1.What is the development history of sanitary napkins?

The use of sanitary napkins began in the 20th century. According to records, sanitary napkins originated from bandages used during World War I. At that time, American female nurses serving in France used bandages to wrap cotton wool as menstrual supplies. Such products are safe, clean and hygienic to use, and can be directly thrown away after replacement, without washing and reuse. This is the earliest prototype of sanitary napkins. During World War I, Kimberly-Clark Corporation of the United States developed and produced cellucotton materials. The water absorption performance of this chemical fiber material is many times higher than that of pure cotton, and it was welcomed by battlefield medical staff. However, with the end of World War I in 1918, the demand for cellucotton in the battlefield medical market shrank sharply. Kimberly-Clark decided to use cellucotton to produce sanitary napkins, and launched the first disposable sanitary napkin in 1921. Since then, sanitary napkins have entered the era of industrial mass production. In 1929, catheter-type internal tampons were born in the United States. In 1969, hot melt adhesive products and technologies were applied to produce “self-adhesive sanitary napkins”. From then on, sanitary napkins no longer needed to be fixed with pins, belts, etc., and could be directly attached to underwear. China began to produce sanitary napkins in the early 1980s. In 1982, Beijing Paper Factory No. 11 took the lead in introducing sanitary napkin equipment to produce straight sanitary napkins. Hengan, Hangzhou Yuhang Paper Factory, Foshan Weilong (now Qisheng Company) and others were among the first batch of sanitary napkin manufacturers in China. In 1991, P&G took the lead in launching wing-type sanitary napkins in its Guangzhou factory. In 1992, sanitary pads appeared on the Chinese market. Afterwards, with the continuous development of technology and materials, the surface layer, core and product types of sanitary napkins have been continuously updated. According to the surface material, sanitary napkins can be divided into: dry mesh sanitary napkins, soft surface sanitary napkins, pure cotton surface sanitary napkins, etc.; according to the absorbent core, they can be divided into: traditional core sanitary napkins (containing fluff pulp and highly absorbent resin), composite core sanitary napkins, new core (such as porous absorbent polymers and foaming materials in liquid sanitary napkins, etc.) sanitary napkins; according to product type, they can be divided into: straight sanitary napkins, wing sanitary napkins, pants-type sanitary napkins, etc. After more than 100 years of continuous improvement, sanitary napkin products can now well meet the sanitary care requirements of women of appropriate age during menstruation.

Materials and Structure

2.What are the raw materials used in sanitary napkins?

The main raw materials for producing sanitary napkins include: non-woven fabrics, fluff pulp, highly absorbent resin (SAP), polyethylene (PE) film, hot melt adhesive, elastic materials (including elastic rubber bands, elastic non-woven fabrics), absorbent lining paper, dry-laid paper, release paper (release film), etc. Each raw material plays a different role in the product. Among them, the function of fluff pulp and super absorbent resin (SAP) is to absorb and store liquid, and they are the main raw materials in sanitary napkins.

3.What kind of structure does the sanitary napkin consist of?

The basic structure of the sanitary napkin mainly includes the surface layer, the diversion layer, the absorbent core, the leakproof bottom layer, etc. The auxiliary components include the three-dimensional guard edge, the anti-adhesive release paper, etc.; the auxiliary components of the menstrual pants (pants-type sanitary napkins) also include elastic waist and elastic leg circumference. The surface layer, the diversion layer, the absorbent core, and the leakproof bottom layer are responsible for receiving, diffusing, absorbing and storing liquid (blood) and preventing leakage. The main functions of other auxiliary components are to prevent liquid leakage, fix the sanitary napkin on the underwear or make the menstrual pants wear on the body, etc.

Safety of sanitary napkins

4.What is the fluff pulp in sanitary napkins?

Will it affect women’s health? The raw materials of fluff pulp are mainly coniferous wood, such as pine, spruce, fir, etc., which are natural raw materials. Fluff pulp itself is hydrophilic and can quickly capture liquid. It has been widely used in absorbent sanitary products such as sanitary napkins for decades. Since sanitary napkins are in direct contact with human skin, the hygiene standards and cleanliness requirements of fluff pulp are relatively high. During the production process of fluff pulp, it is necessary to control microorganisms and prevent mosquitoes, foreign objects and other contamination; the packaging requirements of fluff pulp rolls are also very high; in addition, during the transportation of fluff pulp, it is necessary to ensure that the packaging materials are neat and complete to avoid contamination of fluff pulp due to damage to the packaging materials

5.Will the use of sanitary napkins cause formaldehyde hazards?

No. First of all, formaldehyde is widely present in nature, and furniture, clothing, food, cars, etc. may contain small amounts of formaldehyde. Under normal circumstances, formally produced sanitary napkins will not cause significant health hazards due to formaldehyde content. Internationally, the production of sanitary napkins is strictly regulated. For example, the EU’s General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) and the US FDA regulations require that the formaldehyde content in the product must be below the safety limit (usually measured in parts per million, ppm). Qualified sanitary napkins undergo rigorous testing during the production process to ensure that formaldehyde emissions are far below levels that may cause health problems.

6.What is a fluorescent brightener?

