0:00:00.000,0:00:03.149
Menstruation. Your Period. Aunt Flo.

0:00:03.149,0:00:05.329
Women’s Trouble. That Time of The Month.

0:00:05.329,0:00:09.389
Coming Into Womanhood. The Crimson Wave. [br]The Red Badge of Courage.

0:00:09.389,0:00:12.240
Flying Your Colors. The Invasion of the Red Army.

0:00:12.240,0:00:15.120
Riding the Cotton Pony. Full Stop.

0:00:15.500,0:00:20.520
I have a feeling I may have lost the[br]male demographic already…

0:00:20.670,0:00:24.390
For something so little discussed,[br]it has so many names.

0:00:24.390,0:00:26.980
Menstruation has long been taboo across many[br]cultures,

0:00:26.980,0:00:28.630
with women’s cycles regarded

0:00:28.630,0:00:31.020
as everything from inconvenient to unclean.

0:00:31.020,0:00:32.380
With the creation and evolution[br]

0:00:32.380,0:00:34.540
of various[br]feminine hygiene products

0:00:34.540,0:00:38.509
a term which itself frames women[br]as being in need of sanitation,

0:00:38.509,0:00:40.450
the big red taboo remains,

0:00:40.450,0:00:42.780
only now with brightly colored packaging

0:00:42.780,0:00:45.280
and laughably unrealistic advertisements

0:00:45.280,0:00:47.970
of blissfully happy menstruating women.

0:00:47.970,0:00:50.220
With the introduction[br]of tampons in the 1930s

0:00:50.220,0:00:53.959
a new level of freedom was afforded[br]to menstruating women everywhere.

0:00:53.959,0:00:55.919
Or so they were told

0:00:55.919,0:00:57.760
Underneath the sanitized imagery[br]

0:00:57.760,0:01:00.760
of these apparently revolutionary devices

0:01:00.760,0:01:03.949
remains the inter-related[br]and oft-neglected question:

0:01:03.949,0:01:06.309
Are tampons vegan?

0:01:06.309,0:01:08.560
And are they even safe?

0:01:12.430,0:01:14.430
Hi it’s Emily from Bite Size Vegan

0:01:14.430,0:01:16.410
and welcome to another vegan nugget.

0:01:16.410,0:01:18.530
When I started researching[br]for this topic,

0:01:18.530,0:01:20.430
I figured it would be [br]a relatively simple video

0:01:20.430,0:01:21.650
to throw together.

0:01:21.650,0:01:22.910
Twenty plus hours later,

0:01:22.910,0:01:26.499
I found myself deep in a [br]US patent document from 1997,

0:01:26.499,0:01:30.999
tracing down various horrific[br]tampon safety experiments from the 1980s.

0:01:30.999,0:01:33.319
Starting with[br]the obligatory Google search,

0:01:33.319,0:01:37.089
I found a lot of people asking [br]about the vegan status of tampons,

0:01:37.089,0:01:40.650
but only uncertainty[br]and vague supposition in response.

0:01:40.650,0:01:43.030
Certainly they couldn’t[br]be tested on animals.

0:01:43.030,0:01:45.219
I mean, how would that even work?

0:01:45.219,0:01:49.269
As I dug further into the legal history [br]of tampon regulation and litigation,

0:01:49.279,0:01:54.049
I realized that this video needed to[br]encompass more than a simple yes or no.

0:01:54.049,0:01:57.060
Today we’ll be looking at three[br]inter-connected aspects of the

0:01:57.060,0:02:00.860
tampon issue: women’s health,[br]animal testing, and environmental

0:02:00.860,0:02:04.550
impact, though this topic bleeds[br]into many other areas as well...

0:02:04.550,0:02:06.690
couldn't help myself...

0:02:06.690,0:02:09.180
including important women's[br]rights issues.

0:02:09.180,0:02:11.698
We’ll spend a good bit of time[br]on the health aspect

0:02:11.698,0:02:14.768
because it lays the groundwork[br]for both the animal testing

0:02:14.768,0:02:16.789
and environmental impact aspects,

0:02:16.789,0:02:20.500
and is incredibly vital information[br]for women and girls to have.

0:02:20.500,0:02:24.700
You can find chapter markers[br]for navigation in the video description.

0:02:24.700,0:02:28.200
I will have a list of resources,[br]along with citations to everything I state,

0:02:28.200,0:02:31.960
available on the blog post for this video[br]if you want to delve deeper.

0:02:31.960,0:02:35.870
This is a rich and complex subject[br]that one could spend a week

0:02:35.870,0:02:38.960
every month investigating[br]and still have more to learn.

