Read the full article by Bindu Bansinath (The Cut)

“…Last year, Thinx received preliminary approval on a deal to settle a class-action lawsuit against the company after a string of claims and independent research alleged that its signature underwear, which had long advertised itself as ‘organic, sustainable, and non-toxic,’ actually contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, harmful chemicals linked to fertility issues, environmental pollution, and certain cancers. This week, an official settlement website went live, inviting customers who purchased the brand’s underwear between November 12, 2016, and November 28, 2022, to submit claims for compensation. For its part, Thinx denies the allegations against their product, insisting the company did nothing ‘improper or unlawful’ and that PFAS ‘are not intentionally added to Thinx Period Underwear at any stage of production.’

Here’s what we know about the settlement and how we got here…

…Back in 2020, a journalist for Sierra magazine investigated the potential risks of period underwear, sending two brands, including Thinx, to an independent scientist at the University of Notre Dame. The scientist determined that Thinx’s mainline underwear contained 3,624 parts per million of PFAS and that the brand’s BTWN briefs contained 2,053 parts per million in the crotch. At the time, Thinx disputed the findings, telling the Cut in a statement that their own third-party tests indicated the chemicals weren’t detected in the product and that they would ‘work swiftly to remove’ PFAS should they be found in their underwear.

While it’s unclear how much PFAS can be absorbed through underwear, studies from the Environmental Working Group suggest PFAS exposure through skin can be as harmful as oral ingestion with the vaginal area particularly vulnerable to chemical absorption. One California-based lawsuit against the company alleged that some customers developed irregular menstrual cycles, urinary tract and yeast infections, and unexplained infertility as a result of wearing Thinx underwear.”…