Asbestos is not an ingredient or even a trace contaminant in any brand of tampon manufactured in the U.S. FDA has received no evidence of asbestos in tampons or any reports regarding increased menstrual bleeding following tampon use. The design and materials for all tampons sold in the U.S. are reviewed and must be cleared by the FDA before marketing. Asbestos is not, and never has been, associated with the fibers used in making tampons. There are also allegations that some tampons contain the chemical dioxin. Tampons sold in the U.S. are made of cotton, rayon, or blends of rayon and cotton.
Rayon is made from cellulose fibers derived from wood pulp.
Cellulose used in U.S. tampons is now produced using elemental chlorine-free bleaching processes that produce no dioxin. The EPA regulates wood pulp producers to ensure that dioxin-free methods are used because dioxin is an environmental pollutant. While the methods used for manufacturing tampons today are considered to be dioxin-free processes, dioxin is an environmental pollutant, and it is possible for trace amounts to be introduced through environmental sources such as air, water, or ground before the wood pulp or cotton is processed. There are also allegations that rayon in tampons causes TSS, and dryness or ulcerations of vaginal tissues. TSS is a rare but potentially fatal disease caused by a bacterial toxin.