Wet Wipes Research Articles

A Study of Skin Physiology, Sensation and Friction of Nonwoven Fabrics Used in Absorbent Hygiene Products in Neutral and Warm Environments

Absorbent hygiene products like diapers, feminine hygiene, and wet wipes are life necessities. These products commonly use nonwoven fabrics as the layer that is in contact with the skin. Their performance in terms of skin health and comfort is receiving increased attention because of the existence of concerns for skin health issues such as skin irritation and dermatitis, and the large influence of skin sensation on individuals' preference. Friction is usually recognized as an important factor for skin comfort and dermatitis issues, but there is a lack of understanding of the relationship between friction and skin physiology, skin sensation, in the use of absorbent hygiene products. This study reports a measurement of friction in vivo with the evaluation of skin physiology and sensation in neutral and warm environments to explore the effects of fabric and friction on skin comfort. Friction tests between the volar forearm and nonwoven fabrics were conducted with the measurement of transepidermal water loss, skin redness, and the evaluation of subjective skin sensation. The interaction between skin and eight nonwoven fabrics with a surface roughness (arithmetic mean height) between 3 μm and 20 μm was evaluated in neutral (22 °C) and warm (35 °C) environments. Skin physiological changes after friction were able to be detected quantitatively by the transepidermal water loss and skin redness measurement. In the warm environment, there was significantly higher friction, less pleasantness, more changes in transepidermal water loss but not in skin redness. The friction can only relate to skin physiology and sensation in the neutral environment while the surface roughness of fabrics related to them in both neutral and warm environments. Both rough and smooth fabrics caused high friction in the warm environment, but the rough fabric caused a higher adverse impact on skin physiology and sensation than smooth fabrics that suggested the adhesion and deformation friction could have different effects on skin comfort. Deformation friction is more likely to have effects on skin physiology and pleasantness sensation than adhesion friction. The pleasantness sensation has a negative relationship with skin physiology. A more unpleasant sensation can indicate more impact on skin physiology. This provides a potential that the unpleasant sensation can be a precaution signal for the adverse effects on skin physiology.

Manual emptying of ventilated improved pit latrines and hygiene challenges - a baseline survey in a peri-urban community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

ABSTRACT The presence of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. was determined on the skin, personal protective equipment, the municipal vehicle, and various surfaces at ten households in a peri-urban community (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) before and after manual emptying of ventilated improved pit latrines. Surface samples (n = 14) were collected using sterile wet wipes, and target bacteria were detected using standard procedures. Additionally, E. coli was enumerated in soil samples from an area of open defecation (log10 3.7 MPN/g) and areas where geophagia occurred (log10 2.7 – log10 3.3 MPN/g), using a most probable number (MPN) method. The detection frequency for the target bacteria on household surfaces (e.g., the walkway between the pit latrine and the municipal vehicle) and on municipal workers’ hands (which were frequently contaminated before pit emptying), occasionally increased after the pits were emptied, indicating that manual pit emptying might pose a potential health risk to workers and community members.

Hand cleaning activities during COVID-19 pandemic and the manifestation on human skin: a retrospective study

Hand sanitizing is a popular hand-cleaning technique during the pandemic.In the present article, a retrospective study by observational and quantitative data analysis involving 155 respondents were collected through questionnaires. The most intense methods of hand-cleaningactivities (i.e. hand sanitizing, hand washing with soap, alcohol rubs, wet wipes, dried wipes and hand washing with water only)were investigated. Manifestation on human skin was evaluated personally by take into account to the real condition of the authors. Validity of the retrospective questionnaire was assessed by comparing it to the prospective journal which was considered as the reference method. As the result, hand-washing with soap is the most preferred hand-cleaning method during pandemic (94 %, total sample population n = 155). Adverse event by the usage of alcohol might observed especially during the first 4 months of the pandemic period.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone contact allergy: A 24-year, single-center, retrospective cohort study from Turkey.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) and MI allergy caused a global epidemic during the period 2010 to 2015, reaching its peak in 2013/14. To investigate the characteristics of MCI/MI and MI allergy in Turkey over 24 years. A total of 2310 patients patch tested between 1996 and 2019 with MCI/MI 0.01% aq. or MCI/MI 0.02% aq., with or without MI 0.2% aq., were analyzed. The overall prevalence of contact sensitization was 3.3% (n = 77) with a peak level of 16.4% in 2015. The prevalence gradually decreased thereafter, but was still high (6.5%) in 2019. Seventy-three patients had clinically relevant sensitizations. MI could detect clinically relevant sensitizations in all seven patients with a negative patch test reaction to MCI/MI 0.02%. Non-occupational allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) was most frequently seen, mainly in women, with hand/face eczema from rinse-off or leave-on cosmetics, such as wet wipes. Occupational ACD was mainly seen among men with airborne eczema from wall paints in house painters, or with hand eczema from hair gel/wax in men's barbers. The prevalence of MCI/MI and MI sensitization in Turkey following the peak in 2015 is still high. This is probably due to the currently allowed level of 100 ppm for MI in rinse-off cosmetics. This needs to be urgently reduced.

