Chlorine Free Maxi Pads vs PEARL ULTRA ABSORBENCY*18 COUNT: 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 ULTRA ABSORBENCY*18 COUNT
PFAS grade
Good 70/100
Overall grade
Good 58/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
cotton/rayon absorbent core, plastic applicator
Confidence
72%
PossibleRayon/cotton pesticide residues
PossibleBleaching byproducts (dioxins, AOX)
PossibleBacterial contamination or TSS risk
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Fragrance allergen content on the Seventh Generation and not on the Tampax.
- We flag Rayon/cotton pesticide residues, Bleaching byproducts (dioxins, AOX) and Bacterial contamination or TSS risk on the Tampax and not on the Seventh Generation.
- The Seventh Generation is organic cotton, wood pulp where the Tampax is cotton/rayon absorbent core, plastic applicator, 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, which covers 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