Read also"The Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1997,"
(H.R. 2900), U.S.A.
Read the comments of Dr. Philip Tierno, Jr., about the safety of menstrual products.
And, of course, the first Tampax AND - special
for you! - the American fax tampon,
from the early 1930s, which also came in bags.
See a Modess True or False? ad in The American
Girl magazine, January 1947, and actress Carol Lynley
in "How Shall I Tell My Daughter" booklet ad (1955) - Modess . . . . because ads (many dates).
 
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The Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1999,
H. R. 890, U.S.A.
(Read also"The Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1997,"
(H.R. 2900), U.S.A.)
See my discussion of this important legislation
in the U. S. Congress (actually, the previous, but similar, legislation
of 1997), and how
to find out who your congresswoman/man is
and call him or her - it's easy! Unless
you call, this bill could DIE!
"My bill would direct the National Institutes of Health to conduct
research to determine the extent to which the presence of dioxin, synthetic
fibers, and other additives in tampons and related menstruation products
pose any health risks to women. An NIH study would
mean that American women could depend on independent research, and not on
the word of research funded by tampon manufacturers."
[Excerpt from a statement by Congresswoman
Carolyn B. Maloney, Democratic representative of New York, upon introduction
of "The Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1997," (H.R. 2900),
November 11, 1997.]
Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1999 (Introduced in the House)
HR 890 IH
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
5H. R. 890
To provide for research to determine the extent to which the presence
of dioxin, synthetic fibers, and other additives in tampons and similar
products used by women with respect to menstruation pose any risks to the
health of women, including risks relating to cervical cancer, endometriosis,
infertility, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, immune system deficiencies,
pelvic inflammatory disease, and toxic shock syndrome, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 1, 1999
Mrs. MALONEY of New York
(for herself, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. BROWN of California,
Ms. NORTON, Mr. FORD, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. FROST, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island,
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. KILPATRICK, Ms. LEE, Mr. MATSUI, Mrs.
MCCARTHY
of New York, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. GEORGE MILLER
of
California, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. SHOWS,
Mrs.
THURMAN, and Mrs. JONES of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which
was
referred to the Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To provide for research to determine the extent to which the presence
of dioxin, synthetic fibers, and other additives in tampons and similar
products used by women with respect to menstruation pose any risks to the
health of women, including risks relating to cervical cancer, endometriosis,
infertility, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, immune system deficiencies,
pelvic inflammatory disease, and toxic shock syndrome, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1999'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Tampons are used by approximately 73,000,000 women in the United
States today, and the average woman may use as many as 16,800 tampons in
her lifetime. A woman on estrogen replacement therapy may use as many as
24,360 tampons in her lifetime.
(2) The Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency
for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization, have concluded
that dioxins are a probable human carcinogen (cancer causing agent)
(3) Dioxin is a byproduct of chlorine-bleaching processes used in the
manufacture of paper products, including tampons, sanitary pads, panty liners,
and diapers.
(4) While bleaching processes that do not produce dioxin in any amount
are available, most pulp and paper manufacturers, which produce the raw
materials used in tampons, currently use either elemental-chlorine or chlorine-dioxide
bleaching processes. Both of these bleaching processes use chlorine and
therefore produce dioxin.
(5) The effects of dioxin from various sources are cumulative and can
be measured 20 to 30 years after exposure. Women may be exposed to dioxin
in tampons and other menstrual products for as long as 60 years over the
course of their reproductive lives.
(6) Internal documents of the Food and Drug Administration suggest the
agency has not adequately investigated the danger of dioxin in tampons,
according to a 1992 staff report of a subcommittee of the Committee on Government
Operations of the House of Representatives.
(7) The Food and Drug Administration has historically relied on data
provided by manufacturers of feminine hygiene products in determining product
safety.
(8) Although the Food and Drug Administration currently requires tampon
manufacturers to monitor dioxin levels in their finished products, the information
is not readily available to the public.
(9) Recent studies have produced conflicting information about the link
between dioxin exposure and increased risks for endometriosis.
(10) The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that people with
high levels of exposure to dioxins may be at risk for other noncancer effects
that could suppress the immune system, increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory
disease, reduce fertility, and interfere with fetal and childhood development.
(11) An independent study in 1991 found that tampons commonly included
one or more of the following additives: Chlorine compounds, absorbency enhancers
(such as surfactants like polysorbate-20), natural and synthetic fibers
(such as cotton, rayon, polyester, and polyacrylate), deodorant, and fragrance.
(12) Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) has been linked to tampon use and the
absorbency of the tampon. TSS is a rare bacterial illness that occurs mostly
in menstruating women. During 1979 and 1980, the syndrome was responsible
for at least 55 deaths and 1,066 nonfatal cases.
(13) In response to a 1988 lawsuit, the Food and Drug Administration
has required tampons to be labeled with reference to an absorbency standard
(e.g., super tampons must absorb between 9 and 12 grams of liquid).
(14) Independent research has shown that synthetic fiber additives in
tampons amplify toxin production, which is associated with toxic shock syndrome.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH; RESEARCH ON DIOXIN PURSUANT TO
OFFICE OF RESEARCH ON WOMEN'S HEALTH.
Part F of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 287d
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following section:
`SEC. 486C. CERTAIN PROJECTS REGARDING WOMEN'S HEALTH.
(a) DIOXIN IN FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Director of NIH, in collaboration with the Director
of the Office, shall provide for the conduct or support of research to determine
the extent to which the presence of dioxin, synthetic fibers, and other
additives in tampons and other feminine hygiene products--
`(A) poses any risks to the health of women who use the products, including
risks relating to cervical cancer, endometriosis, infertility, ovarian cancer,
breast cancer, immune system deficiencies, pelvic inflammatory disease,
and toxic shock syndrome; and
`(B) poses any risks to the health of children of women who used such
products during or before the pregnancies involved, including risks relating
to fetal and childhood development.
`(2) REQUIREMENT REGARDING DATA FROM MANUFACTURERS- Research under paragraph
(1) shall include research to confirm the data on tampons and other feminine
hygiene products submitted to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs by manufacturers
of such products.
`(3) DEFINITION- For purposes of paragraph (1), the term `feminine hygiene
products' means tampons, pads, liners, and similar products used by women
with respect to menstruation or other genital-tract secretions.
`(b) REPORTS- Reports on the results of research under subsection (a)
shall be periodically submitted to the Congress, the Commissioner of Food
and Drugs, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and
the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Such reports shall
be made available to the public through the data system and clearinghouse
program established under section 486A, or through other appropriate means.'.
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See my discussion of this important legislation
in the U. S. Congress (actually, the previous, but similar, legislation
of 1997), and how
to find out who your congresswoman/man is
and call him or her - it's easy! Unless
you call, this bill could DIE! [Um, it's dead.]
© 2000 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute any
of the work on this Web site in any manner or medium without written permission
of the author. Please report suspected violations to hfinley@mum.org
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