Balancing the decomposable behavior and wet tensile mechanical property of cellulose-based wet wipe substrates by the aqueous adhesive

With the current global outbreak of novel coronaviruses, the fabrication of decomposable wet wipe with sufficient wet strength to meet daily use is promising but still challenging, especially when renewable cellulose was employed. In this work, a decomposable cellulose-based wet wipe substrate is demonstrated by introducing a synthetic N-vinyl pyrrolidone-glycidyl methacrylate (NVP-GMA) adhesive on the cellulose surface. Experimental results reveal that the NVP-GMA adhesive not only significantly facilitates the chemical bonding between cellulose fibers in the wet state, but also increase the surface wettability and water retention. The as-fabricated cellulose-based wet wipe substrate displays a superb water retention capacity of 1.9 times, an excellent water absorption capacity (completely wetted with 0° water contact angle), and a perfect wet tensile index of 3.32 N.m.g−1. It is far better than state-of-the-art wet toilet wipe on the market (non-woven). The prepared renewable and degradable cellulose-based substrate with excellent mechanical strength has potential application prospects in diverse commercially available products such as sanitary and medical wet wipes.

Efetividade oxi-hemodinâmica de três tipos de banho no leito de pacientes cardiopatas graves: crossover

Objetivo: identificar alterações hemodinâmicas e/ou oximétricas decorrentes de três técnicas de banho no leito em pacientes cardiopatas internados em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Cirúrgica. Método: Ensaio clínico tipo crossover 3 X 3 no qual foram aplicadas três tecnologias de banho no leito, no mesmo indivíduo, em três momentos diferentes. As intervenções consideradas foram: banho tradicional a 42,5ºC com temperatura da água monitorada e constante; Banho com frasco-ampola de 1L de água destilada aquecido por 1 minuto no forno de micro-ondas em potência máxima sem controle da temperatura; Banho com lenços umedecidos aquecidos por 20 segundos no forno de micro-ondas em potência máxima. Amostra composta por 18 pacientes em pós-operatório de cirurgias cardíacas. Foram analisadas as variáveis frequência cardíaca, frequência respiratória, Pressão arterial (sistólica, diastólica e média), temperatura axilar e saturação de oxigênio por meio de oximetria de pulso. Para comparação das médias, foi utilizado o teste ANOVA Two-way de medidas repetidas com nível de significância pré-estabelecido de 5%. Resultados: Amostra predominantemente masculina, parda e não fumante, submetida majoritariamente à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio. Não houve nenhuma alteração significativa nas variáveis estudadas (p > 0,05), considerando os diversos tipos de banho nos diferentes momentos (antes, durante e após o procedimento). Conclusão: Os banhos no leito com água a 42,5°C, com frasco-ampola de água destilada aquecido e com lenços umedecidos, em pacientes pós-cirurgia cardíaca e internados em UTI, não acarretam nenhuma alteração significativa sobre as variáveis oxi-hemodinâmicas.

Repercussões glicêmicas do banho no leito de doentes oncológicos graves: ensaio clínico

Objetivo: comparar a diferença da glicemia de doentes oncológicos internados na UTI antes e após o banho no leito com lenços umedecidos. Método: Ensaio clínico não controlado realizado no Centro de Terapia Intensiva (CTI) e Unidade Pós-Operatória (UPO) de um único serviço de saúde, referência em tratamento oncológico na América Latina. Amostra composta por 30 doentes oncológicos consecutivamente internados. Todas as amostras de sangue para mensuração da glicemia foram coletadas dos cateteres de pressão invasiva cinco minutos antes e cinco minutos após o banho no leito com lenços umedecidos, sendo considerado hiperglicemia valores acima de 180 mg/dL. Para comparar as medianas das glicemias pré e pós banho foi utilizado o teste de Wilcoxon com nível de significância pré-estabelecido de 5%. Resultados: No momento pré-banho, obteve-se uma glicemia mediana de 141 mg/dL, e no momento pós-banho a mediana foi de 135 mg/dL. Observou-seque no momento pós-banho houve redução de 7,05% na glicemia, sendo esta queda estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,01). Conclusão: O banho no leito com uso de lenços umedecidos do tipo higienizador e protetor cutâneo realizado em doentes oncológicos internados em unidades de terapia intensiva clínica e cirúrgica reduz significativamente a glicemia destes indivíduos.

