By Octavia
Part 2
They're hurting Us Down There!
Many menstruating women choose to wear sanitary pads throughout their cycle to contain the flow of blood. But, over the years, several studies have highlighted the perils of these menstrual hygiene products, cautioning that they not only harm the body, but also the environment, since they are single-use products that potentially contain plastic.
Joining a slew of studies conducted in India is a recent one titled ‘Wrapped in Secrecy: Toxic Chemicals in Menstrual Products‘, released by environmental NGO ‘Toxics Link’. According to a press release, the study has found the presence of toxic chemicals like phthalates and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in organic and inorganic sanitary pads that are sold in the Indian market.
Dr Uma Vaidyanathan, a gynecologist, said that women who use sanitary napkins need to keep in mind that the skin down there is "very thin and sensitive". "It tends to absorb these chemicals very fast"
What irritation is caused by sanitary pads? Conventionally grown cotton used for the pad contains pesticides and herbicides which stay on the cotton long after it has been harvested. Side effects of exposure include infertility, diabetes, and endometriosis.
Pad rash is usually caused by excessive friction or sweat whilst wearing a pad. Most pads on the market are made from unnatural materials that aren't breathable and include nasty chemicals like bleach & plastic.
Mary Beatrice Davidson – Inventor Of The Sanitary Pad
What did she invent?
Mary invented a number of things that improved the lives of women and people who needed extra assistance.
Her most famous invention was a sanitary belt attached to a pocket that was moisture proof.
She invented the belt first and patented the moisture proof pocket later.
There were not very many options for women who were menstruating back in the day. They used wads of cloth or rags, and it wasn’t advisable to leave the house. There were tampons, but it was considered scandalous to use them. Mary’s invention addressed the problem.
She added a cloth pouch with a moisture proof seal that attached to the belt. You put rags or cotton into the pouch. It was the pocket for padding and the moisture proof seal that made it revolutionary. Mary Beatrice Davidson had invented the first generation of what would eventually be called the sanitary pad or napkin.
It meant you could actually go out in public without fear of getting blood everywhere.
When she first patented it, a company sent a representative down to speak to her. When they found out she was black, they lost interest. It was 30 years before anyone picked up the patent and started manufacturing them.
The information contained on our website are for informational purposes only.
Bibliography ~ see the Bibliography Section for a full list of the references used in the making of this Object Group.
Mary Beatrice Davidson – Inventor Of The Sanitary Pad
By: Vern L. Bullough Signs, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Spring, 1985), pp. 615-627 The University of Chicago Press
Curated by Prerna Mittra New Delhi | November 23, 2022https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/use-sanitary-pads-new-study-presence-cancer-causing-toxins-reproductive-health-8283674/
https://www.si.edu/spotlight/health-hygiene-and-beauty/feminine-hygiene-products
Freidenfelds, Lara. The Modern Period: Menstruation in Twentieth-century America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009.
Johnson, Emma. “Can These Panties Disrupt a 15 Billion Feminine Hygiene Market?” Forbes. Accessed May 6, 2016. https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmajohnson/2015/05/28/can-these-panties-disrupt-a-15-billion-feminine-hygiene-market/#6ed1444d6b78
Stalheim, T., S. Ballance, B. E. Christensen, and P. E. Granum. “Sphagnan – a Pectin-like Polymer Isolated from Sphagnum Moss Can Inhibit the Growth of Some Typical Food Spoilage and Food Poisoning Bacteria by Lowering the pH.” Journal of Applied Microbiology 106, no. 3 (March 1, 2009): 967–76. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04057.x.
Vostral, Sharra L. “Rely and Toxic Shock Syndrome: A Technological Health Crisis.” The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 84, no. 4 (December 2011): 447–59.
Vostral, Sharra L. Under Wraps: A History of Menstrual Hygiene Technology. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2008.
Comments