Toxic Tampons? Lawmakers Unite to Demand Federal Oversight

Lawmakers from four states urge Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to investigate toxic chemicals in widely used health products.

A bipartisan coalition of 19 female lawmakers from Minnesota, New York, Utah, and Michigan is calling on U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take immediate federal action to investigate and regulate harmful chemicals found in menstrual products.

The effort is spearheaded by Minnesota State Senator Julia Coleman, who has been a vocal leader on the issue in her home state. At the center of the call is a demand for greater transparency, stronger regulation, and increased public education about the presence of PFAS—often referred to as “forever chemicals”—as well as lead, arsenic, and other toxic substances in products that millions of Americans use every month.

“These are products that are marketed as safe and trusted,” said Sen. Coleman. “But without ingredient disclosure or stronger oversight, people have no way of knowing what they’re actually using. No one should have to wonder if the products they count on for basic health and hygiene could be harmful.”

The letter to Secretary Kennedy calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate the prevalence of these chemicals in pads, tampons, and other menstrual products, collaborate with the FDA on regulation and ingredient disclosure, launch a national education campaign, and prioritize research into the long-term health impacts of exposure.

Sen. Coleman’s push builds on her authorship of Minnesota Senate File 376, a bill that would ban the sale of menstrual products containing intentionally added toxic chemicals and require full ingredient transparency. That legislation is now serving as a model for national policy discussions.

The lawmakers behind the letter represent a broad coalition of political perspectives, geography, and constituencies. The signatories include five lawmakers from Minnesota, five from New York, eight from Utah, and one from Michigan—underscoring the nationwide urgency of the issue.

Recent studies have uncovered alarming levels of PFAS, lead, and arsenic in commonly sold menstrual products. PFAS chemicals are particularly concerning due to their resistance to breaking down in the environment and their potential links to cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive harm. Lead and arsenic have been tied to neurological, developmental, and reproductive issues even at low levels of exposure.

The coalition argues that consumers are largely unaware of these risks due to lax federal oversight and the absence of mandatory ingredient disclosure. “Everyone deserves access to safe, non-toxic menstrual products—no matter their income, race, or zip code,” said Sen. Coleman. “We cannot ignore the clear risks posed by unregulated chemicals in products used by millions of Americans every day.”

Joining Coleman on the letter are Minnesota Senators Karin Housley, Oumou Verbeten, Erin Maye Quade, and Judy Seeberger; New York Senators Michelle Hinchey, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Shelley Mayer, Julia Salazar, and Liz Krueger; Michigan Senator Mallory McMorrow; and Utah Representatives Christine Watkins, Candice Pierucci, Katy Hall, Ariel Defay, Jill Koford, Melissa Garff Ballard, Kristen Chevrier, and Lisa Shephard.

The group is unified in its message: safe menstrual health products are a public health priority, and action must be taken now to protect consumers and ensure transparency.

The full letter has been submitted to Secretary Kennedy and is now under review by the Department of Health and Human Services.