0:02:39.510,0:02:40.959
Moving on…

0:02:40.959,0:02:44.880
Feminine hygiene products are marketed as[br]synonymous with feminine health.

0:02:44.880,0:02:48.980
But are they, and tampons in particular,[br]really in a woman’s best interest?

0:02:48.980,0:02:53.029
When it comes to the health impact[br]of tampons there are three main variables:

0:02:53.029,0:02:56.740
the ingredients, the absorbency level,[br]and the bleaching process.

0:02:56.740,0:03:00.109
Each of these relates[br]to two main health concerns:

0:03:00.109,0:03:02.579
Toxic Shock Syndrome [br]and dioxin exposure.

0:03:02.579,0:03:05.259
To address each of these,[br]we need a brief history

0:03:05.259,0:03:07.239
of the little cotton rockets.

0:03:07.419,0:03:11.649
Things have come a long way since [br]the belted-on cotton rag contraptions of old,

0:03:11.649,0:03:14.169
but really, tampons aren’t as new[br]as you may think.

0:03:14.169,0:03:16.860
Introduced commercially[br]in Europe in the 1930s,

0:03:16.860,0:03:21.610
they didn’t reach wide acceptance in the[br]United States until around 1974,

0:03:21.610,0:03:24.020
due to puritanical concerns[br]that they threatened

0:03:24.020,0:03:25.980
the integrity of a woman’s virginity. [br]

0:03:25.980,0:03:28.280
In 1974, Procter and Gable

0:03:28.280,0:03:32.030
released the Rely brand tampon[br]and American women joined

0:03:32.030,0:03:35.330
their European counterparts[br]in revolutionizing that time of the month.

0:03:35.330,0:03:40.299
Because what woman doesn’t want[br]“an assurance of daintiness [she’s] never known before”

0:03:40.299,0:03:44.979
while doubled over in pain as her uterus[br]plays out its personal Armageddon?

0:03:45.750,0:03:50.200
As early as 1975, anecdotal evidence arose[br]connecting Toxic Shock Syndrome

0:03:50.200,0:03:51.360
to tampon use.

0:03:51.360,0:03:56.040
Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS, is a rare[br]but potentially fatal medical condition

0:03:56.040,0:03:59.860
caused by toxins produced[br]by a bacterium and characterized

0:03:59.860,0:04:03.019
by fever, headache, nausea[br]and vomiting, diarrhea, confusion,

0:04:03.019,0:04:07.630
low blood pressure, rash, and sometimes[br]seizures, among other symptoms.

0:04:07.630,0:04:11.260
Regardless of this disturbing connection [br]to their products, tampon companies

0:04:11.260,0:04:15.230
didn’t investigate for five years,[br]and only then when confronted

0:04:15.230,0:04:19.250
by the Center for Disease Control[br]and forced to pay damages to affected women.

0:04:19.250,0:04:22.600
Finding the companies had literally [br]no information about the effects

0:04:22.600,0:04:25.700
of their products on vaginal physiology [br]and microbiology,

0:04:25.700,0:04:29.860
the CDC undertook it’s own tests[br]and within 3-4 weeks

0:04:29.860,0:04:33.850
had established that TSS was caused[br]by a particular toxin secreted

0:04:33.850,0:04:37.780
by a particular bacterial strain[br]known as staphylococcus aureus.

0:04:37.780,0:04:41.290
In the summer of 1980, [br]the CDC recommended warnings be issued

0:04:41.290,0:04:45.240
with tampons, a regulation which[br]went into formal effect in 1982

0:04:45.240,0:04:47.770
and remains today,[br]as well as cautioned women

0:04:47.770,0:04:52.150
that if they wanted to avoid [br]the risk of TSS, to stop using tampons.

0:04:52.150,0:04:56.000
The CDC report also found that Procter and[br]Gamble’s Rely tampons

0:04:56.000,0:04:58.250
carried the highest risk for TSS.

0:04:58.250,0:05:01.390
Rely tampons were uniquely composed[br]of carboxymethylcellulose

0:05:01.390,0:05:03.680
and compressed beads[br]of polyester

0:05:03.680,0:05:06.970
while other companies [br]utilized a blend of cotton and rayon.

0:05:06.970,0:05:11.630
“It’s totally different from any other[br]tampon. See Rely is made of two materials.

0:05:11.630,0:05:16.410
Each has advantages of its own, [br]but combined, they’re even better.”

