Natracare organic cotton tampons (super)

Natracare certified organic cotton tampons (Super absorbency) without applicator. 20 in box.

Natracare tampons were developed due to health and environmental concerns about dioxin pollution caused by chlorine bleaching, pesticide spraying on conventionally grown cotton and the use of rayon and other synthetics in tampons.

Made in the UK from certified organic 100% cotton and are the only tampons available in the world today that are fully certified organic to the end product (the Soil Association certification stamp appears on the packaging).

They are non-chlorine bleached and do not contain synthetic materials, such as rayon, or chemical additives such as binders or surfactants.

Rayon and rayon-cotton blends are widely used in the manufacture of tampons. Rayon is commonly chlorine-bleached, and is a highly absorbent fibre. Dioxin, a toxic carcinogen, is a by-product of all chlorine bleaching methods and is a by-product of pesticide spraying and pollution from incinerators. Dioxins collect in the fatty tissues of animals and humans. Scientific reports have shown that low levels of dioxins may be linked to cancer, endometriosis, low sperm counts and immune system suppression.

Natracare is available in a range of tampons with and without applicators, sanitary pads and liners.

Dr Philip Tierno, professor of microbiology at New York University Medical School, has spent 23 years doing independent research into TSS and its link to tampons. It boils down to the fact that the toxin that causes TSS grows in the sort of environment created inside the body around a tampon. What goes into a tampon and how long it is left in the body are both major contributing factors.

Dr Tierno has come up with a persuasive argument for changing to organic tampons. As with other organically grown crops, because non-intensive farming methods are used, there are no pesticide residues to contend with. "The bottom line is that you can get TSS with synthetic tampons but not with an organic cotton tampon," says Dr Tierno. He says there are strict case criteria defining TSS, including a temperature of 102, rash and hypo-tension. However women can have variations on these reactions; a slightly lower temperature, for example, and those symptoms might go unreported because they don't meet the strict definition.

"People think TSS was a health scare of the 80s, that it has gone away, and it's true that manufacturers changed the blends in their tampons and people got educated about the right way to use them. But the problem is coming back as manufacturers start trying to increase the absorbencies of their products." His advice is clear: "Never use tampons if you have ever had TSS. Use all-cotton products, don't use higher absorbencies and don't leave a tampon in for longer than eight hours. Above all, you are the proponent of your own health - do your bit by raising your brand of tampons as a concern with your doctor." (Source: Emma Lindsey - The Guardian)