ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1
A TIMELINE OF TESTS ON PERIOD PRODUCTS FOR TOXIC CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES, UPDATED TO THE PRESENT DAY.







2
3
Year Month Research Author Journal or organisationProducts tested Chemicals detected: Link Country
4
2002Exposure assessment to dioxins from the use of tampons and diapersDevito, MJ & Schecter, A. Environmental Health Perspectives 4 brands of tampons Dioxins and furans https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11781161/USA
5
2005Dioxin and furan levels found in tamponsArcher Journal of Women's Health 7 brands of tampons Dioxins and furans https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15916504/USA
6
2013NovemberChem Fatale - potential health effects of toxic chemicals in feminine hygiene productsWVE WVE (Women's Voices for the Earth)https://womensvoices.org/menstrual-care-products/chem-fatale-report/USA
7
2014AugustAlways Pads Testing ResultsWVE WVE (Women's Voices for the Earth)4 different always pads Styrene, chloromethane, chloroethane, chloroform, acetone, toluene. https://womensvoices.org/menstrual-care-products/detox-the-box/always-pads-testing-results/USA
8
2014November Product test: tampons and sanitary napkins


TVTudatos Vasarlok (Association of Conscious Customers)4 brands of pads and 5 brands of tampons Phthalates, triclosan, parabens.https://tudatosvasarlo.hu/termekteszt-tamponok-es-egeszsegugyi-betetek-0/Hungary
9
2015July All sanitary pads in Indonesia contain chlorine
Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI)Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI)


Download The Jakarta Post app for easier and faster news access:
Android: http://bit.ly/tjp-android
iOS: http://bit.ly/tjp-ios		9 brands of pads, 6 brands of panty liners for the presence of chorine Chlorine https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/07/all-sanitary-pads-indonesia-contain-chlorine-ylki.htmlIndonesia
10
2016March The toxic residues in tampons 60 Million Consumers Magazine 60 Millions Consumers Magazine 4 brands of pads, 4 brands of panty liners, and 5 brands of tampons Organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides, glyphosate, dioxins and halogenated organic compounds, https://bibliotheque.60millions-mag.com/detail/publication/detail-top-right/561?issue_id=113545&switch_toc=archives&addon=falseFrance
11
2016October Tampon, Our intimate enemy Dream Way Productions Audrey Gloaguen with the collaboration of Victoria Kopiloff6 brands of tampons for plasticizer chemicals Phthalates and other plasticizers Tampon, our intimate enemy - Dream Way productions France
12
2016December Chemische Substanzen in HygieneartikelnSwiss Federal Food and Veterinary Office (OSAV)Swiss Federal Food and Veterinary Office (OSAV)8 brands of tampons, 8 brands of pads for dioxins, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates and pesticides Dioxins, furans, naphthalene, anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, (No Suggestions) acid (AMPA). Link to swiss doc in folder or https://www.blv.admin.ch/dam/blv/de/dokumente/gebrauchsgegenstaende/publikationen-und-forschung/bericht-chem-subst-hyg-produkte.pdf.download.pdf/Bericht_Chemische-Substanzen-in-Hygieneartikeln_DE.pdfSwitzerland
13
2017May Contamination and health risk of phthalate esters in marketed sanitaryM. Chai et al. China Environmental Science PadsPhthalates https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319312934_Contamination_and_health_risk_of_phthalate_esters_in_marketed_sanitary_napkins_from_ChinaChina
14
2017July 22 Toxic Substances Found in Disposable Menstruation Pads on the Market Including carcinogenic substances, reproductive toxicants and skin irritants.Kim Man-goo of Kangwon National University for Korean Women's Environmental Network (KWEN) Korean Women's Environmental Network (KWEN) 10 brands of pads for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Styrene, tricholorethylene, benzene, toluene, heptane, hexane, and other VOCs https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/20170529/76445594South Korea
15
