Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety (한국식품위생안전성학회지)

The Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety (한국식품위생안전성학회)
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Survey on Residue Level of Formaldehyde in Hygiene Products

위생용품 중 포름알데히드 잔류량 실태 조사

  • Seo-Hyeon, Song (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment) ;
  • Hee-Jeong Yun (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment) ;
  • Sung-Hee Park (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment) ;
  • Mi-Kyung Jang (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment) ;
  • Sun-Young Chae (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment) ;
  • Jong-Sup Jeon (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment) ;
  • Myung-Jin Lee (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment)
  • 송서현 (경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) ;
  • 윤희정 (경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) ;
  • 박성희 (경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) ;
  • 장미경 (경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) ;
  • 채선영 (경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) ;
  • 전종섭 (경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) ;
  • 이명진 (경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀)
  • Received : 2023.01.26
  • Accepted : 2023.02.24
  • Published : 2023.04.28
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Abstract

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.

경기도에서 유통 중인 위생용품의 안전성을 확인하기 위해 포름알데히드 잔류량에 대해 조사하였다. 포름알데히드는 위생용품에 잔류할 수 있는 유해물질 중 하나이다. 일회용 빨대(종이제) 6건, 일회용 종이냅킨 9건, 화장지 21건, 일회용 행주 13건, 일회용 타월 16건, 식품접객업소용 물티슈 32건, 일회용 면봉 25건, 일회용 기저귀 100건 등 총 222건에 대한 검사 결과, 식품접객업소용 물티슈 3건(1.87-4.45 mg/kg)에서 검출되었으며 규격(20 mg/kg) 대비 약 9-22% 수준이었다. 연구 대상 위생용품은 모두 포름알데히드 개별규격에 적합하였고 안전한 제품이 유통되고 있음을 확인하였다. 「위생용품의 기준 및 규격」 중 포름알데히드 시험법은 유형에 따라 세가지로 구분하여 적용하도록 규정되어 있다. 본 연구에 사용된 시료는 제1법 또는 제2법을 적용하는 유형으로 각 시험법의 유효성 검증을 위해 검출한계, 정량한계, 직선성, 회수율을 검토하였다. 제1법은 제2법에 비해 검출한계와 정량한계가 낮게 나타나 저농도의 포름알데히드 정량이 가능함을 확인하였다. 두 시험법은 모두 상관계수(R2)가 0.9999이상, 회수율이 80%이상, 반복성도 양호한 수준이었다. 제2법 적용 시 일회용 면봉과 일회용 기저귀 중 일부 시료에서 불순물의 영향으로 분석 파장에서 간섭이 확인된 경우가 있어 제1법으로 분석 후 결과를 비교하였다. 그 결과 제1법은 제2법에 비해 불순물의 간섭 없이 분석이 가능하였고, 저농도의 포름알데히드를 검출할 수 있었다. 따라서 향후 위생용품의 종류에 따라 시험법을 구분하여 적용하지 않고 일원화하는 것이 필요해 보인다.

Keywords

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