads of containing toxic PFAS chemicals, potentially putting users at risk of serious reproductive health issues.
Tom Perkins reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- The California lawsuit, filed by the advocacy group Ecological Alliance, seeks to compel Edgewell, Carefree’s parent company, to remove PFAS from its products or add warning labels.
- PFAS, known as "forever chemicals," are linked to cancer, immune disorders, and reproductive health issues due to their persistence in the environment and human body.
- Testing found high levels of PFAS in the pads, with evidence suggesting skin contact absorbs these chemicals, raising concerns about prolonged exposure.
Key quote:
“This is a product that has direct exposure into the bloodstream because of the way it’s used and positioned on women’s bodies, so this is alarming, and it’s scary.”
— Vineet Dubey, attorney for Ecological Alliance
Why this matters:
Menstrual products like pads are in prolonged contact with the skin, increasing risks from toxic chemicals that can disrupt hormones, harm fertility, and affect prenatal health. This lawsuit highlights gaps in federal regulation of PFAS in consumer goods.
Read more: How diapers and menstrual pads are exposing babies and women to hormone-disrupting, toxic chemicals
