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Menstruation is a topic that has been stigmatized and characterized by misinformation, and the nature of corporate promotion of disposable period products is partly to blame. A global menstrual movement, particularly visible on social media since 2015, strives to normalize open conversations about menstruation and raise awareness of health and social issues, such as endometriosis, period poverty, and the environmental impact of plastic products.

By combining interviews with menstrual activists and focus groups of young people (including women, men, and non-binary teenagers), this comprehensive open access book offers an in-depth exploration of this movement and its impact.

“Cigarette filters are the world’s leading source of trash and the leading source of plastic pollution. Globally, approximately 4.5 trillion used filters – or butts – are discarded into the environment every year. Filters are non-biodegradable and cannot be feasibly collected or recycled.”

https://ash.org/santa-cruz-countys-first-in-the-world-cigarette-filter-ban/

“A search for chemicals that could inadvertently activate parts of the brain responsible for reproductive functions has identified compounds many of us may encounter in our environment, highlighting a potential trigger for early puberty in women.”

https://www.sciencealert.com/fragrance-in-care-products-could-be-triggering-early-puberty-in-girls

The tobacco industry is relentlessly targeting women worldwide, using advertisements that portray smoking as glamorous and sexy.

But the truth is far darker: tobacco kills millions, and these aggressive marketing tactics violate women’s human rights. We Are Taking Action. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and our global partners are reporting these violations to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

An article published in August 2024 reported the first study to measure toxic metals in tampons. Arsenic and lead, among other contaminants, were found in 24 tampon brands purchased in the US, UK, and Europe.