Traces of arsenic and lead found in tampons but potential health impacts unclear, U.S. study says [Video]

A new study out of the University of California, Berkeley has found small traces of arsenic, lead and other toxic metals in multiple brands of tampons.

The study, described by its authors as the first of its kind, was published last week in the scientific journal Environment International.

Researchers studied 30 tampons from 14 different brands sold in the U.S., U.K. and Greece and found limited amounts of lead in all types of the tampons. They ran tests for 16 types of metals: arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium and zinc.

“We detected all 16 metals in at least one sampled tampon, including some toxic metals like lead that has no ‘safe’ exposure level,” the researchers wrote.

However, they cautioned that tampon use is only a “potential source of metal exposure,” and more research is needed to assess any possible dangers. Researchers did not determine whether the metals can leach …