We used an accredited Australian testing specialist facility based in NSW which is part of a worldwide network of laboratories. Their accreditations and memberships are listed below. 

NATA Accredited
NATA is the primary accreditation which is the national benchmark for laboratory competence in Australia. This accreditation requires independent technical assessment and ongoing surveillance audits. 

ISO 14001:2015
Certified Environmental Management System.

ISO17025 IANZ Accreditation (LABTEC)
LABTEC in Auckland holds ISO 17025 accreditation from International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) 

ELSIG - Environmental Laboratories Special Industry Group
Active member of the peak industry body representing environmental laboratories in Australia.

RACI - Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Member of Australia's professional body for chemical scientists and engineers.

PFAS is short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. It’s a large family of synthetic chemicals, in use since the mid-20th century, that repel water, oil and stains. You’ll find them in non-stick cookware, outdoor gear, food packaging and some cosmetics. They’ve also turned up in some period products.

They’re called “forever chemicals” because they resist breaking down. They persist in the environment, and they can accumulate in the body over time.

Researchers have linked exposure to some PFAS with health effects, including immune and hormonal changes and certain cancers. Two of the best-studied compounds, PFOA and PFOS, have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as carcinogenic and possibly carcinogenic to humans respectively. These chemicals are also listed on the NSW Government website. 

But PFAS aren’t one chemical. There are thousands, and they differ in how they behave, how long they last and how much harm they do. Research hasn’t caught up with that variety, so there’s no simple answer on safe exposure levels.

PFAS are everywhere, so they can get into a product from sources that have nothing to do with its ingredients, such as machinery, packaging or the supply chain. That’s why we don’t rely on “we didn’t add any” as proof. 

We sent a pad to an independent, accredited lab to be tested. This is expensive, however, Half of Us was built around a set of values and transparency is one of them.

Two randomly selected Regular Organic Cotton Pads were sent to the testing facility. The following results were received on 5th November 2026. 

PFAS - NOT DETECTED
20 compounds tested including PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) - NOT DETECTED
Includes Solvents, Benxene, Toluene, Xylenes and similar

Phthalates - NOT DETECTED
Including DEHP

Heavy Metals - NOT DETECTED
Includes Mercury, Lead, Copper, Chromium, Cadmium, Arsenic and Zinc.
All produced a result of below below 2 µg/kg except Zinc which returned a result of below 4 µg/kg.

**Please make sure to read 'What does 'not detected' mean?' to better understand these results.

Every laboratory has a minimum testing limit that their machinery can detect. In the case of the testing facility we used, their reporting limits were mostly below 2 µg/kg.

A reporting limit (RL) of 2 µg/kg means that the laboratory can reliably measure and accurately report the presence of a substance down to a concentration of 2 micrograms per kilogram. If the substance is present in an amount lower than 2 µg/kg, the lab will typically report the result as "Not Detected" (ND) or "< 2 µg/kg". 

A µg (Microgram): One microgram is one-millionth of a gram (0.000001 g).
The Ratio: 2 µg/kg is equivalent to 2 parts per billion (ppb). 

To visualize this, it is roughly equal to:
- 2 seconds in nearly 32 years.
- 2 drops of water in an Olympic-sised swimming pool.

Test results in perspective: 

Phthalates: These are endocrine-disrupting chemicals frequently used in the plastic backing or adhesives of sanitary napkins. Independent testing routinely detects phthalates in conventional pads at median levels ranging from 250 µg/kg to over 1,000 µg/kg (expressed in literature as 0.25 to 1.4 µg/g). A reading of 2 µg/kg is hundreds of times lower than the typical background levels found in standard commercial products and falls well within margins considered negligible for consumer exposure. Reference Source

PFAS deserve attention, but it is important we understand what everyone is talking about before jumping to conclusions. The research is still developing, so the most useful thing you can do is back brands that show their testing and are being transparent. Ask them hard questions, and keep reading to educate yourself. 

Don’t ignore PFAS. Don’t take a brand’s word for it either. Ask what was tested, who tested it, and how low they could detect. A brand that can’t answer hasn’t done the work.

Most companies aren't required to test, so those that do should be supported. 

Be wary of companies that use language like 'PFAS FREE' or 'ZERO PFAS'. If they third party tested, their testing facility most likely wouldn't support this claim as no accredited testing laboratory can return a result of 'zero'.