Lead, for which there is no “safe” level of exposure, was found in each of the 60 tampon samples, which were made up major and own-brands bought in New York, London, and Athens.
My granddaughter asked me what I thought, and my immediate reaction was, “I am horrified”.
https://news.sky.com/story/arsenic-lead-and-other-toxic-metals-found-in-tampons-study-says-13175436
The reported piece goes on to ask an expert in women’s health:
Ideally, we want no arsenic, cadmium, or lead, but the reality is that they’re in the soil and will ultimately creep into all kinds of products. This is one reason we need regulation: so people can understand their cumulative risks.”
More regulation needed
Obstetrician and gynaecologist Banafsheh Bayati told Vogue: “The surprising factor is not that there are heavy metals in tampons, but that we are only now aware of this fact.
“Women’s health is historically underrepresented, understudied, and underfunded.
“This study is incredibly important in highlighting the need to push funding for women’s health.”
The historical harm of products has been documented here:
https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-bath-products/toxic-tampons-and-pads-what-to-watch-out-for
This article points out that substitutes for cotton are used:
Most tampons and pads are not made with cotton, however. Instead, synthetic fibers are used that feel like cotton but are much more absorbent. So absorbent, in fact, that they led to a huge increase in cases of toxic shock syndrome. In turn, this prompted the FDA to insist that companies such as Rely (who were sued by customers) used lower absorbency materials (more on this below).
Although it’s hard to find exact materials listings for tampons and pads, some of the likely ingredients in these products include:
- Low density, highly absorbent, open-celled foam
- Adhesives
- Perfumes
- Polyethylene
- Hydrogel (sodium polyacrylate or polyacrylate absorbents)
- Chlorine-bleached Rayon, made from wood pulp (of which dioxin is the by-product)
- Genetically modified cotton
- Polypropylene
- Polyester
- Dyes
Another article gives lists of suggested safer products to purchase in the UK:
All women who menstruate have a right to obtain safe products to manage their monthly flows.
I am alarmed to find this important area of research is still not providing definitive reassurance on the safety of tampons and pads. Yet the manufacturers must have high profits from selling this essential medical item to menstruating women.
borderslynn 
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