시중 물티슈의 물 풀림성, 생분해성 및 급성 독성 비교 평가

초록

The increasing consumption of wet wipes has led to significant waste management issues and environmental pollution. In particular, wipes composed of non-biodegradable and non-flushable materials cause frequent blockages in sewage systems. With the recent expansion of eco-friendly policies and heightened public awareness of sustainability, there is a growing effort to reduce environmental burdens by utilizing biodegradable raw materials. This study comparatively evaluated the environmental impacts of 15 commercially available wet wipes, comprising three products from each of five categories: cleaning, cosmetic, baby, general-purpose, and biodegradable types. To achieve this, several standardized tests were conducted: flushability was assessed according to ISO 12625-17; biodegradability was assessed through a 42-day soil burial test with weight loss, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR); and acute aquatic toxicity was tested using Daphnia magna (OECD TG 202). The results indicated that cellulose-based biodegradable wipes generally exhibited superior flushability and soil biodegradability compared to synthetic fiber-based conventional wipes. FTIR analysis revealed amide bond peaks in cellulose-based samples, serving as evidence of microbial degradation, whereas synthetic fiber samples showed minimal chemical structural changes. SEM observations further confirmed surface degradation in cellulose-based samples, while synthetic polymer fibers remained largely unchanged. In the acute toxicity tests, extracts from certain wipes exhibited toxicity to Daphnia magna, confirming the potential environmental hazard of included chemical components. Furthermore, ECOSAR software analysis predicted high toxicity for limonene and orange oil, which were common ingredients in the tested samples, demonstrating consistency between experimental results and theoretical predictions.

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