0:05:16.600,0:05:20.870
Originally tampons were 100% cotton, [br]but in an effort to combat leakage,

0:05:20.870,0:05:24.390
companies increased absorbency[br]by introducing blends of synthetic fibers

0:05:24.390,0:05:29.890
including polyester, polyacrylate rayon,[br]carboxymehtylcellulose and viscose rayon.

0:05:29.890,0:05:33.950
With the rise of TSS cases,[br]all but cotton and rayon were phased out.

0:05:33.950,0:05:36.350
While the Food and Drug Administration[br]insists that rayon is safe.

0:05:36.350,0:05:39.690
experts like Dr. Philip Tierno,[br]director of microbiology

0:05:39.690,0:05:43.380
and diagnostic immunology at New York[br]University Medical Center,

0:05:43.380,0:05:47.480
insists that 100% cotton tampons[br]present the lowest risk.

0:05:47.480,0:05:50.050
But before you run out to purchase[br]a small cotton plantation

0:05:50.050,0:05:54.020
for residence in your nether regions,[br]it’s important to note that cotton

0:05:54.020,0:05:59.560
is the dirtiest crop on the planet,[br]occupying only 2.4% of the world’s cropland

0:05:59.560,0:06:03.500
but using 16-25% of the world’s pesticides.

0:06:03.500,0:06:07.380
Aldicarb, for example, a pesticide commonly[br]used in cotton production,

0:06:07.380,0:06:10.770
is so toxic that a single drop[br]absorbed through the skin

0:06:10.770,0:06:14.230
can kill an adult human.[br]And let’s not forget Lauren Wasser,

0:06:14.230,0:06:17.460
the model who at 24 years old had[br]her right leg amputated

0:06:17.460,0:06:21.060
due to Toxic Shock Syndrome[br]contracted from Kotex Natural Balance.

0:06:21.060,0:06:23.100
cotton tampons.[br]Though she’s now

0:06:23.100,0:06:26.330
she's doing excellent work challenging[br]and redefining beauty standards.

0:06:26.330,0:06:28.790
But tampon ingredients[br]aren’t the only factor.

0:06:28.790,0:06:31.790
In 1980 two influential studies[br]were published

0:06:31.790,0:06:34.040
which indicated that[br]tampon absorbency rating

0:06:34.040,0:06:37.350
was a greater risk factor for TSS[br]than tampon ingredients,

0:06:37.350,0:06:40.060
with the risk rising[br]with absorbency level.

0:06:40.060,0:06:44.800
The FDA sprung into action[br]and four years later proposed the creation

0:06:44.800,0:06:47.910
of federal regulations [br]for absorbency standards.

0:06:47.910,0:06:51.230
After only another five years[br]of lively back and forth

0:06:51.230,0:06:55.000
with industry leaders, the FDA finally[br]released their ruling

0:06:55.000,0:06:58.210
for “Ranges of Absorbency Labeling”[br]for menstrual tampons

0:06:58.210,0:07:03.160
on October 26th, 1989.[br]Made it in under a decade.

0:07:03.160,0:07:04.530
Well done.

0:07:05.000,0:07:09.070
While women could now take comfort in the[br]uniformity of tampon absorbency levels,

0:07:09.070,0:07:12.100
it was still impossible for them [br]to know exactly what they

0:07:12.100,0:07:13.930
were putting in their bodies.

0:07:13.930,0:07:16.770
As early as 1982, [br]the FDA was asked to require

0:07:16.770,0:07:20.560
ingredient labeling for tampons[br]due to growing customer concerns.

0:07:20.560,0:07:24.780
But despite the advice of its own[br]Obstetrics-Gynecology Devices Panel,

0:07:24.780,0:07:28.740
it refused to do so.[br]For a product that has such prolonged

0:07:28.740,0:07:31.990
and intimate contact with one of[br]the most sensitive and absorbent

0:07:31.990,0:07:34.850
part of the body, [br]the nondisclosure of ingredients

0:07:34.850,0:07:36.370
is unsettling at best.

0:07:36.370,0:07:39.810
Because the FDA classifies tampons[br]as medical devices, companies

0:07:39.810,0:07:43.270
are under no obligation to reveal[br]what’s in their tampons.

0:07:43.270,0:07:45.950
Which leads us[br]to the second major health concern:

0:07:45.950,0:07:48.640
dioxin exposure in relation[br]to the bleaching process

0:07:48.640,0:07:50.190
of tampon production.

0:07:50.190,0:07:52.670
Dioxins are a group[br]of chemically-related compounds

0:07:52.670,0:07:54.990
that are persistent environmental[br]pollutants

0:07:54.990,0:07:58.500
which, due to their fat solubility, [br]accumulate and remain in the body

0:07:58.500,0:08:00.490
for 7-11 years.

