By PFAS Database · Updated July 24, 2026
We graded 174 tampons for PFAS. Here is what we found (2026 data study)
PFAS Database evaluated 174 tampon products from 26 brands using our model-based grading system, and the results tell a more reassuring story than the headlines around "forever chemicals" in period products might suggest. Only 2 percent of graded tampons received a failing D or F grade, and zero products showed confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signals in their materials or disclosures. Still, the vast majority of the category landed in a middle-of-the-road C grade, meaning most tampon brands have real room to improve transparency and formulation before they can claim an A.
Key findings
- 174 tampons across 26 brands were graded in the tampons category for this study.
- Only 25 products, or 14 percent, earned an A grade.
- 145 products, a full 83 percent of the category, landed in the C grade tier.
- Just 4 products, or 2 percent, received a failing D or F grade.
- Zero of the 174 graded tampons, 0 percent, showed confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signals.
- The top-scoring products, including Seventh Generation Organic Cotton Tampons Applicator, LOLA Organic Cotton Tampons, and Cora Organic Tampons with Applicator, all scored a perfect 100 out of 100.
Grade distribution across the category
The distribution below shows a category that is not dominated by failures but is also far from excellent across the board. The overwhelming majority of tampons cluster in the C range, which in our model reflects adequate but unremarkable disclosure and formulation practices rather than clear red flags.
| Grade | Number of products | Share of category |
|---|---|---|
| A | 25 | 14% |
| C | 145 | 83% |
| F | 4 | 2% |
Notably absent from the distribution are meaningful numbers of B and D grades, suggesting our model draws a fairly sharp line between organic cotton, applicator-transparent lines that score in the A range and mainstream conventional lines that settle into the C tier by default.
Top and bottom performers
The highest-graded tampons in this study share a common profile: organic cotton materials and clearer ingredient and applicator disclosure. The lowest-graded products, by contrast, tend to be bundled or multipack conventional offerings where documentation is thinner.
| Rank | Product | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (tie) | Seventh Generation Organic Cotton Tampons Applicator | 100/100 |
| 1 (tie) | LOLA Organic Cotton Tampons | 100/100 |
| 1 (tie) | Cora Organic Tampons with Applicator | 100/100 |
| Lowest (tie) | Always Infinity Buy Pads Get Tampons Free bundle | 25/100 |
| Lowest (tie) | Always Infinity Pads, Size 1 | 25/100 |
| Lowest (tie) | Stayfree Secure XL 6N | 25/100 |
What zero confirmed PTFE signals means
Perhaps the most notable finding in this study is that none of the 174 graded tampons showed a confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signal in our review of materials and public disclosures. This is a meaningfully different picture than categories where fluoropolymer coatings or treatments are common. It suggests that, at least based on what is publicly disclosed, intentional PTFE use is not a widespread practice among the tampon brands in this dataset. Readers should note this does not rule out trace contamination from processing or packaging, which our model based on public disclosure cannot fully detect, but it is a meaningfully different signal than a category where fluoropolymer use is confirmed and common.
Why so many C grades
With 83 percent of products landing in the C tier, the tampon category looks like one where baseline safety is common but excellence is not. A C grade in our system generally reflects products that avoid the clearest red flags but also lack the fuller transparency, organic material sourcing, or third-party disclosure that pushes a product into the A range. Brands hoping to move up a tier should look at what separates the top three performers, all organic cotton lines with applicator transparency, from the conventional multipack products that make up the bulk of the C grade population.
Methodology
Grades in this study are model-based estimates derived from publicly available product materials, ingredient disclosures, and manufacturer statements. They are not laboratory test results and should not be interpreted as direct chemical analysis of any individual product. Grades can change as new disclosures or product formulations become available. Full details on how PFAS Database builds these estimates are available at our methodology page.
Cite this study
"We graded 174 tampons for PFAS. Here is what we found (2026 data study)." PFAS Database. https://pfasdatabase.com/guides/pfas-study-tampons-2026. Published January 2026.
Now check your own stuff
See every product we’ve graded in this category, safest first.
Get the safe list, free
The products we score each week, and the safest alternative in every category.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.