Dr. Amar Rewari Featured in TIME: Is Toilet Paper Bad for You?

Dr. Amar Rewari was recently featured in TIME, one of the nation's most widely read news publications, in an article addressing a question circulating across social media: is toilet paper actually bad for your health?

In the August 2026 piece, "Is Toilet Paper Bad For You? Here's What Experts Say," Dr. Rewari, Chief of Radiation Oncology at Luminis Health in Maryland, helped separate fact from online fear-mongering. While studies have detected trace chemicals such as PFAS, phthalates, and BPA in some toilet paper products, Dr. Rewari explained that the amounts found in consumer paper products are very small and have not been clearly linked to cancer. He noted that our most significant chemical exposures come from what we eat, drink, and breathe over time — not from brief skin contact with toilet paper.

Dr. Rewari also addressed common concerns about bleached paper products, explaining that modern manufacturing uses elemental chlorine-free (ECF) processes that dramatically reduce harmful byproducts compared to older methods.

His practical takeaway for readers: there's no need to avoid conventional toilet paper. For those who want to be cautious, he recommends choosing simple, unscented, dye-free products, since fragrances, lotions, and dyes don't improve hygiene and may cause irritation for some individuals.