| Title: | Feminine Hygiene Products and Volatile Organic Compounds in Reproductive-Aged Women Across the Menstrual Cycle: A Longitudinal Pilot Study |
| Author(s): | Ding N; Lin N; Batterman S; Park SK; |
| Address: | "Department of Epidemiology and School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA" |
| Journal Title: | J Womens Health (Larchmt) |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1931-843X (Electronic) 1540-9996 (Print) 1540-9996 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Background: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been detected in feminine hygiene products (FHPs), especially in tampons and sanitary pads. However, little is known about whether menstrual products can contribute to VOC exposure in women. Our objectives were to: (1) examine the variations of urinary VOC concentrations during menstrual cycles; (2) evaluate the relationships between the use of menstrual products and urinary VOC concentrations; and (3) link urinary VOC concentrations to those measured in menstrual products. Methods: We measured urinary concentrations of 98 target VOCs in 25 reproductive-aged women with 100 repeated measures collected between October 2018 and February 2019. First-morning-void urine samples were collected four times for each woman during one menstrual cycle. Urinary VOC concentrations were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Results: Of 98 target VOCs measured in the urine samples, 36 VOCs were detected. We did not see statistically significant variations in VOC concentrations across the menstrual cycle. After multivariable adjustment, tampon users had significantly higher concentrations of 2-butanone (beta = 1.58 log ng/g, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16-3.00, p = 0.03) and methyl isobutyl ketone (beta = 0.63 log ng/g, 95% CI: 0.03-1.22, p = 0.04), compared with pad users. Higher n-nonane, benzene, and toluene estimated from menstrual products were associated with higher urinary concentrations in women. Conclusion: The use of FHPs during menses might be a potential source of VOCs. A larger cohort study is warranted to confirm our results and evaluate clinical implications" |
| Keywords: | Adult Cohort Studies Female Feminine Hygiene Products Humans Menstrual Cycle Pilot Projects *Volatile Organic Compounds endocrine-disrupting chemicals volatile organic compounds women; |
| Notes: | "MedlineDing, Ning Lin, Nan Batterman, Stuart Park, Sung Kyun eng P30 ES017885/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ R01 ES026964/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ T42 OH008455/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2021/09/08 J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2022 Feb; 31(2):210-218. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0153. Epub 2021 Sep 3" |
