Period underwear without biocides: This is what you should know.
Biocides are a controversial issue in the period underwear market. What are they? Are they harmful to your health? What does the research say? Why do some companies use them and others don't? What advantages can they have? We have summarised the most important facts for you and explained why we at femtis do not use biocides. Never have done and will not change in the future.
femtis does not use biocides for our period panties.
The vulva is the most sensitive and absorbent part of your body. We are therefore opposed to the use of biocides, as current research cannot provide clear information about their risks. Our panties can be machine washed in a washing net at a maximum of 60 degrees. For the longevity of the fabrics and the function of our period underwear, we recommend 40 degrees.
What are biocides and what are they used for?
Biocides (from the Greek bios = life and Latin caedere = to kill) are chemical substances that are intended to kill harmful organisms. They have nothing to do with bio, even if the term might suggest it. Biocides are used in everyday life in many household products such as insect sprays, ant bait cans, mold removal products, rat poisons, or wood preservatives. Meanwhile, many textiles also contain biocides such as silver chloride or zinc pythirion. Sportswear or even some period underwear are treated with these chemical substances. The biocides inhibit the ability of harmful organisms to multiply and are thus intended to counteract odour formation and ensure greater hygiene.
Are biocides harmful to human health?
Since biocides are chemicals, they are not entirely harmless to us humans. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) warns that biocides can lead to allergic reactions and affect bacterial flora. In addition, resistance to pathogens can develop. However, as there is still no knowledge about the influence of biocides on the bacterial flora in the intimate area, the experts advise against the use of period panties containing biocides. It is not yet clear whether biocides pose a direct risk to women. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has not yet conducted a health assessment of such underwear. Nevertheless, scientists advise against the use of chemical cytotoxins in hygiene articles.
Are products containing biocides checked before they go on the market?
The Federal Environment Agency checks whether these biocidal products and their active substances pose a risk to the environment. Only when this has been ruled out, the biocide can be authorised. Before a biocidal active substance or biocidal product can be authorised, an environmental risk assessment must be carried out. This is because biocides are potentially hazardous to the environment and to human and animal health. According to the European Biocide Regulation (528/2012), silver chloride is still in the approval process for various product types under the review program for existing active substances. Period underwear falls either under product type 2, when silver chloride is used to prevent the proliferation of potentially harmful microorganisms, or under product type 9 when silver chloride is intended to have an odour-inhibiting and/or antibacterial effect in textiles. Both product types are still under evaluation (as of January 2022).
Are biocides bad for the environment?
Environmental experts warn about the potential consequences of the biocides that are processed in the briefs. For example, with every wash, a small amount of the chemical substances can end up in waterways via sewage treatment plants, where they can harm aquatic organisms and fish. A study by the Swedish Water and Wastewater Association came to the conclusion that after 10 machine washes, an average of 70% of the added silver ends up in the wastewater. Not only nano-silver but also silver salts such as silver chloride wash out of textiles and end up in the environment. The consequences are still largely unclear. Regardless of whether nano-silver or silver salt: it is always the silver ion that is responsible for the biocidal effect.
Quellen
https://www.femtis.de/magazin/periodenunterwaesche-ohne-biozide
https://vattenbokhandeln.svensktvatten.se/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/report-silver_leaching_1107b.pdf
https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/chemikalien/biozide
https://rp-online.de/panorama/deutschland/periodenunterwaesche-nachhaltigkeit-anwendung-biozide-und-haltbarkeit_aid-65240997
https://utopia.de/ratgeber/periodenunterwaesche-wie-empfehlenswert-sind-period-panties/
https://peppermynta.de/fair-fashion/periodenunterwaesche-test-kritik-menstruationshoeschen-vergleich-nicht-empfehlenswert/
https://www.amazedmag.de/period-pants-vergleich-ooia-femtis-pourprees-kora-mikino/
https://www.rnd.de/lifestyle/periodenslips-experten-warnen-vor-bioziden-3RD6OX2O4HOSX7GX6LNO7UIXL4.html
https://ptaforum.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/biozide-in-periodenunterwaesche-130692/