Evaluation of liquid, fiber and packaging content of baby wet wipes in terms of heavy metal contamination

Baby wipes have become widely used in recent years due to their practicality in infant hygiene. Commonly preferred for diaper changes, wiping hands and faces, and use during travel, these products come into direct contact with the sensitive skin of infants, necessitating a careful evaluation of their safety. Toxic elements that may be present in the wipe solution, fiber material, or packaging could pose health risks. In this thesis, baby wipes from 10 different brands available in the Turkish market were evaluated for heavy metal contamination. Samples were separated into solution, fiber, and packaging phases, and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), antimony (Sb), mercury (Hg), thallium (Tl), and lead (Pb). The analysis revealed notable levels of nickel, antimony, and lead in some samples. Antimony was detected at concentrations of up to 695.4 ppb in the solution phase and 565.46 ppb in fiber samples. Lead was found in certain packaging materials at levels as high as 3.16 ppb, indicating packaging as a potential source of contamination. These findings emphasize the need for careful consideration of toxic elements in baby wipes due to potential public health concerns. This study highlights the importance of implementing stricter quality control measures during the production of baby wipes and aims to raise awareness among regulatory authorities and consumers by providing valuable scientific data.