Your body and soul article "Myth Or Fact? Tampons Contain Asbestos" (The Argus, July 20) was alarmist and served little or no purpose other than to raise unfounded fears in women's minds about the safety of tampons.

I had explained to your reporter that none of the claims made in relation to asbestos and the presence of dioxins or rayon fibres, had any foundation and yet these were included in the article.

Su Hardy, who markets a reusable silicone internal cup, was quoted as saying: "Women are much more aware of the issues surrounding tampons, including health issues, the environmental issues and the cost. Internal sanitary protection is something we are used to and the Mooncup offers a solution to the tampon problems."

Ms Hardy may well wish to promote her product but she is certainly not qualified to make such allegations against tampons.

I refuted all the claims made in the article, not most of them as was stated, and am appalled at the cavalier way the article handled the subject.

Tampons have never contained asbestos. Dioxins are ubiquitous and occur naturally. However, the level of dioxins detected in tampons is at or below detection levels i.e. 0.1 to 1 part per trillion and is the equivalent of a teaspoon of water in a lake 15 feet deep and 1 mile square so to talk about fears of dioxins being present in tampons is ludicrous.

The level of exposure from tampons is 13,000 - 240,000 less than from dietary exposures (US Government research).

Tampons are reckoned by many millions of women to have been one of the most important and liberating product developments of the Twentieth century.

They have been used by literally billions of women all over the world. In the UK alone nearly 10 million women use them every month and will probably resent the implications of this article which, at best, was irresponsible and sensational.

-T. Peter Stephenson, Director General The Absorbent Hygiene Products Manufacturers Association, 46, Bridge Street, Godalming Surrey GU7 1HL