0:08:00.490,0:08:04.470
According to the World Health[br]organization, “dioxins are highly toxic

0:08:04.470,0:08:06.800
and can cause reproductive[br]and developmental problems,

0:08:06.800,0:08:11.390
damage the immune system, interfere[br]with hormones and also cause cancer.”

0:08:11.390,0:08:15.560
While the majority of dioxins people come[br]into contact with are through meat, dairy,

0:08:15.560,0:08:18.860
fish and shellfish consumption,[br]they are also a byproduct

0:08:18.860,0:08:22.720
of the chlorine bleaching process[br]used in the manufacture of paper products,

0:08:22.720,0:08:24.800
including the rayon in tampons.

0:08:24.800,0:08:29.700
In 1987, an FDA scientist stated that, “It[br]is critical to an adequate risk assessment

0:08:29.700,0:08:33.230
that the level of dioxins in tampons,[br]sanitary pads, diapers,

0:08:33.230,0:08:34.740
and other medical devices be measured.

0:08:34.740,0:08:38.569
The capacity to measure such levels[br]exists within FDA.

0:08:38.569,0:08:39.929
Extraction data for dioxin[br]from these products...

0:08:39.929,0:08:43.039
would improve the accuracy[br]of any risk assessment.”

0:08:43.039,0:08:46.549
Yet the FDA again refused the advice[br]of its own people,

0:08:46.549,0:08:50.219
saying there wasn’t adequate data[br]on dioxins to warrant labeling.

0:08:50.219,0:08:54.619
Later in 1990, along with the EPA[br]and Consumer Product Safety Commission,

0:08:54.619,0:08:58.239
the FDA authored a study of risks[br]related to products containing

0:08:58.239,0:09:02.509
chlorine-bleached wood pulp and found[br]the dioxin levels to be negligible.

0:09:02.509,0:09:05.729
However, numerous specialists[br]disagreed with their conclusion.

0:09:05.729,0:09:10.280
One particularly firm voice was that of[br]House Representative Carolyn B. Maloney,

0:09:10.280,0:09:14.580
who introduced a bill on November 7, 1997[br]proposing an act entitled

0:09:14.580,0:09:18.119
“The Tampon Safety[br]and Research Act of 1997.”

0:09:18.119,0:09:21.489
The act “provided for research[br]to determine the extent to which

0:09:21.489,0:09:25.310
the presence of dioxin, synthetic fibers,[br]and other additives in menstrual

0:09:25.310,0:09:28.360
tampons pose any risk to [br]the health of women.”

0:09:28.360,0:09:32.039
Sadly, Maloney’s act was not passed.[br]But, ever persistent,

0:09:32.039,0:09:34.259
she resubmitted it in 1999,

0:09:34.259,0:09:35.300
2003,

0:09:35.300,0:09:36.540
2005,

0:09:36.540,0:09:37.426
2008,

0:09:37.426,0:09:38.384
2011,

0:09:38.384,0:09:39.082
2014

0:09:39.082,0:09:40.791
and 2015,

0:09:40.791,0:09:45.960
now calling it “The Robin Danielson Act,”[br]after a woman who died from TSS in 1998.

0:09:45.960,0:09:49.680
An important element of Maloney’s[br]argument remains that the FDA itself

0:09:49.680,0:09:53.010
doesn’t monitor dioxin levels, [br]but rather relies on companies

0:09:53.010,0:09:55.330
to self-monitor and submit reports.

0:09:55.330,0:09:58.740
Because if ever there were someone[br]the honor system was made for,

0:09:58.740,0:10:02.260
it’s faceless multi-billion[br]dollar corporations!

0:10:02.260,0:10:06.600
The dioxin levels found to be negligible[br]by these organizations are based

0:10:06.600,0:10:08.870
on one tampon, [br]negating the accumulation

0:10:08.870,0:10:09.900
within the body.

0:10:09.900,0:10:12.660
Maloney compares this to [br]basing the health risks of smoking

0:10:12.660,0:10:14.250
on one cigarette.

0:10:14.250,0:10:18.270
While tampon companies have moved from[br]the original chlorine gas bleaching methods

0:10:18.270,0:10:21.569
to either elemental chlorine-free[br]bleaching or totally

0:10:21.569,0:10:25.209
chlorine-free bleaching, [br]most manufacturers use the former,

0:10:25.209,0:10:27.399
which still produces dioxins.

