Toxicological evaluation of wet wipes as a biocidal product

Wet wipes, a biocidal product that has become popular in recent years and is used in various fields, are practical and effective for killing or controlling various microorganisms. As a result, they are considered an important product for hygiene and cleanliness. In our study, a partial validation study was conducted to determine the amount of 2-phenoxyethanol, one of the alkoxialcohol derivatives that has been highlighted in similar toxicological studies conducted in different countries. This determination was carried out using the classic GC-MS method after a simple pre-processing step. Additionally, our study identified the presence of 4-tert-buthylcyclohexylacetate compound in wet wipes for the first time. We analyzed 30 different brands of wet wipes commercially available in the Turkish market between 2022 and 2023 using GC-MS. The selected samples included wet wipes used in daily life, those with sensitive content for babies, premium quality ones, street-level wipes used in restaurants, and those specifically designed for women's hygiene. In the selected samples, the fibrous structures were loaded with a liquid composition ranging from approximately 1.9 g to 6.5 g per gram of fibrous material. After homogenization, the pH measurements ranged from 3.5 to 7.3 (Table II). Approximately 70% of the samples fell within the ideal range of pH 5.5 to 7.0, which closely matches the skin's pH. However, 13% of the samples showed values below this range, and five samples had a pH above 7.0. In determining the target analytes in wet wipe contents, two critical areas stand out: the amount of liquid absorbed by each fiber-based product and the efficiency of the extraction applied to the toxic components present in the obtained liquid content. In the analyses conducted using GC-MS with two different temperature programs optimized, the method with an optimal analysis time of 31.50 minutes was identified. Under the defined conditions, the retention time (rt) for 2-phenoxyethanol was determined to be 9.86 + 0.1, while for 4-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, the rt was 11.91 + 0.1 minutes. Among all samples, 17 products (56%) contained the compound 2-phenoxyethanol, with concentrations ranging from a minimum of 5.0 μg/mL to a maximum of 23.80 μg/mL. Interestingly, the highest concentration of 2-phenoxyethanol was found in women's hygiene products, while the second highest concentration was observed in baby products. Furthermore, for the first time globally, the compound 4-tert-butylcyclohexylacetate was identified in wet wipe products. Among a total of 30 products, only 3 contained this compound. One of these products represented general hygiene use, while the other two were associated with the transportation sector. This study optimized a GC-MS method for the analysis of two crucial components—2-phenoxyethanol (quantitative) and 4-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate (qualitative)—in wet wipes, which are a biocidal product important for human health. The validity of the method was confirmed through partial studies. Keywords: Wet wipes, chemical content analysis, GC-MS, branded and unbranded products, biocidal regulations.