#LetsTalk: TLI Members Respond To Why There Is Ignorance Over Health Hazards Of Sanitary Pads

A debate is going on social media to make sanitary napkins tax-free.

The idea looks great in the first instance but researching more into it, we will realise that it will only benefit the companies who are into sanitary napkins and middle-class people to a certain extent.

In the long term, it is dangerous for everyone including those who pick sanitary napkins.

There are 3 major concerns to using disposable sanitary napkins (DSNs):

1. Health hazards to the user due to the chemical cocktail involved (dioxin, furan, pesticides and other endocrine disruptors)
2. Environmental hazard due to non-biodegradable parts and chemical toxins – to every living being through direct handling, and indirectly through food chains
3. Social hazard due to the acceptability of disposables and shaming of reusables.

Recently, we asked The Logical Indian community: “Why is the idea of reusables – cloth, cloth pads, cloth pads with leak-proof layer and/or fasteners, period panties, microfibre pads, menstrual cups, etc. – not being widely accepted and what are the problems women face while making the transition from DSNs to reusables?”

These were the most noteworthy responses:

The entire debate can be read here.

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