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Committee advances SB 754 to require testing, disclosure of certain metals in disposable menstrual products
Summary
SB 754 would require manufacturers of disposable menstrual products to test and report concentrations of four metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, zinc) to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC); the committee passed the bill to appropriations after pro and con testimony on testing protocols, duplicative costs and public disclosure.
SB 754, authored by Senator María Elena Durazo, would require manufacturers of disposable menstrual products to test for specified metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium and zinc), report concentrations to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and allow DTSC to conduct independent verification testing and publish results and analysis.
Senator Durazo and supportive witnesses framed the bill as a transparency measure to protect public health. "Millions of Californians use pads and tampons every month," Senator Durazo said, adding that existing disclosure law covers intentionally added ingredients but not unintentional manufacturing contaminants. Justine Chu Griffith of the California Association of Student Councils and environmental health scientists who submitted testimony urged public reporting to help scientists and consumers assess exposure over long-term use.
Opponents, including the California Manufacturers and Technology Association (CMTA) and the Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products (BHP), said existing federal regulation treats many menstrual products as medical devices under FDA oversight and warned that SB 754 could create duplicative testing, unclear thresholds and unhelpful public data. Elizabeth Esquivel of CMTA said the bill leaves "several new and vague regulatory requirements without clear timelines or scientific thresholds" and urged use of DTSC's existing Safer Consumer Products processes.
Committee members questioned the technical detail of laboratory methods, leachability and concentration units; a witness cited concentrations reported in a peer-reviewed study (for example, zinc at an average of 52,000 nanograms per gram for some tampon products in a Columbia University analysis). Supporters said public disclosure would enable consumers and market competition to favor safer products; opponents warned posting raw analytical results without context could generate unwarranted alarm.
The committee voted to pass SB 754 to the Committee on Appropriations. The author said amendments adopted and further technical refinements would clarify acceptable testing methods and other details as the bill moves forward.
