ENROUSH responds: On arsenic, lead and metals in tampons

Dear Woman, first of all we'd like to reaffirm the promise we made to you from the very beginning: with ENROUSH, you're on the safe side!

Perhaps you've heard the news or seen the posts on social media… The findings of recent studies are worrying and, sadly, reflect the reality for millions of women who use conventional period products. But NOT for the women of the Enroush community!

Our mission from day one has been to offer you safe products that don't put your health at risk. That's why today we want to talk about everything the researchers discovered, about the danger of toxic metals in conventional tampons, and about the steps we've taken to guarantee you 100% healthy care!

Arsenic, lead and other toxic metals found in tampons: the world's first study on the subject

This is the most recent published study on the tampons that billions of women use month after month during their periods. It's available HERE, and we invite you to read it for yourself.

There are almost 4 billion women on Earth, and according to the statistics, between 52% and 86% of us use tampons during our periods. All the more reason to know what's in these products that enter our bodies month after month.

A research team from four renowned universities in California, New York and Michigan therefore measured, for the first time ever, the levels of lead, arsenic, nickel, mercury, cadmium, copper and other toxic metals in tampons.

They found that non-organic tampons contain higher levels of lead, while organic tampons show more arsenic. The quantities of the other metals detected vary by brand, but also by market (Europe, the UK or the USA). The conclusion, however, is unambiguous: every tampon tested was contaminated, and such compounds, once they enter the body, can put women's health at risk.

The study sounds the alarm: we need awareness, accountability and safe alternatives

Outrageous, yet at the same time encouraging – that's how we'd describe the results of these measurements.

Outrageous, because they confirm that countless dangerous substances are hiding in the tampons on the market without our knowing it – substances that can expose us to serious health risks. Substances absorbed into our bodies through vaginal tissue, which is far more permeable than other areas of the body, and which can cause hormonal disruption or problems with the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Outrageous, because in almost 100 years since the first tampon was invented in 1931, not a single study had been carried out on the levels of metals and metalloids in tampons – only a handful of measurements pointing to the presence of dioxin, phthalates, fragrances, volatile organic compounds and other harmful chemicals. Only now, in July 2024, has the first paper been published in which researchers measured the quantities of 16 dangerous metals in 30 tampons.

Outrageous, because all of these metals were found in every tampon tested – and the researchers stress that for metals such as lead there is no "safe" level of exposure.

And yet encouraging too, because now we finally KNOW. Women are at last recognising the risks they're exposed to and the urgent need to inform themselves and know exactly what's in the tampons they use. It's now being discussed publicly, and the alarm is being raised that legislation is needed for intimate hygiene products – and that alone is already a step forward for women's health.

ENROUSH – a safe solution and 100% healthy care from the very start

Have we ever told you the story behind the ENROUSH brand? Our products came into being at precisely the moment we realised just how many substances in the tampons on the market harm the vaginal flora and intimate balance – and now, lo and behold, it's been officially confirmed. We needed a natural alternative that would give us the care we – and the planet – deserve.

ENROUSH was born out of our need as women for safe period care made from natural, organic ingredients and completely free of toxic substances. YOU and your health have been at the heart of our mission from the very beginning!

That's why we've created period products that:

• are made from 100% organic cotton
• are free from any toxic substances. No dioxins, chlorine, dyes, fragrances, synthetic fibres, plastic, allergens or other harmful chemicals. Only nature's purest ingredients, safe for your skin and your body.
• list every ingredient on the label. Complete transparency, because you need to know exactly what's in your period products: purely natural ingredients you recognise and can trust.
• are hypoallergenic and pH-neutral. So we can offer you the gentlest care during that sensitive time of the month and on every day of your cycle – with ingredients that are kind even to sensitive skin. And so that allergies and irritation during your period become a thing of the past!
• are gynaecologically and dermatologically tested and approved. Because you deserve the peace of mind of knowing you're making a safe choice for your reproductive health.
• 

We're more than a company. We're a brand dedicated to intimate hygiene and women's care!

Precisely because we knew from the outset about the potential risks of other products on the market, and precisely because we're aware of the dangers that various substances expose you to, the safety of the products we offer you has always come first at ENROUSH.

We adhere strictly to demanding standards: that's our promise that YOUR safety is our priority

We've made it our mission to drive change and make healthy period care accessible to as many women as possible.

That's why – even though manufacturers aren't legally required to register hygiene products and many ingredients are exempt from REACH standards – we've chosen to go beyond these requirements and proactively follow many further official recommendations, practice guidelines and the latest toxicological findings:

1. All our ingredients are carefully selected in accordance with the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC and – from 14 December 2024 – with the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, as well as the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 that apply in Great Britain.
2. We have recorded which ingredients are used in our products and which suppliers they come from.
3. We have recorded the product group (substances/mixtures/articles) and the quantities ordered of each ingredient.
4. We have identified which ingredients are imported from outside the EU.
5. We have drawn up a declaration of conformity with explicit questions regarding REACH, which has been reviewed and approved by an external toxicologist.
6. We actively follow the measures proposed by Edana / the European Union.

On the basis of all the information available to us, we can confirm that none of our ingredients or products contain SVHCs (substances of very high concern) at a concentration greater than 0.1% (w/w) that appear on the following lists:

REACH Candidate List

REACH Authorisation List

List of substances restricted under REACH

Endocrine disruptor assessment list

CLP Annex VI, Part 3

With ENROUSH, you're on the safe side!

Yes, some products on the market offer little transparency and may conceal harmful substances – but Enroush is NOT one of them. We believe it's unacceptable to be exposed to substances as dangerous as lead and arsenic without even knowing it. That's why we've chosen to offer you a safer, healthier way.

So, dear Woman: use Enroush's 100% organic pads and tampons with complete confidence. You were, are and always will be at the centre of everything we do – and the safety of our products for your health is non-negotiable.

With love,
the brand you can trust,
ENROUSH