The Effect of the Brand of Feminine Hygiene Products on the Number of Chemicals Absorbed into a Solution

Logan TrullFollow

School Name

Heathwood Hall Episcopal School

Grade Level

9th Grade

Presentation Topic

Consumer Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Written Paper Award

1st Place

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the levels of chemicals absorbed into an aqueous solution from different feminine product brands. The hypothesis was that if the brand of feminine hygiene product is changed, then the amount of added chemicals absorbed into the solution would also change. The experimenter tested four tampons from varying brands including one scented. The types gathered included: Tampax Pearl Scented/Unscented (both with flow size regular), Safe & Soft (Unscented, flow size regular), and Playtex Sport (Unscented, flow size regular). An aqueous solution with a viscosity near 0.6922 mPa.s was created by heating water to a temperature near 37 Degrees Celsius. After, five tampons from each of the four tampon brands were inserted into the solution and soaked for 8 hours. The testing strips were inserted into the solutions (after removing tampons) and the researcher reviewed the color changes to determine the levels of absorbed chemicals. The regular water at the temperature was tested as well, without tampons. The results recognized the Tampax Pearl Scented provided a harder water than Tampax Pearl Unscented. The evidence implies that the fragrance applied to the Tampax Pearl Scented tampons was the cause. The average total alkalinity levels of the different brands were higher than the controlled water meaning the contaminant must have been absorbed into the water from the tampons. The pH of all tested were shown in the analysis to be normal, and the free chlorine and total chlorine were shown to be inconclusive.

Location

Founders Hall 255 A

Start Date

3-30-2019 9:30 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 9:30 AM

The Effect of the Brand of Feminine Hygiene Products on the Number of Chemicals Absorbed into a Solution

Founders Hall 255 A

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the levels of chemicals absorbed into an aqueous solution from different feminine product brands. The hypothesis was that if the brand of feminine hygiene product is changed, then the amount of added chemicals absorbed into the solution would also change. The experimenter tested four tampons from varying brands including one scented. The types gathered included: Tampax Pearl Scented/Unscented (both with flow size regular), Safe & Soft (Unscented, flow size regular), and Playtex Sport (Unscented, flow size regular). An aqueous solution with a viscosity near 0.6922 mPa.s was created by heating water to a temperature near 37 Degrees Celsius. After, five tampons from each of the four tampon brands were inserted into the solution and soaked for 8 hours. The testing strips were inserted into the solutions (after removing tampons) and the researcher reviewed the color changes to determine the levels of absorbed chemicals. The regular water at the temperature was tested as well, without tampons. The results recognized the Tampax Pearl Scented provided a harder water than Tampax Pearl Unscented. The evidence implies that the fragrance applied to the Tampax Pearl Scented tampons was the cause. The average total alkalinity levels of the different brands were higher than the controlled water meaning the contaminant must have been absorbed into the water from the tampons. The pH of all tested were shown in the analysis to be normal, and the free chlorine and total chlorine were shown to be inconclusive.