PRETORIA – Government has announced that the presence of chemicals in sanitary products does not translate to harm.
At a press conference on Sunday, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said there is also no indication for a need to recall any sanitary products.
A study by the University of the Free State found endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in 16 popular menstrual products.
According to the university, the chemicals -- including phthalates, parabens and bisphenols -- can mimic hormones in the body’s endocrine system.
But Motsoaledi said despite the presence of EDCs, it remains safe to use sanitary pads because the levels of EDCs are low.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) is not aware of any cases globally that have resulted in the recall of sanitary products. Nobody can remove or withdraw EDCs completely. Their presence does not warrant removing products from the market,” Motsoaledi said.
He said WHO has been doing surveillance of EDCs for more than 100 years.
WHO’s Dr Richard Brown said this is a global issue.
“There is no clear evidence of harm from these products.”
Motsoaledi said the EDCs are unavoidable.
"Endocrine disrupting substance can occur naturally, but it can also be made by human beings. Now, the most important tick away message for today is that endocrine disrupting chemicals are said to be ubiquitous in science. This is a very difficult way, difficult to pronounce, ubiquitous. It means they are present, appearing or found everywhere. Everywhere where there are human beings, these chemicals are ever present.
“They ever appear and they are found everywhere. I want this message to be a take home message because a very important message. They are ever present in low concentrations, in various foodstuffs, in household products, in personal care and beauty products, cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioners, body lotions, lipsticks, which many of you are wearing today, clothing which all of us are wearing, electronics which many of you are carrying."