“America’s #1 condom” is facing scrutiny amid accusations of containing hazardous “forever chemicals” that may render them unsafe for consumers.
The allegations have been raised by Matthew Goodman, who initiated a proposed class action lawsuit against Church & Dwight, the company behind the Trojan brand, in Manhattan on Monday. Goodman claims that a recent independent lab examination of Trojan Ultra-Thin condoms detected organic fluorine, which could indicate the presence of these durable chemicals.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, are a group of synthetic chemicals found in various everyday items, ranging from food packaging to cosmetics and even dental floss. Dubbed “forever chemicals,” they are notorious for their longevity in the environment, degrading very slowly over time.
The prevalence of PFAS is alarming, as multiple studies link exposure to these substances with various health issues, including elevated cholesterol, hypertension, weakened immunity, reproductive complications, and a heightened risk of certain cancers, as highlighted by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
While studies indicate that these chemicals can permeate human skin, the extent of their risk remains somewhat ambiguous. Nevertheless, this uncertainty has fueled Goodman’s lawsuit.
According to the complaint, Goodman purchased the Trojan condoms without awareness of their potential PFAS content. “Based on the label, he [Goodman] reasonably believed the product was safe for use on his genitalia,” the lawsuit states. The suit argues that had there been any warning regarding PFAS on the label, he would have either refrained from buying the product or expected to pay significantly less for it.
But who exactly conducted the independent testing that led to these allegations?
Earlier this year, on February 6, the advocacy group Mamavation released findings regarding the presence of PFAS in various condom and lubricant brands available in the U.S. They sent a selection of 29 different products to an EPA-certified laboratory for analysis focused on detecting organic fluoride—an element common in all PFAS compounds. However, it’s worth noting that fluorine can also appear in other chemical formulations, which doesn’t necessarily signify the presence of PFAS.
Additionally, experts caution against broadly categorizing all PFAS as dangerous. As expressed by a specialist, “PFAS is a class of chemicals comprising thousands of different substances. While some may pose risks at certain exposure levels, claiming they are all ‘bad’ is misleading. Not all PFAS are detrimental to human health; for instance, Teflon (PTFE) also belongs to this category but does not inherently indicate a health risk.”
The Mamavation study revealed that 14 percent of the tested products contained organic fluorine above 10 parts per million (ppm), with one specific Trojan Ultra-Thin condom containing 13 ppm. Interestingly, several other varieties of Trojan condoms, such as Ecstasy Ultra Ribbed and Magnum Large, registered no detectable levels of organic fluorine.
In light of these findings, Mamavation advocates for the elimination of PFAS from intimate products. However, should consumers genuinely be worried? One expert stated, “The answer is NO; this should not raise concerns. They did not conclusively identify PFAS in any specific form, and even in cases where PFAS might be present, it is essential to approach discussions around exposure with nuance. Simply aggregating total PFAS results lacks clarity and relevance.”