The Precautionary Principle

1
The Precautionary Principle

• "When an activity raises threats of harm to human
  health or the environment, precautionary measures
  should be taken even if some cause and effect
  relationships are not fully established
  scientifically. In this context the proponent of
  an activity, rather than the public, should bear
  the burden of proof. The process of applying the
  precautionary principle must be open, informed
  and democratic and must include potentially
  affected parties. It must also involve an
  examination of the full range of alternatives,
  including no action." - Wingspread Statement on
  the Precautionary Principle, Jan. 1998

2
Procter and Gambles Rely
3
TSS Stats1979 and 1980Almost 1000 casesAt
least 45 Deaths
4
Robin Danielson Act
The bill directs the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) to conduct research to determine the
extent to which the presence of dioxin, synthetic
fibers, and other additives in tampons and
related products pose any health risks to women.
The legislation also asks the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) to collect and report information
on Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
5
FDAs Thoughts on the Robin Danielson Act
But from FDA's perspective, there is no
indication right now that such research is
necessary, Stratmeyer says. "We are not aware of
evidence that would call for a large-scale study
on tampons' relation to these diseases." Mel
Stratmeyer, Ph.D., chief of the Food and Drug
Administration's health sciences branch.
6
Overview of Health Problems

• 16,800 pads or tampons in lifetime
• Dioxin
• Chlorine gas---gtElemental chlorine-free
  bleaching
• no test guaranttees no levels of dioxin
• bioaccumulates, most sensitive, absorbent part
  of body
• manufacturing process releases dioxins into
  environment
• tests always provided by industry
• Rayon
• Artificial fibers (like rayon) used in tampons
  are abrasive, cause tiny cuts and imbeds pieces
  into tissue
• Traced as probable cause of TSS
• Can damage vaginal walls by causing ulceration
  and peeling of mucous membrane
• Alters pH balance and can lead to yeast
  infections
• TSS
• 25 of all insecticides used on cotton. Gin
  trash.

7
Environmental Problems
The tampon and pad manufacturing process releases
dioxins and other harmful chemicals into the
environment which pollute waterways and seep into
the food chain. Over 12 billion pads and 7
million tampons are used once and disposed of
annually, clogging our overburdened landfill
sites. (National Women's Health Network) An
average menstruator1 throws away 250 to 300
pounds of tampons, pads, and applicators in hir
lifetime. The great majority of these end up in
landfills or sewage treatment plants. Over
170,000 tampon applicators were collected along
U.S. coastal areas between 1998 and 1999. (from
the Center for Marine Conservation, info featured
in E Magazine, March/April Issue 2001) Tampons
are made from rayon, produced from wood pulp and
cotton, a heavy pesticide crop. 25 of all
insectisides are used on cotton. In
California, it has become illegal to feed the
leaves, stems, and short fibers of cotton known
as gin trash to livestock, because of the
concentrated levels of pesticide residue.
instead, this gin trash is used to make
furniture, mattresses, tampons, swabs, and cotton
balls. Five of the top nine pesticides used on
cotton in the U.S. (cyanide, dicofol, naled,
propargite, and trifluralin) are known
cancer-causing chemicals. All nine are classified
by the U.S. EPA as Category I and II-- the most
dangerous.
8
Sea Sponges
9
Cloth Pads
10
The Keeper