Does sanitary napkins contain fluorescent brighteners? Fluorescent brighteners are a class of organic compounds that can absorb ultraviolet light and emit blue or blue-violet fluorescence. Fluorescent brighteners do not need to be added during the production of sanitary napkins, and the various raw materials used to produce sanitary napkins, such as fluff pulp and non-woven fabrics, do not need to add fluorescent brighteners. If a sanitary napkin is placed under ultraviolet light, it is possible to see fluorescence, but the presence of fluorescence does not mean that fluorescent brighteners have been added. There are substances that emit fluorescence in nature. The most common ones are fireflies, shrimps, and crabs. Many common foods, such as fermented foods such as soy sauce, Pu’er tea, white wine, and black tea, also have fluorescence. Some raw materials in sanitary napkins, such as adhesives, will emit fluorescence by themselves, which does not mean that fluorescent brighteners have been added, let alone that they are harmful to the human body.

7.What are trace impurities?

Are there trace impurities in sanitary napkins? Is it possible to affect women’s health? Trace impurities generally refer to minor substances in products. It may be brought in by the raw materials themselves, formed during the production process, generated by reactions between components in the product or between components and packaging materials during normal storage, precipitated from packaging materials, etc. Trace impurities are usually present in products at very low levels (trace amounts), such as a few milligrams or less per kilogram of consumer products. Some trace impurities that often appear in consumer products are widely present in nature, and they can be found in drinking water, soil, air, and even food. Therefore, they may be mixed into the product in one or more links of the collection and transportation of sanitary napkin raw materials, the production and manufacturing of finished products, and the packaging and storage process. The presence of trace impurities does not mean that sanitary napkins are unsafe. When sanitary napkins contain trace impurities, multiple factors should be considered to determine whether the product will cause safety risks. These factors include: the nature of the trace substance (i.e., the nature and degree of the substance’s hazard), its content in the product, the amount and route of consumer use of the product (such as oral ingestion, inhalation with breathing, direct skin contact or indirect skin contact, etc.), the frequency of contact or use of the product (such as several times a day or once every few months), etc. These factors are closely related to the final safety evaluation results.

8.What are the standards for ensuring the safety of sanitary napkin products?

Sanitary napkins and other female menstrual care products are disposable sanitary products. Manufacturers must obtain a sanitary license for disinfection product manufacturers (sanitation license) issued by the national health department before they can implement production. The “Sanitary Standards for Disinfection Product Manufacturers” has strict requirements for manufacturers of female menstrual care sanitary products to ensure sterility and safety. Manufacturers must comply with the US FDA and EU CE certification requirements. Products must pass ISO 10993 biosafety tests and undergo strict microbial testing (such as EN 1174 or ISO 11737) and skin compatibility assessments to ensure sterility and non-irritation, meet global health standards, and provide consumers with a safe and reliable menstrual care experience. , There are strict hygiene requirements for products.

9.Will there be live insects in sanitary napkins?

Sanitary napkin production uses an automated, closed production line, and the factory and production equipment have strict insect control and cleaning and disinfection measures. Many production equipment are equipped with high-resolution visual inspection systems, which can monitor and remove products with dirt and foreign matter, even foreign matter as small as a needle tip. The possibility of live insects in the production process is extremely low. Many companies’ products will undergo several tests such as product appearance, microorganisms, and physical and chemical indicators before leaving the factory. Products must meet national standards before leaving the factory. In addition, the raw materials of sanitary napkins, such as the non-woven fabric of the surface layer, the fluff pulp and high-absorbent resin in the absorbent core, are not nutrients for the survival of live insects. The raw materials of sanitary napkins and the production of sanitary napkins themselves require processes such as high-speed reel operation, high-temperature spraying and high-pressure embossing. Even if insects enter, they cannot survive in this environment.

How to choose, use and store sanitary napkins

10.What indicators should be paid attention to when choosing sanitary napkins?

When choosing sanitary napkins, consumers should pay attention to indicators such as the absorption performance and comfort of sanitary napkins. Absorption performance is the most important indicator of women’s menstrual care sanitary products, including absorption capacity, absorption speed, re-seepage, etc. The comfort of using sanitary napkins mainly depends on the thickness, softness, fit, breathability, and surface dryness of sanitary napkins.

11.Why are sanitary napkins prone to moisture and mold? How should they be stored?

The main function of sanitary napkins is to absorb menstrual blood. Most of the materials used also have good water absorption and are easy to absorb moisture in the air and get damp. If they are placed in a humid environment that is prone to breeding bacteria for a long time after opening, they are prone to moisture, mold, and even insects crawling in. Therefore, they should be placed in a dry and clean environment. After opening, it is best to use them up within 2 to 3 months to ensure safe use.

12.What should be paid attention to when changing sanitary napkins?

The replacement time of sanitary napkins depends on many factors, including the amount of menstrual blood during menstruation, whether they are used during the day or at night, and during meetings or outings. It is usually recommended to change sanitary napkins every 2 to 3 hours during the day to keep the vulva clean during menstruation. If the menstrual flow is heavy and the sanitary napkin is full of blood soon after use, it is necessary to change it in time to avoid staining clothes. In addition, menstrual blood is a good bacterial culture medium. If the sanitary napkin is not changed for a long time, bacteria are easy to breed, which is not conducive to the hygiene of the vulva during menstruation. If it is at night, you can choose to use night sanitary napkins or menstrual pants to use all night, but if the menstrual flow is heavy and it is soaked, it still needs to be changed in time.