On the 5th, Professor Park Cheon-gwon from the Department of Global Biomedical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University announced the results of a comprehensive evaluation of the chemical safety and toxicity levels of commercially available sanitary napkins, conducted in collaboration with Professor Kim Joo-hee from the University of Hawaii and Professor Kim Se-na from Chungbuk National University.
The research team analyzed 29 types of sanitary napkins distributed domestically and internationally through various methods, including the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), detection of microplastics, and cytotoxicity assessments.
As a result, toluene was detected in many products at levels ranging from 0.09 to 2.79 µg per pad. Toluene is a volatile organic compound widely used in industry and can be harmful to health if repeatedly exposed to skin or mucous membranes. The researchers noted that while the levels are lower than existing industrial safety standards, more thorough reviews are necessary considering skin absorption characteristics and long-term usage environments.
Additionally, polypropylene (PP)-based microplastics were confirmed in all sanitary napkin products at a level of 6 to 115 pieces per pad, and in some products, small amounts of other microplastics such as polyester (PET) and polyethylene (PE) were also detected.
Cytotoxicity test results indicated that some sanitary napkins measured cell viability below 80%, showing moderate cytotoxicity, while some products labeled 'organic' did not show significant toxicity. This suggests that the types of chemicals used in manufacturing processes and the treatment methods can affect the toxicity levels of the products.
Professor Park Cheon-gwon emphasized, "This study is a significant result that raises awareness about the safety issues of hygiene products based on specific scientific data," and added, "For products that closely adhere to the skin for long periods, transparency of ingredients and verification of safety are essential."
The research results were published in the international journal 'Journal of Hazardous Materials' in the field of environmental hazard assessment and safety studies on Aug. 29.
References
Journal of Hazardous Materials (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139702