2017September Testing of pads and panty liners sold in South Korea Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA)Korean Food and Drug Administration 641 pads and panty liners sold in South Korea for 10 different volatile organic compounds (in response to the significant public reaction to the KWEN report)Carbon disulphide, methylene chloride, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, xylene, heptane, hexane, toluene. https://www.koreaherald.com/article/1461304#:~:text=Preliminary%20results%20of%20a%20study%20conducted%20by%20the,potentially%20toxic%20chemicals%20only%20found%20in%20trace%20amounts.South Korea
16
2018 April What's in your tampon? WVE WVE (Women's Voices for the Earth)6 brands of tampons (4 conventional containing rayon and 2 organic cotton brands) for VOCs.Carbon disulphide, methylene chloride, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, xylene, heptane, hexane toluene. https://womensvoices.org/menstrual-care-products/whats-in-your-tampon/USA
17
2018June Report 8/18: Survey of hazardous chemical substances in feminine hygiene productsSwedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI)Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI)7 brands of pads, 10 brands of panty liners, 10 brands of tampons and 8 brands of menstrual cups for a variety of chemicals of concern including pesticides, plasticizers, fragrances, siloxanes and other VOCs. Formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, 1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, benzophenone, 1, 4 - butanediol diglycidyl ether, 2-ethyhexyl acrylate, sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate, siloxanes (D4, D5, D6, D7, and D9). https://www.kemi.se/en/publications/reports/2018/report-8-18-survey-of-hazardous-chemical-substances-in-feminine-hygiene-productsSweden
18
2018June Opinion: of the French Agency for Food, Environmental
and Occupational Health & Safety
on the safety of feminine hygiene products		French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses) French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses) Menstrual pads, panty liners, tampons and menstrual cups Butylphenyl methylpropional, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides (glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), lindane, hexachlorobenzene), dioxins, furans, and Di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP). https://www.anses.fr/en/system/files/CONSO2016SA0108EN.pdfFrance
19
2018August Test: menstrual cupsDanish Consumer Council (THINK)Danish Consumer Council (THINK)7 menstrual cups for phthalates, carcinogenic nitrosamines, heavy metals and chlorinated paraffins. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), naphthalene, diethyl phthalate, VOCs. https://taenk.dk/test/menstruationskopperDenmark
20
2019 JanuarySanitary pads and diapers contain higher phthalate contents than those in common commercial plastic products Chan Jin Park et alReproductive Toxicology 11 pads sold in South Korea for phthalates and VOCs. Investigation sponsored by SEVEN TV.Toluene, xylene, methylene chloride, phthalates. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30659930/South Korea
21
2019March Period protection, not yet reassuring.
60 Million Consumers Magazine 60 Million Consumers Magazine7 brands of pads and 8 brands of tampons for pesticides, phthalates, dioxins and halogenated organic compounds. Glyphosate/AMPA, phthalates, dioxins and halogenated organic compounds. https://bibliotheque.60millions-mag.com/detail/publication/detail-top-right/561?issue_id=97249&switch_toc=archivesFrance
22
2019DecemberOccurrence and Distribution of Phthalates in Sanitary Napkins from Six Countries: Implications for Women's HealthZhenwu Tang et alEnvironmental Science and Technology PadsPhthalateshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31694371/Japan, South Korea, USA, UK, Australia, Germany
23
2020January Sensitizing fragrances in absorbent hygiene productsBart Desmedt et alContact DermatitisTampons, pads, panty linersFragrance allergens, (hexyl cinnamal, benzyl salicylate, limonene, linalool, citronellal, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31951286/Belgium
24
2020 January Feminine Hygiene Products-A Neglected Source of Phthalate Exposure in Women Chong-Jing Gao et alEnvironmental Science and Technology pads (also douches, vulvar cleaning products)phthalateshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31859481/China
25
2020January Phthalates, bisphenols, parabens, and triclocarban in feminine hygiene products from the United States and their implications for human exposure Chong-Jing Gao et alEnvironment International pads, panty liners, tampons (also wipes, vaginal creams, vaginal sprays, and powders. Phthalates, parabens, bisphenols and triclocarban. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31945693/USA
