Thinx Lawsuit Investigation: Is the Underwear Toxic?
August 26, 2020
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects:
- Anyone who purchased Thinx menstrual underwear.
- What’s Going On?
- Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are investigating whether class action lawsuits can be filed following reports that Thinx underwear contains toxic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- What You Can Do
- If you purchased Thinx underwear, attorneys working with ClassAction.org need to hear from you to move forward with their investigation. Fill out the form on this page to learn more.
- How Can a Lawsuit Help?
- A class action lawsuit, if filed and successful, could help consumers get their money back and force the manufacturer to change the way it makes and sells its Thinx underwear.
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are investigating whether a class action lawsuit can be filed against the maker of Thinx menstrual underwear.
Reports have surfaced that some versions of the underwear contain toxic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been linked to cancer, fertility issues and other health problems.
If you purchased Thinx underwear, help this investigation by filling out the form on this page.
The more people the attorneys can speak with, the better chance they have at getting a class action lawsuit on file.
Thinx Underwear and PFAS: What’s the Link?
Thinx came under scrutiny in January 2020 when Sierra Club magazine reporter Jessian Choy wrote that she had sent several unused pairs of the underwear to a University of Notre Dame scientist for testing and that the results were “bad news.”
According to her report, the underwear indeed tested positive for PFAS, including on the inside layers of the crotch.
Specifically, the article stated that the Thinx organic brief contained 3,264 parts per million (ppm) and that the organic BTWN Shorty underwear for teens contained 2,053 ppm of the toxic chemicals. These amounts were “high enough to suggest they were intentionally manufactured with PFAS,” Choy wrote.
What Are PFAS and How Are They Dangerous?
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that include PFOA and PFOS, which have been described by the Environmental Protection Agency as “very persistent in the environment and the human body.” This means the chemicals don’t break down over time and have the potential to accumulate. In fact, PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals.”
Reports that Thinx underwear may contain PFAS are particularly concerning being as the garments are worn near the vagina, a particularly absorbent part of a woman’s body.
PFAS have been linked to a number of health problems, including but not limited to the following:
- Cancer
- High cholesterol
- Decreased fertility
- Hormone suppression
- Liver damage
- Thyroid disease
The manufacturer of Thinx has maintained that its underwear is safe and does not contain PFAS; however, concerns persist surrounding the testing methods the company used to support its statements.
For instance, its choice of toxicology lab and whether the company tested for all 5,000 existing PFAS – or just some of them – are among the issues that have come into question.
How Can a Class Action Lawsuit Help?
A class action lawsuit could help provide clarity on whether Thinx underwear contains PFAS and, if successful, could force the company to change the way it manufactures and/or advertises the products. Further, women could have a chance to be reimbursed for the money they spent on the underwear.
If you purchased Thinx underwear, you could help get a class action lawsuit started. Fill out the form on this page and one of the attorneys working with ClassAction.org may then reach out to you directly to explain more about their investigation and how you can help.
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