Leading South African medical research and clinical institutions have moved to assure the public that sanitary pads remain safe to use, following widespread concerns triggered by a recent university study.
Health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi led a joint media briefing on Sunday to address anxiety surrounding the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in menstrual products.
The briefing was a direct response to a University of the Free State (UFS) study, “The presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals in sanitary pads: A study done in South Africa,” published last month in the Science of the Total Environment Journal.
Low levels, no evidence of harm
The study, which tested 16 sanitary pads and seven pantyliners, found small quantities of EDCs in all samples. However, Motsoaledi emphasised that the detection of these chemicals is not a cause for alarm.
“It is not surprising that EDCs were found in sanitary pads, both because they are found in many products, and their presence in sanitary pads has previously been documented,” Motsoaledi stated.
“The levels of ECDs were low. The regulatory authorities in South Africa will continue to play their role in regulating the products as they were doing prior to this study.”
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi
The minister was firm in his assessment of the health implications: “Most important is that this or any other study has not established a causal relationship between the detected chemicals and adverse health outcomes in women or girls. Women and girls can be reassured that it remains safe to use sanitary pads.”
Putting the science in context
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) highlighted that EDCs are ubiquitous in the modern environment. SAMRC President Prof. Ntobeko Ntusi noted that the industry for manufacturing these products is universal and adheres to global standards.
“The detection of EDCs, most importantly and critically, does not translate to evidence of harm to South Africans. Just because a chemical is present does not mean that it represents a risk,” the SAMRC stated. The council further clarified that there is “no signal of harm” and that exposure to EDCs is actually often higher in men due to occupational factors.
Medical experts from the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG) and the South African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG) provided further technical context. They explained that EDCs in menstrual products contribute only about 6.8% of a person’s total daily exposure. In contrast, 40% comes from food and another 40% from personal care products like toothpaste, shampoo, and body lotions.
“There is a difference between the ‘potential to interfere’ and ‘actual risk’,” the experts explained. “The concentrations of EDCs found in the study were very low, much lower than permissible concentration levels, further minimising the potential to cause harm.”
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Regulatory oversight
Dr Boitumelo Semete, CEO of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), confirmed that sanitary products are classified as low-risk medical devices. While manufacturers are exempt from certain licenses, they must comply with rigorous global standards.
“SAHPRA has not received any reports of adverse events from the public,” Semete noted. “It is our considered view that these products remain to be safe for use by the public.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) cautioned against withdrawing products that are essential to reproductive health and universal health coverage without evidence of significant harm.
“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,” the organisation stated, noting that no clear evidence of harm has been identified to date.
The University of the Free State has also clarified that its research was not designed to establish a direct causal link to diseases nor to provide medical advice.
“The research findings… identify areas warranting further scientific and clinical enquiry. The research does not recommend that current products be withdrawn from the market,” Motsoaledi concluded.
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