위생용품 중 포름알데히드 잔류량 실태 조사

• Published in: Han'gug sigpum wi'saeng anjeonseong haghoeji Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 46 - 54
• Main Authors: 송서현, 윤희정, 박성희, 장미경, 채선영, 전종섭, 이명진, Seo-Hyeon Song, Hee-Jeong Yun, Sung-Hee Park, Mi-Kyung Jang, Sun-Young Chae, Jong-Sup Jeon, Myung-Jin Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 한국식품위생안전성학회 30.04.2023
• Subjects: 식품과학; Hygiene products; Test method; Formaldehyde
• ISSN: 1229-1153; 2465-9223

In this study, we examined the residual amounts of formaldehyde in hygiene products to determine the safety of these products in Gyeonggi-do. Formaldehyde is among the harmful substances that may remain within certain hygiene products. On the basis of an analysis of formaldehyde in a total of 222 items (6 disposable paper straws, 9 disposable paper napkins, 21 toilet papers, 13 disposable dishcloths, 16 disposable paper towels, 32 wet wipes for food service restaurants, 25 disposable cotton swabs, and 100 disposable diapers), we detected traces in three wet wipes for food service restaurants (1.87 to 4.45 mg/kg), which is approximately 9% to 22% of the standard level (20 mg/kg). We established that all the hygiene products assessed in the study met the individual standards for formaldehyde, thereby confirming that safe products are being distributed. In the standards and specifications for hygiene products, the formaldehyde test method is regulated for application with respect to three categories based on the type of product. The samples used in this study were of types for which method 1 or method 2 is applied, and the limits of detection, limits of quantification, linearity, and recovery rates were reviewed to verify the validity of each test method. When method 2 was applied, we experienced interference when performing analysis at a wavelength of 412 nm, which was associated with the influence of impurities in some samples of disposable cotton swabs and disposable diapers. Consequently, in these cases, the results were compared after analysis using method 1. By comparing the results obtained using method 2 with those obtained using method 1, the latter of which were unaffected by the interference of impurities, we were able to detect formaldehyde at low concentrations. These findings accordingly highlight the necessity to standardize the formaldehyde test method for future analyses.