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Lead, arsenic, other heavy metals in tampons prompt FDA investigation [Video]
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Lead, arsenic, other heavy metals in tampons prompt FDA investigation [Video]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it will examine the potential harm to women of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic found in tampons.The FDAs action follows the July publication of a small pilot study that found arsenic and lead in organic and nonorganic tampons. Although the levels of both metals were low, there is no safe level of exposure to lead, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.The July study discovered only the presence of the metals and did not test whether metals are released from tampons when used, the FDA said in a statement Tuesday. It also did not test for metals being released, absorbed into the vaginal lining, and getting into the bloodstream during tampon use. The FDA has therefore commissioned an independent literature review and initiated an internal bench laboratory study to evaluate metals in tampons.The FDA lab study will mimic normal use of tampons to see just how much if any metals may be released into the human body during their use. The literature review will examine all research in the area to shed light on the potential health impact of such exposure, the agency said.We want the public to know that before tampons can be legally sold in the U.S., they must meet FDA requirements for safety and effectiveness, the statement says. Manufacturers must test the product and its component materials before, during, and after manufacturing.Before a product is allowed onto the market, biocompatibility testing is undertaken by the manufacturing company, which is part of safety testing, and is reviewed by the FDA prior to market authorization.The Consumer Healthcare Product Association, a trade group, also noted in a statement that its products are rigorously tested to meet strict regulatory standards. The group said it is supportive of continued research to help ensure the safe use of these products.The Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products, a trade association also known as BAHP, said it supports the FDAs further research on the safety of tampons in real world use and the agencys ongoing commitment to public health.Heavy metals in tamponsThe July study tested 30 tampons from 14 brands purchased from major online retailers and stores in the United States, the United Kingdom and Greece. The researchers conducted a blinded study, so they did not know the brands.Researchers ran tests for 16 heavy metals: arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium and zinc, according to senior study author Kathrin Schilling, assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health in New York City.We found an average of 100 nanograms per gram of lead and 2 nanograms per gram of arsenic in the tampons, Schilling told CNN at the time. There was no detectable level of chromium and no detectable level of mercury, which is very good.Organic tampons contained higher levels of arsenic, while nonorganic tampons had higher levels of lead, the study found.The average lead concentration in tampons was about 10 times higher than the maximum levels currently allowed in drinking water, Schilling said, adding that arsenic levels were five times lower than current limits for drinking water.Its important to note that arsenic shouldnt be present in tampons at all, and we dont yet understand the effects of vaginal exposure since it hasnt been studied, she said. There is no safe level of lead exposure, and it has been shown to cause reproductive health issues in women.However, the mere presence of a chemical is not an indication of risk or adverse effect, according to the American Chemistry Council, an industry association.As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes, The measurement of an environmental chemical in a persons blood or urine is a measure of exposure; it does not by itself mean that the chemical causes disease or an adverse effect, a spokesperson for the council previously told CNN.Why tampons would be more of a concernVaginal tissue is more permeable than other parts of the body, so if studies were to find that heavy metals or worrisome chemicals do leach from menstrual products into the body, it could be a significant problem, Anna Pollack, associate professor of global and community health at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, told CNN previously. She was not involved in the pilot study.I am most concerned with menstrual products that are used inside the body, said Pollack, who coauthored a review of 10 years of studies on contaminants in tampons, sanitary pads, menstrual cups and other products.However, there is no reason for people to be afraid to use menstrual products at this time, Pollack added. I would just be aware of the issue and monitor any research that develops.Tampon makers and the FDA recommend that tampons not be used at night or for longer than eight hours due to a greater risk of toxic shock syndrome, a deadly bacterial infection that can cause organ failure and death if not treated.That advice also applies to anyone concerned about heavy metals or chemicals in their menstrual products, experts say.Other recommendations include washing your hands before and after inserting or removing a tampon to reduce bacterial spread, changing tampons every four to eight hours and using the lowest absorbency possible.If you can wear one tampon up to eight hours without changing it, the absorbency may be too high, the FDA noted on its website.Signs of toxic shock, which include a sudden high fever, diarrhea, dizziness, vomiting or a rash that looks like a sunburn, need immediate medical attention.In addition, if you have discomfort, pain or other unexpected symptoms like unusual discharge when trying to insert or wear a tampon, or if you have an allergic reaction, stop using tampons and contact your provider, the FDA said.

