Tampax Review, Is Tampax Non-Toxic?
Tampax averages 70 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 14 Tampax products graded as of October 2026, and all 14 reach its 70 point pass mark.
Tampax grades Good on our four-band scale.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
What Tampax says and does about PFAS
We found no PFAS statement from Tampax or its maker Procter & Gamble; As You Sow says P&G has not issued a position on PFAS in personal care products including Tampax. Mamavation's lab found 23 ppm organic fluorine in Tampax Cardboard Applicator Unscented Tampons, and non-detect in two other Tampax tampons. A federal PFAS class action over Tampax Pure Cotton was dismissed in July 2025.
- Independent testMamavation's EPA-certified lab found 23 ppm organic fluorine, a PFAS marker, in Tampax Cardboard Applicator Unscented Tampons. Mamavation ↗
- Independent testThe same Mamavation test found non-detect organic fluorine in Tampax Pearl Leakguard Protection Jumbo Tampons and Tampax Pure 100% Organic Cotton Core Tampons. Mamavation ↗
- StudyMamavation says organic fluorine levels of 19 to 28 ppm are considered not intentionally added and are likely supply chain contamination, which is Mamavation's interpretation. Mamavation ↗
- Government sourceShareholder group As You Sow says P&G has not issued a position on PFAS in its personal care products including Tampax. As You Sow ↗
- Legal caseBounthon v. Procter & Gamble alleged Tampax Pure Cotton tampons contained PFAS. The court dismissed the third amended complaint without leave to amend on July 7, 2025, finding the testing allegations too cursory. These were allegations, not findings that PFAS are present or absent. KTS Law ↗
Sources checked September 29, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.
Tampax is one of the brands we researched by hand for our record of what every brand has published about PFAS, where the same question is answered for each of them in one line.
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Does Tampax have PFAS, by category
Which Tampax products are PFAS-free? Good or better, best-graded first
- rayon/viscose core, cotton outer layer, minimal processing
- Rayon fiber shedding and vaginal irritation. Rayon core can shed microfibers into the vaginal canal…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Rayon/viscose core, cotton-blend outer, no known coating
- Fragrance allergens (if scented variant). Tampax Super standard (unscented) contains no added fragrance.…
- rayon, cotton, polyester core
- Pesticide residue. Tampax Pearl does not specify organic cotton sourcing. Conventional cotton may carry…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- cotton core, rayon/plastic applicator
- Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (bleaching residues). Conventional cotton tampons are typically bleached…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- rayon/viscose core, plastic applicator
- Bacterial growth and toxic shock syndrome (TSS), TSS risk is associated with prolonged tampon insertion (>8…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Rayon/cotton blend core, plastic applicator
- BPA & bisphenols. Tampax does not disclose the specific plastic polymer or additives in the Radiant…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Rayon/viscose, cotton, cardboard applicator
- Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) risk. Not specific to Tampax Radiant but applies to all internal tampons. Risk is…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- rayon/viscose, polyester, cardboard applicator
- Polyester microfiber shedding. Polyester core reinforcement could theoretically shed microfibers during…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- cotton, rayon, plastic applicator
- Residual caustic from rayon processing. Rayon viscose production uses sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- rayon/viscose, cotton blend, cardboard applicator
- Fragrance allergens (scented variants). Some Tampax Pearl variants are scented; fragrance compositions are…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- rayon core, cotton lining
- Dioxin residues in rayon processing. Rayon production can leave trace dioxins if bleaching is not tightly…
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Rayon/viscose core, polyethylene outer layer
- Dioxins and bleaching byproducts. Rayon production typically involves bleaching; trace dioxin residues have…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- cotton/rayon absorbent core, plastic applicator
- Pesticide residue. Conventional cotton and rayon may carry traces of pesticides used in agriculture or…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- cotton/rayon absorbent core, plastic applicator
- Rayon fiber shedding or irritation. Rayon fibers in tampons can theoretically shed or cause vaginal…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What to buy instead Good or better, in the categories Tampax sells
- 100% organic cotton
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Heavy metals
Natracare
Organic Super Plus Tampons, 3 x 20 ct
- organic cotton, cardboard applicator
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Dioxins from bleaching
Natracare
Organic Cotton Super Plus Tampons
- organic cotton, no added fluorochemicals
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Verified PFAS-free by a third party
- organic cotton, wood pulp
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Fragrance allergen content
- cellulose, cotton blend, absorbent core
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bleach residues and processing chemicals in cellulose
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Cotton, wood pulp absorbent core, plastic backing
- Pesticide residue
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Tampax and PFAS, common questions
- Does Tampax have PFAS?
- Tampax averages 70 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 14 Tampax products graded as of October 2026, and all 14 reach its 70 point pass mark. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests. We found no PFAS statement from Tampax. Mamavation detected 23 ppm organic fluorine in one Tampax product and none in two others, and a PFAS class action over Tampax Pure Cotton was dismissed in 2025.
- Is Tampax non-toxic?
- Tampax Radiant Trio Pack Regular/Super/Super Plus Tampons is the highest-graded Tampax product we have scored, at 70/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which Tampax products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded Tampax products we have scored are Tampax Radiant Trio Pack Regular/Super/Super Plus Tampons, Tampax Super 48 Units, Tampax Pearl Tampons. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →