Period underwear brand Thinx settles over ‘non-toxic’ briefs

A US-based period underwear brand has settled a $7.2 million lawsuit after wearers were allegedly exposed to harmful chemicals that have been linked to cancer.

A US period underwear company has settled a $US5 million ($A7.2 million) class action lawsuit over chemicals used in its products which have been linked to chronic diseases and cancer.

The plaintiffs claimed the presence of the dangerous chemicals “contradicts” the healthy mantra touted by underwear company Thinx, which sold the products as “non-toxic”, safe and sustainable, New York Post reports.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claimed the absorbent undergarments contained so-called “forever” chemicals, short-chain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have the potential to cause harm with repeated exposure.

While PFAS are often used to make fabrics waterproof and stain-resistant, they’ve also been linked to a number of chronic diseases and cancer.

Further analysis of the underwear is said to have revealed it also contained Agion antimicrobial treatment, a manufacturing pesticide that may also pose a health threat, according to experts.

The plaintiffs further claimed that “vaginal administration” of the chemical could cause “ultrastructural changes to the vaginal mucosa, urethra and rectum, in addition to leading to migration of silver into the bloodstream”.

Thinx promoted their period panties as highly absorbent and safe, but the lawsuit argued that they weren’t as safe as wearers thought. Picture: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Thinx, Inc

The period underwear brand settled for $US5 million, which will be divided among those customers who make a successful claim. Picture: Nicky J Sims/Getty Images for Selfridges

Touted as “organic”, “sustainable” and “non-toxic”, the period pants were marketed as the future of women’s sanitary products.

They’re washable, reusable and had seemingly achieved the impossible by holding up to five tampons’ worth of menstrual blood.

However plaintiff Nicole Dickens independently tested Thinx underwear and claimed to have “confirmed the existence of these harsh chemicals”, which “contradicts” the healthy mantra the company promotes.

She alleged that the New York-based company “knowingly and wilfully concealed and misrepresented” the brand’s products.

Under the terms of the settlement, the company has agreed to pay up to $US5 million ($A7.2 million) to various settlement class members, but only if they submit a claim for reimbursement by April 12.

PFAS are long-lasting chemicals that in large concentrations have the potential to wreak havoc on the body. Picture: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Thinx, Inc

Claimants must have purchased the underwear between November 12, 2016 and November 28, 2022, for a maximum of three pairs of Thinx underwear at $US7 ($A10) each – but only with proof of purchase.

For those lacking a valid receipt, a maximum refund of $US3.50 ($A5) per pair, only up to three, is available. Alternatively, affected customers can opt to receive a 35 per cent off voucher on purchases of up to $US150 ($A217).

Period undies have become increasingly popular. Picture: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Thinx, Inc

Thinx has promised to take action in preventing the inclusion of PFAS going forward, by ensuring that they are not “intentionally added” to their products.

The brand’s raw materials suppliers will also need to sign a “Supplier Code of Conduct and Chemical Supplier Agreement”, to say no PFAS have been added by them.

Thinx isn’t alone in the legal action with similar period undies brand Knix also facing a lawsuit over similar allegations.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission