Chlorine Free Maxi Pads vs Tampons: which is safer?
Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Maxi Pads is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Seventh Generation
Chlorine Free Maxi Pads
PFAS grade
Excellent 100/100
Overall grade
Excellent 96/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
organic cotton, wood pulp
Confidence
78%
PossibleFragrance allergen content
Tampax Pearl
Tampons
PFAS grade
Good 70/100
Overall grade
Good 52/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
rayon, cotton, polyester core
Confidence
72%
PossiblePesticide residues in cotton component
ReportedBacterial overgrowth and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) risk
PossibleFragrance or deodorant additives (if present)
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Fragrance allergen content on the Seventh Generation and not on the Tampax Pearl.
- We flag Pesticide residues in cotton component, Bacterial overgrowth and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) risk and Fragrance or deodorant additives (if present) on the Tampax Pearl and not on the Seventh Generation.
- The Seventh Generation is organic cotton, wood pulp where the Tampax Pearl is rayon, cotton, polyester core, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 30 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Seventh Generation is the one to buy.
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More period pads: see the full ranking