0:10:27.399,0:10:30.649
Now know what you must be thinking. [br]“Okay, okay, I get it!

0:10:30.649,0:10:34.859
Tampons are toxic, infection-filled[br]cancer sticks for my naughty bits.

0:10:34.859,0:10:36.569
It’s a tamponspiracy!

0:10:36.569,0:10:40.509
But what’s that got to do with[br]veganism?” I’m so glad you asked.

0:10:40.509,0:10:42.449
Well, with all the aforementioned[br]safety issues,

0:10:42.449,0:10:46.549
scientists of course realized that[br]the only way to keep women safe

0:10:46.549,0:10:49.920
from the great white threat[br]was to torture and kill mice, rabbits,

0:10:49.920,0:10:53.619
chickens, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs,[br]monkeys, sheep, goats and baboons.

0:10:53.619,0:10:57.350
Because nothing says feminine daintiness[br]like brutal vivisection.

0:10:58.400,0:11:01.979
While I’ve always had to dig down[br]several layers to get to the substantial

0:11:01.979,0:11:06.419
studies when I’ve researched animal testing[br]for particular products like medication,

0:11:06.419,0:11:09.410
cigarettes or what have you,[br]there’s always been some readily

0:11:09.410,0:11:13.550
accessible information with which to start.[br]This was not the case with tampons.

0:11:13.550,0:11:18.460
Outside of questions and debates on vegan[br]forums and a totally uncited excerpt

0:11:18.460,0:11:22.029
posted and reposted on vegan tumblrs,[br]I couldn’t find specific information

0:11:22.029,0:11:25.250
on how or even if tampons[br]are tested on animals.

0:11:25.250,0:11:30.000
However, much like nature’s gift to women,[br]I’m nothing if not persistent.

0:11:30.000,0:11:31.999
I eventually found my way[br]to a document for

0:11:31.999,0:11:36.819
US Patent number 5641503 A[br]for additives to tampons,

0:11:36.819,0:11:41.449
filed on January 13th, 1995 and published[br]June 24th, 1997, on behalf

0:11:41.449,0:11:47.349
of Mcneil-Ppc, Inc, owned by the more[br]widely known Johnson & Johnson.

0:11:47.349,0:11:49.530
This document described[br]several experiments,

0:11:49.530,0:11:53.620
giving me just enough to search[br]out the original papers as a starting place.

0:11:53.620,0:11:57.390
Now I’m not sure the difficulty of finding[br]such studies was purposeful

0:11:57.390,0:12:00.690
but it was certainly in the best interest[br]of tampon producers everywhere.

0:12:00.690,0:12:03.079
I’ll briefly describe some[br]choice examples

0:12:03.079,0:12:06.639
of the very un-vegan side of tampons,[br]but do refer to the blog post

0:12:06.639,0:12:09.639
for links to additional[br]and more thorough examples.

0:12:09.639,0:12:11.660
And I won’t be showing anything graphic.

0:12:11.660,0:12:14.419
The studies were hard enough[br]to find let alone photos.

0:12:14.419,0:12:16.669
To start, almost every experiment[br]I encountered,

0:12:16.669,0:12:20.979
whether using live animals or not,[br]at least employed the use of rabbits’ blood

0:12:20.979,0:12:25.289
and either bovine brain heart agar,[br]which is exactly what it sounds like,

0:12:25.289,0:12:29.149
or some sort of beef heart medium,[br]with several also employing

0:12:29.149,0:12:32.230
sheep erythrocytes,[br]and one using fetal calf serum.

0:12:32.230,0:12:37.160
A rather unique study incubated fertilized[br]hen’s eggs for 11 days and then injected

0:12:37.160,0:12:42.410
the live chicken embryos with Toxic Shock[br]Syndrome Toxin One, knows as TSST-1.

0:12:42.410,0:12:47.439
The embryos were then “examined[br]for death 24 hours after the injection.”

0:12:47.439,0:12:50.780
Rabbit models for tampon safety[br]come in several variations.

0:12:50.780,0:12:54.700
Some rabbits received multiple[br]intradermal injections into their backs

0:12:54.700,0:13:00.499
of the TSS toxin over a period of 7 weeks[br]at which point “the rabbits were bled.”

0:13:00.499,0:13:03.379
One experiment described[br]strapping the rabbits into a rack

0:13:03.379,0:13:06.270
for four hours to acclimate them[br]so they’d fight less

0:13:06.270,0:13:08.170
when restrained for injection.