26
2020 JanuaryMy Menstrual Underwear Has Toxic Chemicals in ItJessica ChoySierra Magazine menstrual underwear PFAS, copper, zinc.https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ask-ms-green/my-menstrual-underwear-has-toxic-chemicals-itUSA
27
2020January Monitoring of the Belgian market with regard to organic residues in tampons sanitary napkins - part 2
Target analyses		Flemish Institute for Technological Research NV (VITO)Health Food Chain Safety EnvironmentTampons and padsPhthalates, glyphosate, dioxins, furans, nonylphenol, methyl and chloromethylisothiazolinonehttps://www.health.belgium.be/en/report-organic-residues-tampons-sanitary-napkinsBelgium
28
2020AprilVolatile organic compounds in feminine hygiene products sold in the US market: A survey of products and health risksLin et al Environment International Pads Phthalates, VOCshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7958867/
29
2021May Best (& Worst) Period Underwear & Period Panties Tested for Indications of PFASMamavation Mamavation Period underwear PFAS https://www.mamavation.comUSA
30
2022July Wrapped in Secrecy: Toxic Chemicals in Menstrual ProductsToxics Link Toxics Link Pads and tampons VOCshttps://toxicslink.org/publications/reports/wrapped-in-secrecy-toxic-chemicals-in-menstrual-productsIndia
31
2022NovemberPFAS “Forever Chemicals” Inside Sanitary Pads & Incontinence Pads — Report 2022Mamavation Mamavation Pads, liners, incontinence products PFAS https://www.mamavation.com/beauty/pfas-forever-chemicals-sanitary-pads-incontinence-pads.htmlUSA
32
2022October Do Your Tampons Contain PFAS “Forever Chemicals?” They Might. –ReportMamavation Mamavation Tampons PFAS https://www.mamavation.com/beauty/pfas-tampons.htmlUSA
33
2023AugustWe Had 44 Period and Incontinence Products Tested for Forever Chemicals. Many Were Contaminated.New York Times - WirecutterNew York Times - WirecutterTampons, menstrual cups, period underwear PFAS https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/forever-chemicals-in-period-incontinence-products/USA
34
2023AugustIndicator of PFAS found in some — but not all — period productsGraham Peaslee et alAmerican Chemical Society 100 period products - including single-use tampons and pads and their wrappers, period pants. PFAS and organic fluorine https://www.acs.org/pressroom/newsreleases/2023/august/indicator-of-pfas-found-in-some-but-not-all-period-products.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmOTfSanVVQ&list=PL-qHxGvFeZV3ftwffkiRifq6E0CvXexwU&index=2USA
35
2023September Chemicals in menstrual products: A systematic reviewJoanna Marroquin et alBJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology publishedReview of 15 papers over 10 reporting on testing of period productsPhthalates, volatile organic compounds, parabens, environmental
phenols, fragrance chemicals, dioxins and dioxin-like
compounds were detected in
menstrual products		https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37743685/International
36
2023November Some popular period pants contain unnecessarily high levels of silver, Which? warnsWhich? And AltroConsumoWhich? Magazine and AltroConsumoPeriod underwear for chemicals of concern - Silver, Forever chemicals (PFCAs, PFOs and PFOAs), Chromium VI, Cadmium, lead, ArsenicSilver (used as an antimicrobial)https://www.which.co.uk/policy-and-insight/article/some-popular-period-pants-contain-unnecessarily-high-levels-of-silver-which-warns-aFFwv6E0Sb8rUK and Italy
37
2024 AugustTampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)sShearston JA, et al Environment International Tampons Heavy metals (arsenic, lead, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt,
copper, iron, manganese, nickel, selenium, strontium, vanadium, zinc)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004355?via%3DihubUSA
38
2024December Analysis of single-use menstrual products from the Spanish market detect 19 substances associated with plastic that can compromise the health of women and future generationsRezero RezeroPads, tampons Phthalates, Organophosphates ethers (OPEs), Alternative plasticizers to phthalates (NPPs) - to be defined.https://www.rezero.cat/en/toxic-plastic-menstruals-products/Spain
39
2024/2025
40
41
42
–
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100