Tampon Lead Contamination Lawsuit Investigation
The toxic exposure and product recall lawyers at The Lyon Firm are reviewing current class action claims that popular tampon brands, including Tampax, Kotex and Playtex have been found contaminated with lead.
If you purchased these items or other tainted feminine products, you may be eligible to take part in an ongoing class action lawsuit for lead-tainted tampons, or file an individual complaint regarding another contaminated consumer product.
Which Tampons are Contaminated with Lead?
Recent research discovered a serious health issue for women and their personal health: lead contamination in Tampax, Kotex and Playtex tampons. A published study found evidence of lead and other heavy metals in personal hygiene products, raising serious concerns about the safety of these items and associated lead poisoning risks for individuals exposed to these toxins.
Two class action lawsuits, filed by consumers and plaintiffs in California against Proctor & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark, seek compensation and stronger safety measures for all women’s personal hygiene products.
In one tampon class action lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges that Tampax Pearl tampons contain unsafe levels of lead, and accuses Procter & Gamble of not disclosing the presence of lead in their products. The lawsuit includes unfair and unlawful business practice claims, false advertising, and violations of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
A separate tampon lawsuit alleges that the P&G unit This is L, Inc. falsely claimed its tampons are “100% organic.”
Understanding Tampon Lead Contamination
The study explains there are a few ways metals could get into tampon products. The raw materials themselves, like cotton and rayon, could be contaminated by toxins, while some metals may in fact be added intentionally for odor control, pigment or as an antibacterial additive.
In a study published in Environment International, researchers reported that trace amounts of heavy metals, including lead, were present in all of the tampons they tested. Experts said that even in trace amounts of toxins can pose serious health risks, particularly with chronic exposure and direct vaginal insertion, allowing lead to enter the bloodstream without being metabolized first by the liver. In this recent study, 14 popular feminine hygiene brands were tested for potentially harmful metals like cadmium, arsenic and lead.
Heavy metals are not the first contaminants found in female hygiene products. Past studies discovered PFAS, phthalates, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in female menstrual products, including tampons. In 2023, Thinx settled a lawsuit over whether its period underwear exposed consumers to PFAS.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies tampons as “medical devices,” yet curiously the agency does not require tampon producers to test their products for contaminants.
Some metals found in tampons like copper, calcium, iron and zinc are considered safe. Exposure to some heavy metals, however, can cause serious health issues, including damage to the cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems; damage to the liver, kidneys and brain; and possibly increased the risk of dementia and cancer.
Contact a physician and an attorney if you experience any allergic reaction, discomfort, pain, or other signs of toxic shock, or tampon lead contamination symptoms.
Under product liability law, consumers may file defective product claims for the following:
- Design Defects: Flaws in the product’s design that make it unsafe
- Manufacturing Defects: Errors during production leading to contamination or health hazards
- Marketing Defects: Failing to provide timely safety warnings, or not disclosing the presence of toxic heavy metals
Call an experienced product recall and toxic tort lawyer to discuss filing a complaint when you discover any consumer product may be contaminated with toxins. We aim to make the marketplace safer, hold negligent corporations accountable for trade violations, and we seek compensation for plaintiffs nationwide.