Viral TikTok spreading misinformation about tampon ingredients
BOSTON -- A TikTok video is spreading misinformation about an ingredient used in some tampons and it is causing real alarm among some viewers.
This TikTok video is claiming that tampons containing titanium dioxide can cause cancer, despite no evidence.
Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring mineral used in many cosmetic products and sunscreens as a whitening agent.
Some research suggests that it can promote lung cancer if inhaled but that has only been observed in rodents, not humans.
Toxicologists say that the mineral is generally safe to use. Plus, its use in some tampons is minimal.
But let this be a reminder that TikTok and other online entertainment and social media sites are not credible sources of medical information, and parents need to teach their children to be highly skeptical of everything they see on these platforms.