Each year, 12 billion conventional pads and 7 million tampons, make it into North American landfills. Most tampons and pads contain surfactants, adhesives and additives. In fact most pads contain polyethylene plastic whose production is a pollutant. Also, dioxin, a known carcinogen, is a by-product of the bleaching process of tampons containing rayon/ viscose. In landfills, many of these substances can leach into the environment (groundwater, streams and lakes, rivers) causing serious pollution and health concerns.
Conventional pads and tampons are often made from non-organic cotton which means that it has been saturated in pesticides and insecticides.
Did you know that cotton requires six pints of water to grow just one little bud?
Menstrual cups are a safe and practical choice. There are a few brands of menstrual cups available on the market, ranging in price from $23-$40 CDN on average. Unlike conventional pads and tampons, it is a long term investment (approximately 1 year of use) that will save you money. No more monthly purchases of conventional pads/tampons. Unlike conventional pads and tampons, using menstrual cups aren’t a burden on landfills which essentially means that it is better for our environment.

The first menstrual cups were developed in the 1930’s and were made from rubber latex which proved to be an allergen for some women. Today’s menstrual cups are made from silicone, the same synthetic substance found in everything from cosmetics to cars. Experts at McMaster University state that Silicone is derived from silica, a type of sand, which is capable of disintegrating to its original state.
Menstrual cups are a non-absorbent alternative that simply collects menstrual flow for up to 12 hours. It is inserted in the vagina and sits at the lower base of the vaginal canal. Most menstrual cups cannot be felt nor leak when inserted properly. It is perfect for all activities including running, biking, hiking, dancing, camping, swimming, diving, scuba, yoga, extreme sports – without the worry and unreliability that conventional pads and tampons pose. It can be used for light or moderate flows and is emptied more frequently for heavier flows. The risk of TSS (toxic shock syndrome), which is associated with tampon use, is not a concern when it comes to using menstrual cups.
When you compare the processes that are required to make traditional pads and tampons, menstrual cups are the way to go!

Tags: additives, carcinogen, cotton, dioxin, environment, insecticides, landfills, menstrual cups, pesticides, silicone, surfactants, tss

This entry was posted on Monday, May 17th, 2010 at 1:19 AM and is filed under Natural feminine products. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.