Washington County Democrats hold presidential debate watch party [Video]
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Washington County Democrats hold presidential debate watch party [Video]

LIVE IN FAYETTEVILLE, CHIP SCARBOROUGH, 40-29 NEWS. ARKANSAS GOVERNOR SARAH SANDERS — REACTING TO TONIGHT’S DEBATE. IN A POST ON ‘X’– SHE SAID DONALD TRUMP HELD CHINA ACCOUNTABLE WITH TARIFFS– SAYING THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAS YET TO REMOVE THOSE. PRIOR TO THE DEBATE TONIGHT, YOU SAW ARKANSAS SENATOR TOM COTTON SPEAKING TO JONATHAN KARL. HERE’S WHAT HE SAID WHY AMERICANS WANT TO SEE DONALD TRUMP RE ELECTED. (“we had stable prices, rising wages, a secure border and peaceful stable relations around the world. Under Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, we’ve had record high inflation, we’ve had a wide open border, we’ve had war break out everywhere. The american people are going to remember after tonight that times are good under Donald Trump and they want 4 years of president trump back in the white house.”) ON X, COTTON REACTING TO THE DEBATE SAYING, “WHAT KAMALA IS OFFERING IS FOUR MORE YEARS OF CRUSHING INFLATION AND DEBT.” TONIGHT- WASHINGTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS HELD A WATCH PARTY FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. 40/29’S LAKYRA BANKS JOINS US LIVE WITH MORE. THE PARTY’S PRESIDENT SAYS THE BIGGEST CONCERNS FOR SOME DEMOCRATIC VOTERS THIS ELECTION PERIOD IS SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES- FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS- AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. “it gives us a chance to see how the candidates can, articulate their policy statements and handle, things under pressure.” GATHERED FOR DEBATE WATCH PARTY. MANY ATTENDEES- LIKE THE PARTY’S PRESIDENT- HAD SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARIS…. She’s a prosecutor. She’s an attorney. So I, I think she’ll, let her personality show through, but I don’t think she’ll be easily intimidated. AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP… “hopefully better than he has in the past. Because I mean, truthfully. Some of his verbiage and language is so incendiary.” DESPITE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES- SHE EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY- ESPECIALLY AS INTEREST IN THE ELECTION GROWS. “we are seeing a lot of engagement from the young younger population and older too” “I think we all need to be treated with respect and kindness because we are neighbors, regardless of how we vote. ” WE ALSO REACHED OUT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT D

Debate takeaways: From the opening handshake, Harris and Trump spar on economy, abortion [Video]
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Debate takeaways: From the opening handshake, Harris and Trump spar on economy, abortion [Video]

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other on the debate stage Tuesday night for the first and possibly the last time.The Democratic vice president opened the faceoff with a power move, marching across the stage to Trumps lectern to shake his hand.Kamala Harris, she said, introducing herself as the pair met for the first time ever. Lets have a good debate.Nice to see you. Have fun, the former Republican president responded.The exchange set the tone for the 90-minute debate to come: Harris controlled the conversation at times, baiting Trump with jabs at his economic policy, his refusal to concede his 2020 election loss and even his performance at his rallies.Trump, while measured early on, grew more annoyed as the night went on.Some takeaways on a historic night:From the opening handshake, Harris took the fight to Trump in a way that Biden could notThe vice president walked across the stage and introduced herself, Kamala Harris, before reaching out and grabbing Trump’s hand in the opening moments.In her first answer, Harris said Trumps trade tariffs would effectively create a sales tax on the middle class. She soon accused Trump of presiding over the worst attack on American democracy since the Civil War the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. And she charged the former president with telling women what they could do with their bodies.But Harris may have got under Trump’s skin the most when she went after his performance at his rallies, noting that many people often leave early.Trump was largely calm when he defended himself against each charge, but he showed annoyance with her comment about his rallies. He insisted his events were larger than hers and he seemed to grow angrier at times as the debate continued.Harris frequently shifted her message from Trump back to the American people.You will not hear him talk about your needs, your dreams and your needs and your desires, Harris said of Trumps rallies. And Ill tell you, I believe you deserve a president who actually puts you first.Video below: Fact-checking the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala HarrisTrump had a label for Harris: She is BidenTrump was often on defense, but he did drive the core message of his campaign: inflation and immigration are hammering Americans.Immigrants, Trump said, have destroyed the fabric of our country.He repeatedly tied Harris to Biden.She is Biden, he said.The worst inflation weve ever had, Trump added. A horrible economy because inflation has made it so bad. And she cant get away with that.Harris responded: Clearly, I am not Joe Biden and I am certainly not Donald Trump. And what I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country.Trump on race and Harris on the