Traces of tampons could be in drinking water, as 2.4 million flushed daily

Hannah Millington
·Health & Wellness Reporter
·3-min read
Water tampons. (Getty Images)
Are you contributing to traces of tampons found in drinking water? (Getty Images)

Did you know there could be traces of tampons in your drinking water? New analysis by menstrual cup company Asan warns Brits are drinking 'medium-risk' tap water due to the excessive flushing of tampons.

With as many as 2.4 million tampons being flushed everyday in the UK, contributing to more than 300,000 sewer blockages every year at a repair cost of £100m, according to phs, Asan is urging Brits to consider the damage they are causing.

More than half of women are actually unaware tampons shouldn't be flushed down the toilet in the first place, while those who do know do it anyway, the recent phs report revealed. Many who choose to do so because of 'period shame', with 41% of individuals flushing them to hide their period and 24% because it's deemed 'less embarrassing'.

"It's sad that discussing periods remains a big taboo, to the extent that we don't even question what's in our period products," says Ira Guha, founder of Asan.

Previous research from Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), The Guardian, and Watershed Investigations, showed human-made chemicals like PFAS (or 'forever chemicals') have been detected in the drinking water sources at 17 of England's 18 water companies. And these potentially toxic chemicals are widely used in everyday products, including tampons and other period products, Asan points out.

Tampon toilet (Getty Images).
We need to remove the taboo causing people to hide their tampons by flushing them down the toilet. (Getty Images)

Tampons that don't contain plastic can disintegrate in six months, while those that do (90% of them), can take up to 800 years to decompose, Asan warns.

"We're on a mission to spread awareness about menstrual health and empower women to make healthier and more sustainable choices," adds Guha.

For a reminder of how you or others should be disposing of tampons, Guha explains, "Proper tampon disposal is simple: wrap your used tampon in toilet paper and throw it in the bin – never flush them! This keeps things clean, prevents plumbing issues, and protects the environment.

"The same goes for applicators, whether cardboard or plastic. Just wrap them up and toss them in the bin! Cardboard applicators are more biodegradable, breaking down faster than plastic. Opting for organic, chemical-free, and compostable tampons is a great choice for users seeking a healthier and more sustainable option.

"For an even more eco-friendly approach, consider reusable products like menstrual cups, also known as period cups."

A Water UK spokesperson said: "Every single day, as independently verified, water companies in the UK provide the highest standard of drinking water in the world to more than 28 million homes and businesses. Nearly four million tests are carried out every year, with well over 99.9% of samples meeting strict Government testing."

The trade association for the water industry would support the UK Government in exploring new targets and funding to tackle sources of pollution that end up in the water system. In Europe, for example, the EU has passed new legislation targeted at pharmaceutical producers. The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive places new requirements on pharmaceutical companies.

The law introduces 'extended producer responsibility' (EPR) which will see pharmaceutical producers contribute a minimum of 80% of the costs for quaternary treatment to remove micropollutants.

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