engineers believe the super absorbent properties of tampons could be used to detect pipes that shunt sewage into streams instead of treatment plants .
they found that the cotton products absorb chemicals commonly used on toilet paper , laundry detergents and shampoos , which glow under uv light , meaning that they could help experts clean up polluted rivers .
engineers believe the super absorbent properties of tampons could be used to detect pipes that shunt sewage into streams instead of treatment plants .