0:13:08.170,0:13:11.839
Then their “deaths were recorded[br]and surviving rabbits were observed after

0:13:11.839,0:13:15.709
four days for gross myocardial[br]and liver necrosis.” Some were also

0:13:15.709,0:13:19.680
given endotoxins “to determine[br]their susceptibility to lethal shock.”

0:13:19.680,0:13:23.809
Other methods implanted subcutaneous[br]diffusion chambers under the rabbits’ skin

0:13:23.809,0:13:25.639
for a steady release of toxins.

0:13:25.639,0:13:29.089
One such experiment included[br]that their diffusion chambers were made

0:13:29.089,0:13:31.779
of “perforated polyethylene gold balls.”

0:13:31.779,0:13:34.900
Yet other rabbits had four[br]diffusion chambers implanted

0:13:34.900,0:13:38.630
in their uteruses, releasing toxins[br]directly into their wombs.

0:13:38.630,0:13:41.009
The chambers were “recovered[br]at the time of death

0:13:41.009,0:13:44.220
or after 14 days[br]when the experiment was terminated,”

0:13:44.220,0:13:47.489
at which time all remaining rabbits[br]were killed and dissected.

0:13:47.489,0:13:51.360
Some rabbits endured the repeated[br]vaginal insertion of actual tampons

0:13:51.360,0:13:54.450
laced with live TSST positive bacteria.

0:13:54.450,0:13:58.079
In one such experiment,[br]rabbits had an infected tampon inserted

0:13:58.079,0:14:01.760
and left for four hours before having it[br]removed and the process repeated

0:14:01.760,0:14:04.280
with a sterile tampon,[br]and then again with a third

0:14:04.280,0:14:09.209
that was left in for 14-16 hours[br]to simulate overnight usage.

0:14:09.209,0:14:12.459
Menstruation was simulated[br]by injecting a mixture of rabbit blood

0:14:12.459,0:14:15.479
and bovine serum albumin[br]into the rabbits’ vaginas

0:14:15.479,0:14:17.169
once the tampons were in place.

0:14:17.169,0:14:21.079
Perhaps the most bizarre iteration[br]was an experiment where tampons

0:14:21.079,0:14:25.850
were inserted subcutaneously into the[br]tissue on the back of the rabbits’ necks.

0:14:25.850,0:14:28.769
The forced vaginal insertion[br]of toxin-laced tampons

0:14:28.769,0:14:32.339
was also inflicted upon baboons,[br]with one experiment leaving them in

0:14:32.339,0:14:35.449
for twelve hours at a time[br]“to allow for additional growth

0:14:35.449,0:14:40.240
of staphylococcus aureus and TSST-1[br]production within the vaginal cavity.”

0:14:40.240,0:14:44.430
Guinea pigs also received intravaginal[br]innoculations of the TSS toxin

0:14:44.430,0:14:47.820
and other associated strains[br]in an experiment carried out

0:14:47.820,0:14:51.279
at a University 15 minutes[br]from where I currently live.

0:14:51.419,0:14:55.309
One report used terminology[br]I’ve never before seen in a scientific paper

0:14:55.309,0:14:58.059
stating that the rabbits[br]who hadn’t already died

0:14:58.059,0:15:02.549
were “sacrificed” for dissection,[br]a term which actually captures

0:15:02.549,0:15:05.279
rather simply the main[br]argument for animal testing.

0:15:05.279,0:15:08.539
Namely that it’s a necessary sacrifice[br]for the greater good.

0:15:08.539,0:15:11.819
I have an entire video series[br]on animal testing delving into

0:15:11.819,0:15:14.489
this argument and more,[br]but a summary review

0:15:14.489,0:15:17.720
on Toxic Shock Syndrome research[br]from within the scientific community

0:15:17.720,0:15:21.409
itself and one that’s in favor[br]of continued experimentation,

0:15:21.409,0:15:23.209
says it better than I ever could:

0:15:23.209,0:15:27.810
“That S. aureus strains produce[br]a wide number of extracellular products…

0:15:27.810,0:15:31.019
which cause severe biologic effects[br]in some animals makes it difficult

0:15:31.019,0:15:35.049
to confirm that the symptoms noted[br]in animals given TSST-1 or infected

0:15:35.049,0:15:40.079
with TSST-1-producing strains are[br]specific for TSS in humans.”

0:15:40.079,0:15:43.189
Basically meaning because these are mice,[br]rabbits, rats, hamsters,

0:15:43.189,0:15:46.979
guinea pigs, monkeys, sheep,[br]goats, and baboons, and not humans,

0:15:46.979,0:15:51.290
the results can’t be relied upon[br]as indicators of human reactions.

