You don’t have to look hard to find videos of health-conscious influencers warning about supposedly harmful ingredients in toilet paper. But how concerned should you be? Not very, most experts agree.
But some also say that TP is worth examining more closely. Studies have found some concerning chemicals in toilet paper. A 2023 study looking for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in toilet paper found them in 21 brands from around the world.
Also known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS exposure has been linked to reproductive issues in women, developmental delays in kids, an increased risk of some cancers, and more. A 2019 study in Ghana found “elevated levels” of phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors that may cause developmental and reproductive harm, in toilet paper. That research also found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are associated with cancer, and semi-volatile chlorinated organic compounds, which have also been connected to cancer and reproductive harm, in toilet paper.
Some research cautions against toilet paper made from recycled paper because it could be made with discarded newspapers or recycled cash-register receipts, which can contaminate the product with BPA, a substance linked to reproductive issues, cardiovascular disease, and more. There have also been concerns over toilet paper that is bleached, as bleaching can create dioxins, and concerns over toilet paper that includes formaldehyde, a carcinogen. The ingredients in toilet paper, which manufacturers aren’t required to disclose, are potentially concerning because the skin on the genitalia and anus is thinner and more absorbent than other skin on the body, says Dr.
Julia Saylors, an oncologist and integrative medicine physician based in Charleston, South Carolina. While skin is known to absorb chemicals, including PFAS, genital and anal areas are made of mucosal surfaces, a type of thin, moist, and more sensitive skin that leads to the interior of the body. This skin is more absorbent than the surfaces on our arms and legs, says Saylors.
How toilet paper interacts with people’s skin in these areas and their overall health is not well studied. But the research that has been done suggests that toilet paper does not pose significant health risks, experts agree. Amar Rewari, chief of radiation oncology at Luminis Health in Maryland, notes that PFAS and some other industrial chemicals are under study for possible long-term health effects, “but the levels typically found in consumer products like toilet paper are very small and not clearly linked to cancer.” “Many of these chemicals, including PFAS, phthalates, BPA, and trace dioxins, can be found in small amounts throughout modern life,” he adds.
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