States work to ban period products containing toxic PFAS after 2023 report

California, Vermont and Colorado push for ban after slow federal response to research finding forever chemicals in period products

State lawmakers in California, Vermont and Colorado are working to ban the sale of period products containing highly toxic forever chemicals", or PFAS, nearly a year after a report revealed the chemicals were found in everything from tampon applicators to period underwear.

Despite a growing awareness of the dangers and ubiquity of PFAS, federal regulators have been slow to respond to the bombshell 2023 report from the University of Notre Dame, in which researchers found forever chemicals in various menstrual products including those mentioned above and more. Federal bills designed to address PFAS in everyday consumer items - including period products - stalled last year in large part due to chemical industry lobbyists.