"It's a Daily Sight... 'Please Don't Do This with Wet Wipes,' Chemist Warns"

Professor Kang Sangwook: "Wet wipes do not contain only water"

"Do not eat immediately after using wet wipes"

"Basically safe, but usage habits are important"

Experts have cautioned that improper use of wet wipes, which are an essential item in daily life, can result in chemical substances entering the mouth.

Recently, a video titled "What Are the Dangers of Wet Wipes That a Chemist Warns About?" was released through the YouTube channel "Hazard Hunter Professor Kang Sangwook," run by Professor Kang Sangwook of the Department of Chemical Energy Engineering at Sangmyung University.

Professor Kang explained, "Wet wipes do not contain just water. In addition to purified water, they include substances that enhance cleaning power, preserve the product, and stably mix various ingredients. Depending on the product, as many as 20 to 30 different ingredients may be included."

He emphasized, "Wet wipes are generally managed to be safe, but in addition to water, various other ingredients are contained. It is important to develop correct usage habits to reduce the chance of accidentally ingesting these substances."

Experts warned that improper use of wet wipes can lead to chemical substances entering the mouth. Photo by Pixabay

Professor Kang also warned about residual substances that may remain on surfaces or hands after use. He explained, "When wiping a dining table with a wet wipe, the water evaporates, but some ingredients may remain on the surface. If you then place utensils on it, these residual substances can stick to the utensils and be ingested together."

He added, "If a child eats snacks or food immediately after having their hands wiped with a wet wipe, the substances remaining on their hands may enter their mouth. The ingredients in wet wipes are not made for consumption; if they were safe to eat, they would have been approved as food additives."

Professor Kang advised that, after cleaning a table with a wet wipe, it is better to remove any remaining substances by wiping once more with a dry tissue, and that, if possible, hands should be washed with soap and water rather than just a wet wipe. He added that, in situations where using a wet wipe is unavoidable, it is helpful to wipe hands once more with a dry tissue before eating, rather than eating with wet hands immediately.

However, he stressed that there is no need for excessive concern about wet wipes themselves. He said, "After the humidifier disinfectant incident, regulations have been strengthened so that currently only government-approved substances are used. There is little need to worry that simply using wet wipes would cause substances to be absorbed through the skin and cause cancer or endocrine disruption."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.