Why Unbleached?
Atif Acikgoz
Founder CEO
October, 2025
Labeling alone does not guarantee safety. Even if fibers are organically grown, subsequent processing steps such as bleaching, chemical finishing, or hydrogen peroxide treatment can introduce hazardous substances, leading to exposure risks similar to those of conventionally produced fibers. For example, a baby bodysuit labeled "organic cotton" with the Nordic Ecolabel was found to contain benzothiazoles, compounds that can be toxic and environmentally persistent [1]. Certain benzothiazole derivatives are being investigated for potential health risks, including skin sensitization, endocrine disruption, and carcinogenicity [1].
Cotton sanitary products are often bleached with chlorine-based chemicals or hydrogen peroxide to achieve a bright white appearance, even when labeled as "organic." During bleaching, dioxins—a group of highly toxic pollutants—can form as byproducts. The term "dioxins" refers to 210 related compounds with similar structures but varying toxicity, 17 of which are considered highly toxic [2]. Because bleached sanitary products remain in continuous contact with the vaginal area during menstruation, they may serve as a source of dioxin exposure, potentially affecting vaginal and skin health, reproductive function, and increasing the risk of related disorders [3,4].
During menstruation, vaginal tissue becomes more permeable, allowing chemicals such as dioxins to be absorbed more readily. This can disrupt the natural microbial balance, hormone regulation, and overall reproductive health [5]. Exposure to toxic chemicals like dioxins can impair the female reproductive system at multiple levels, including the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, and reproductive tract [6]. Dysfunction in any of these areas can interfere with ovarian function and may lead to infertility [3]. Dioxins can also alter the male-to-female sex ratio in offspring [7,8].
Even at low doses, dioxins can negatively affect reproduction—reducing fertility, increasing miscarriage risk, causing birth defects, and raising the likelihood of endometriosis [2,3,4,9,10]. At higher doses, they can weaken the immune system [11], cause shrinkage of reproductive organs [12], and lead to skin damage [4]. Furthermore, developmental exposure of either parent has been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth in offspring [13].
References
1. Avagyan R, Luongo G, Thorsén G, Östman C. Benzothiazole, benzotriazole, and their derivatives in clothing textiles: a potential source of environmental pollutants and human exposure. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015;22(8):5842–5849. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3715-x
2. Aldeli N, Murphy D, Hanano A. Impact of dioxins on reproductive health in female mammals. Frontiers in Toxicology. 2024;6. https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2024.1392257
3. Petroff BK, Gao X, Rozman KK, Terranova PF. Perinatal dioxin exposure alters reproductive function of the adult female rat. Reprod Toxicol. 2000;14(1):47–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0890-6238(99)00064-2
4. Giampaolino P, Della Corte L, Foreste V, Barra F, Ferrero S, Bifulco G. Dioxin and endometriosis: a new possible relation based on epigenetic theory. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2020;36(3):279–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2019.1698024
5. Marroquin J, Kiomourtzoglou MA, Scranton A, Pollack AZ. Chemicals in menstrual products: A systematic review. BJOG. 2024;131(5):655–664. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17668
6. Crain DA, Janssen SJ, Edwards TM, Heindel J, Ho SM, Hunt P, et al. Female reproductive disorders: the roles of endocrine-disrupting compounds and developmental timing. Fertil Steril. 2008;90(4):911–940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.08.067
7. Baker TR, King-Heiden TC, Peterson RE, Heideman W. Dioxin induction of transgenerational inheritance of disease in zebrafish. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2014;398:36–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2014.08.011
8. Mai X, Dong Y, Xiang L, Er Z. Maternal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin suppresses male reproductive functions in their adulthood. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2020;39(9):890–905. https://doi.org/10.1177/0960327120903489
9. Vandenberg LN, Colborn T, Hayes TB, Heindel JJ, Jacobs DR, Lee DH, et al. Regulatory decisions on endocrine disrupting chemicals should be based on the principles of endocrinology. Reprod Toxicol. 2013;38:1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2013.02.002
10. Yilmaz B, Terekeci H, Sandal S, Kelestimur F. Endocrine disrupting chemicals: exposure, effects on human health, mechanism of action, models for testing and strategies for prevention. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2020;21(1):127–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-019-09521-z
11. Li B, Liu HY, Dai LJ, Lu JC, Yang ZM, Huang L. The early embryo loss caused by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin may be related to the accumulation of this compound in the uterus. Reprod Toxicol. 2006;21(3):301–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2005.09.008
12. Marshall NB, Kerkvliet NI. Dioxin and immune regulation: emerging role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the generation of regulatory T cells. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010;1183(1):25–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05125.x
13. Ding T, McConaha M, Boyd KL, Osteen KG, Bruner-Tran KL. Developmental dioxin exposure of either parent is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth in adult mice. Reprod Toxicol. 2011;31(3):351–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2010.11.003