00:00In recent weeks, claims about chemicals allegedly hidden in sanitary pads have gone viral,
00:06leaving women asking a disturbing question. What exactly are we putting against our bodies
00:11every month and who is checking that it is safe? The conversation has already moved towards
00:16alternatives like reusable pads, menstrual cups, but should the burden be placed on women to change
00:22what they use? One group of chemicals at the center of this controversy is volatile organic
00:28compounds, otherwise known as VOCs. A 2024 study published in the Bayerial Journal of Pure and
00:35Applied Sciences analyzed 65 sanitary pad samples and identified 20 VOCs capable of posing health risk,
00:44including reproductive toxicity. However, these studies are chemical analysis and risk assessments.
00:52They do not by themselves prove that women using these products have developed cancer,
00:57infertility, kidney diseases, or other illnesses. These gaps are precisely why the response cannot
01:04simply be use another pad. The responsibility lies with the system that put these products in the
01:10hands of the consumers. Nigeria women do not need fear-driven alternatives. They need effective
01:16regulation and above all, they need accountability.
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