Both messages warned her about the dangers of tampons. But it was scary. Butler is among 73 million American women who use tampons as part of their monthly health regimen. According to the Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1999, which calls for more research on tampon safety, tampons have accompanied women everywhere since they were introduced in the late 1920s. A woman might use 16,800 tampons in her life, according to certain statistics.
Some activist groups say tampons are harmful to a woman's health.
Tampons sold in the United States are made of cotton, rayon or blends of rayon and cotton. Some people are concerned about dioxins in these tampons because rayon is made from cellulose fibers derived from wood pulp and then bleached. When the wood pulp is bleached, it can lead to the presence of such dioxins in the materials. These dioxins can cause cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This was the main bleaching method used until the late 1980s.