0:15:51.290,0:15:53.270
So what was the point?

0:15:53.560,0:15:57.969
Well, the report assures that[br]“Nonetheless, most animal model data

0:15:57.969,0:16:01.269
relating to the effects[br]of TSST-1 strongly support its role

0:16:01.269,0:16:04.219
as the most prominent toxin causing TSS.”

0:16:04.369,0:16:05.589
Excellent.

0:16:05.589,0:16:09.309
Now we know that the Toxic Shock[br]Syndrome Toxin Number One

0:16:09.309,0:16:13.109
is the most prominent cause[br]of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

0:16:13.109,0:16:16.149
I’m sure every one of those beings[br]who was injected,

0:16:16.149,0:16:22.009
cut into, raped with toxin-laced tampons,[br]and “sacrificed” can rest easy knowing

0:16:22.009,0:16:26.239
their invaluable contribution to[br]science was not in vain.

0:16:27.139,0:16:30.740
While most of the specific experiments[br]I described were from the eighties

0:16:30.740,0:16:34.180
and nineties, with a few in the 2000’s[br]this kind of experimentation

0:16:34.180,0:16:38.120
continues today all over the world,[br]right in our own backyards.

0:16:38.120,0:16:40.960
Now if what we’ve covered already isn’t[br]reason enough to ditch

0:16:40.960,0:16:43.719
the little toxic seeds[br]of vaginal destruction,

0:16:43.719,0:16:47.419
let’s briefly look into the environmental[br]impact of our Monthly Visitor

0:16:47.419,0:16:52.380
The average woman will throw away[br]250-300 pounds of menstruation products

0:16:52.380,0:16:56.430
including as many as 16,800 tampons[br]in her lifetime.

0:16:56.430,0:17:00.599
While both tampons and pads leach[br]chemicals, including dioxins, into the water

0:17:00.599,0:17:04.239
and soil, tampons in particular[br]are a major hazard to marine life.

0:17:04.239,0:17:07.049
The buoyant applicators can float out[br]for miles and are often eaten

0:17:07.049,0:17:10.740
by marine wildlife,[br]becoming lodged in their digestive tracts,

0:17:10.740,0:17:12.440
causing them to slowly starve to death.[br]

0:17:12.440,0:17:16.020
Some also contain bisphenol A,[br]an endocrine disruptor

0:17:16.020,0:17:18.950
proven to have harmful effects[br]on aquatic wildlife.

0:17:18.950,0:17:22.620
Used tampons and pads[br]can harbor harmful pathogens and bacteria,

0:17:22.620,0:17:27.470
and their decomposition in landfills[br]is unlikely to impossible with a 2005 study

0:17:27.470,0:17:32.010
showing tampons to be the slowest [br]to degrade of all paper/cotton products.

0:17:32.010,0:17:33.560
I think it’s safe to say,[br]after all of this,

0:17:33.560,0:17:36.560
that mainstream tampons[br]are decidedly not vegan

0:17:36.560,0:17:39.380
and very, very likely, not safe.

0:17:39.380,0:17:42.770
So what’s a girl to do[br]when the Uterine Ninjas arrive?

0:17:42.770,0:17:47.050
Well, luckily there are alternatives[br]which I have links to on the blog post.

0:17:47.050,0:17:50.230
There are several brands[br]of 100% organic cotton tampons,

0:17:50.230,0:17:53.590
which sidesteps the toxic chemicals[br]of conventional cotton

0:17:53.590,0:17:57.130
and the questionable affects of rayon,[br]though can still contribute

0:17:57.130,0:17:59.750
to pollution even if[br]labeled biodegradable.

0:17:59.750,0:18:04.090
The ones I have listed on the blog post[br]have clear no animal testing policies.

0:18:04.090,0:18:07.710
An alternative that checks all the boxes[br]is a menstrual cup,

0:18:07.710,0:18:10.390
which, believe it or not,[br]even predates the tampon,

0:18:10.390,0:18:13.720
with the first known concept arising in 1867.

0:18:13.720,0:18:17.610
Though distributed since the 1930’s,[br]menstrual cups have not seen

0:18:17.610,0:18:21.380
the same success as tampons,[br]possibly in part because of their lack

0:18:21.380,0:18:23.630
of built in obsolescence,[br]meaning most of the companies

0:18:23.630,0:18:25.630
are small and independently run.

0:18:25.630,0:18:28.970
Options include the Keeper,[br]the Diva Cup, and more.