attackABC moderator David Muir asked Trump point blank about his allegation last month that Harris had belatedly turned Black. Harris is Black and South Asian and a graduate of Howard University a historically Black school in Washington.Trump tried to play down the matter. I dont care what she is, you make a big deal out of something, I couldnt care less,” Trump said.Harris, however, had her opening and she rattled off a long list of Trumps racial controversies: his legal settlement for discrimination against prospective Black tenants at his New York apartment buildings in the 1970s; his ad calling for the execution of Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongly arrested in the Central Park jogger case in the 1980s; and his false claims that former President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.I think the American people want something better than that, want better than this, Harris said.Trump accused Harris of trying to divide people and dismissed her claims as dated and irrelevant.This is a person that has to stretch back 40, 50 years ago because theres nothing now, he said.Both candidates dig in on abortionHarris came out swinging in defense of abortion rights, perhaps the strongest issue for Democrats since Trumps nominees created a Supreme Court majority to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion. Her sharp arguments provided a vivid contrast to President Joe Biden’s rambling comments on the issue during his June debate with Trump.The government, and Donald Trump, certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body, Harris said. She painted a vivid picture of women facing medical complications, gut-wrenching decisions, and having to travel out of state for an abortion.Trump was just as fierce in defense, saying he returned the issue to the states, an outcome he said many Americans wanted. He struggled with accuracy, however, repeating the false claim that Democrats support abortion even after babies are born. He stuck to that even after he was corrected by moderator Lynsey Davis.I did a great service in doing that. It took courage to do it, Trump said of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and its constitutional protections for abortion. And the Supreme Court had great courage in doing it. And I give tremendous credit to those six justices.Polls have shown significant opposition to overturning Roe and voters have punished Republicans in recent elections for it.Trump refused to say whether he would veto a bill banning abortion nationwide, saying such legislation would never clear Congress and reach the president. He also broke with his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, suggesting Vance spoke out of turn when he said Trump would veto a national abortion ban.I didnt discuss it with JD, Trump said.Who’s talking now?Trump took a Harris talking point and directed it right back at her.It happened when he objected after Harris interrupted him an interjection that he could hear but viewers could not because her microphone was muted according to the rules of the debate.Wait a minute, Im talking now, Trump said. He was putting his spin on a line she used famously against Mike Pence in the 2020 vice presidential debate.Sound familiar? Trump added.Four years ago, Harris rebuked Pence for interrupting, saying: Mr. Vice President, Im speaking.A restrained Trump except when he wasntDemocrats hoped and Republicans feared that Trump would lose his cool on stage. He generally did not, but when Harris annoyed him, he went to some dark places.Trump amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are eating pets ABC’s Muir noted that local officials say that is not happening as he argued that the Biden-Harris administration was admitting dangerous immigrants.When Harris pressed him on the array of criminal and civil cases against him, Trump similarly fumed. He accused Harris and Biden of planting all the cases.I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things they said about me, Trump said, referencing the assassination attempt in July by a gunman whose motives are unknown.When pressed on whether he had any responsibility for the Capitol riot, Trump raised his voice, blaming both Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, who was the House speaker at the time, and the Democratic mayor of Washington. He said the rioters have been treated so badly and once again denied he lost the 2020 election.Harris replied: Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people, lets be clear about that, and clearly hes having a very difficult time processing that.An early skirmish on the economyThe debate opened with an unexpectedly wonky exchange on the economy: Harris took on Trump for his plan to put in place sweeping tariffs and for the trade deficit he ran as president; Trump slammed Harris for inflation that he incorrectly said was the worst in the countrys history.The back-and-forth ended up with some of Trumps traditional bombast. He said Harris was a Marxist even though she had just cited positive reviews of her economic plans from Wall Street investment bank Goldman Sachs and the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business. But it was particularly notable for Harris effort to turn the tables on Trump.Trump noted that people look back on his presidencys economy fondly. I created one of the greatest economies in the history of our country, he said. Harris flatly told viewers: Donald Trump has no plan for you.Americans are slightly more likely to trust Trump over Harris when it comes to handling the economy, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs poll from August.