Dioxin and furan levels found in tampons.
BACKGROUND
Human exposure to dioxins and furans through diet and other sources has been of concern for many years. One specific concern, related to exposure in women's health, is the possible link to endometriosis. Although there are differences in opinion about this link, the concern from the public is real. Congressional interest has prompted investigations to determine the amounts of dioxins and furans present in feminine hygiene products available within the United States.


METHODS
Tampon samples were analyzed via Gas Chromatography/High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (GC/HRMS) using a Micromass AutoSpec Ultima high resolution mass spectrometer at 10,000 mass resolution. As data were confirmed and quantified using direct isotope dilution, only the 17 2,3,7,8-chlorine-containing dioxin and furan concentrations were calculated from these analyses.


RESULTS
A total toxic equivalence (TEQ), using the World Health Organization's toxic equivalency factor (TEF) values, was calculated for each sample. The calculated TEQs for samples were not statistically different from those of the calculated TEQs using the average limit of detection (LOD) values.


CONCLUSIONS
Data show results similar to those reported by DeVito and Schecter (Environ Health Perspect 2002;110:23) in that most of the dioxins and furans were below the detection limit or estimated detection limits (EDLs).
Archer
Jeffrey C
JC
Food and Drug Administration, Arkansas Regional Laboratory, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA.
Mabry-Smith
Ronald
R
Shojaee
Sina
S
Threet
Jimmy
J
Eckert
John J
JJ
Litman
Vincent E
VE
D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D052576:Menstrual Hygiene Products / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health
D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005663:Furans; C039281:furan