0:18:28.970,0:18:31.590
Additionally, for your pads,[br]as they are composed of the same

0:18:31.590,0:18:35.640
questionable materials and toxins,[br]and just as environmentally destructive,

0:18:35.640,0:18:39.330
there are reusable cloth options[br]like GladRags and Lunapads,

0:18:39.330,0:18:41.510
with organic non-bleached options.

0:18:41.510,0:18:45.920
Both the cups and reusable pads[br]have to struggle against societal norms

0:18:45.920,0:18:50.240
and menstruation taboos as they require[br]a bit more intimacy with your own anatomy.

0:18:50.240,0:18:53.490
But when you think of your health,[br]the needless torture of animals,

0:18:53.490,0:18:56.960
and the destruction of the planet[br]and its marine life, getting a little more

0:18:56.960,0:19:00.620
acquainted with your private parts[br]seems a small price to pay.

0:19:00.620,0:19:05.410
And since cups and cloth last for years,[br]you actually save money!

0:19:05.410,0:19:09.600
I hope that this video has been helpful.[br]It’s far longer than I originally envisioned

0:19:09.600,0:19:13.820
but in seeing how very little reliable[br]information is out there on this topic,

0:19:13.820,0:19:15.320
I really wanted to be thorough.

0:19:15.320,0:19:19.230
Menstruation is nothing to[br]be ashamed of or secretive about.

0:19:19.230,0:19:22.240
Just like the importance of exposing[br]the animal products industries,

0:19:22.240,0:19:25.850
it’s only when we shine a light on what’s[br]hidden that we can know what we

0:19:25.850,0:19:29.510
are supporting and choose to make[br]different decisions from here on out.

0:19:29.700,0:19:33.480
The time it took to produce this video[br]clocks in at about [62 hours].

0:19:33.480,0:19:36.770
If you’d like to help support[br]Bite Size Vegan so I can keep

0:19:36.770,0:19:39.920
putting in the long hours to bring you[br]this educational resource,

0:19:39.920,0:19:43.100
please check out the support links in the[br]video description below where you can give

0:19:43.100,0:19:46.550
a one-time donation or receive[br]perks and rewards for your support

0:19:46.550,0:19:50.390
by joining the Nugget Army, the link for that[br]is also in the iCard sidebar.

0:19:50.390,0:19:55.810
I’d like to give a special thanks my $50[br]and above patrons and my whole Patreon family

0:19:55.810,0:19:58.730
for making this[br]and all of my videos possible.

0:19:58.730,0:20:00.740
You are beyond awesomtastic.

0:20:00.740,0:20:03.490
Now I’d love to hear your thoughts on this[br]red-hot report.

0:20:03.490,0:20:05.570
Did you know this information about tampons?

0:20:05.570,0:20:09.150
What alternatives do you use[br]or think you’d like to try in place

0:20:09.150,0:20:12.840
of those treacherous tomes of toxic death?[br]Let me know in the comments!

0:20:12.840,0:20:15.880
If you enjoyed this video, please give it[br]a thumbs up and share it around

0:20:15.880,0:20:19.570
to help inform other women and girls.[br]If you’re new, be sure to hit

0:20:19.570,0:20:22.900
that big red subscribe button down there[br]for more awesome vegan content

0:20:22.900,0:20:25.110
every Monday, Wednesday, and some Fridays.

0:20:25.110,0:20:27.286
Now go live vegan,[br]Ride the Crimson Wave

0:20:27.286,0:20:30.166
on the Cotton Pony, [br]and I’ll see you soon.

0:20:30.986,0:20:34.462
I just discovered something great![br]It's Rely.

0:20:34.462,0:20:38.792
A new tampon from Proctor and Gamble.[br]It's really different and better.

0:20:38.792,0:20:43.184
Really a better tampon.[br]Remember they named it Rely.

0:20:43.784,0:20:48.262
If you use Rely Tampons here is an[br]important message from Proctor and Gamble.

0:20:48.262,0:20:53.019
Women who use Rely Tampons should[br]stop using them and return any unused

0:20:53.019,0:20:55.268
product to Proctor and Gamble[br]for a refund.

0:20:55.268,0:20:59.309
Proctor and Gamble has suspended the[br]sale of Rely tampons.

0:20:59.309,0:21:02.835
This action has been taken until more[br]is known about a new disease

0:21:02.835,0:21:07.699
called Toxic Shock Syndrome.[br]Some studies suggest that Rely Tampons

0:21:07.699,0:21:10.500
increase the risk more than other[br]tampon brands.

0:21:10.500,0:21:13.453
We advise you to stop using Rely[br]tampons.

0:21:14.603,0:21:16.802
Remember they[br]named it Rely