The role of wet wipes and sanitary towels as a source of white microplastic fibres in the marine environment

Understanding source elements of the ocean plastic crisis is key to effective pollution reduction management and policy. The ubiquity of microplastic (MP) fibres in the oceans is considered to derive primarily from clothing fibres released in grey water. Microplastic fibres degraded from widely flushed personal care textile products (wet wipes and sanitary towels) have not been clearly identified in aquatic systems to date. Unregulated personal hygiene and sanitary product labelling fails to identify textile materials. This study demonstrated that white MP fibres in sediments adjacent to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) are comparable with white fibres from sewage-related waste and commercially available consumer sanitary products. Commercially available non-flushable wipes are manufactured from either polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), or a combination of PET and cellulose. Fifty percent of brands labelled flushable that were tested were comprised of a mixture of PET and cellulose and the remainder of cellulose alone. Sanitary towels are made from PP, PE, or a combination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and PP. The accumulation of large quantities of washed-up sewage-related macro-debris (including wet wipes and sanitary towels) intermingled with seaweed biomass adjacent to the WWTP was associated with a combined sewer overflow. Microplastic fibres extracted from this waste were similar to those extracted from intertidal sediments in close proximity to the WWTP over a ten-month period. In comparison, fibres extracted from locations spatially removed from the WWTP were primarily comprised of ABS, PP and polystyrene. The results confirm that wet wipes and sanitary towels flushed down toilets are an underestimated source of white MP fibres in the environment. Given the global distribution and projected growth of the non-woven textile industry, there is a need for increased public awareness of MP pollution in the marine environment from the inappropriate disposal of sanitary products down the toilet, instead of diversion to alternative land-based waste management.

Speech Processor Care in the SARS-CoV-2 Era

Speech Processor Care in the SARS-CoV-2 Era

London's fatbergs and affective infrastructuring.

This exploratory article considers the accumulations of fat and other materials in London’s sewerage system – known as fatbergs in the UK – in terms of the processes of infrastructuring. In particular, drawing on a range of media, including a major museum exhibition, numerous newspaper and online articles, and a TV documentary, this article analyses how London’s fatbergs have been affectively enacted. The affects identified include: disgust in the composition of the fatberg, pride in the London-ness of the fatbergs, admiration at the ‘flushers’ courage, generic horror at the sewers, shame in the flushing of wet wipes, and anxiety about microbial threats. Such enactments simultaneously perform the fatbergs, the sewerage infrastructure, and the public audiences, through what we can call ‘affective infrastructuring’. This extends the analysis of infrastructuring to encompass the ways in which public audiences are affectively ‘made’. The article also suggests that the various affective enactments of the fatberg cumulatively perform London as spatially uniform and the sewerage system as temporally naturalized. A critical implication of this is an effacement of, on the one hand, class and cultural difference and, on the other, historical specificity.

The effects of wet wipe pollution on the Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in the River Thames, London

The aim of the present study was to evaluate “flushable” and “non-flushable” wet wipes as a source of plastic pollution in the River Thames at Hammersmith, London and the impacts they have on the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, in this watercourse. Surveys were conducted to assess whether the density of wet wipes along the foreshore upstream of Hammersmith Bridge affected the distribution of C. fluminea. High densities of wet wipes were associated with low numbers of clams and vice versa. The maximum wet wipe density recorded was 143 wipes m−2 and maximum clam density 151 individuals m−2. Clams adjacent to the wet wipe reefs were found to contain synthetic polymers including polypropylene (57%), polyethylene (9%), polyallomer (8%), nylon (8%) and polyester (3%). Some of these polymers may have originated from the wet wipe reefs.

Methylisothiazolinone in children's nail polish.

Isothiazolinones, preservatives including methylisothiazolinone (MI), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI), benzisothiazolinone (BIT), and octylisothiazolinone (OIT), are notorious contact allergens. Pediatric dermatologists are familiar with these preservatives in personal care products, homemade slime recipes, and wet wipes. We present a novel source of MI declared in nail polish marketed to children.

A Quantitative Assessment of Gluten Cross-contact in the School Environment for Children With Celiac Disease.

A gluten-free (GF) diet is the primary treatment for celiac disease (CD). Gluten is used in schools, particularly in early childhood, art, and home-economics classrooms. This study aimed to measure gluten transfer from school supplies to GF foods that a child with CD may eat. Also, to measure efficacy of washing techniques to remove gluten from hands and tables. Five experiments measured potential gluten cross-contact in classrooms: Play-Doh (n = 30); baking project (n = 30); paper mâché (n = 10); dry pasta in sensory table (n = 10); cooked pasta in sensory table (n = 10). Thirty participants ages 2 to 18 were enrolled. Following activities, gluten levels were measured on separate slices of GF bread rubbed on participant's hands and table surfaces. Participants were assigned 1 of 3 handwashing methods (soap and water, water alone, or wet wipe). Repeat gluten transfer measurements were taken from hands and tables. Gluten measurements made using R-Biopharm R7001 R5-ELISA Sandwich assay. Paper mâché, cooked pasta in sensory tables, and baking project resulted in rates of gluten transfer far greater than the 20 ppm threshold set by Codex Alimentarius Commission. Play-Doh and dry pasta, however, resulted in few gluten transfers to GF bread >20 ppm. Soap and water was consistently the most effective method for removing gluten, although other methods proved as effective in certain scenarios. The potential for gluten exposure at school is high for some materials and low for others. For high-risk materials, schools should provide GF supplies and have a robust strategy to prevent gluten cross-contact with food.

The science behind wet wipes for infant skin: Ingredient review, safety, and efficacy.

In the diapered area, the continuous exposure to excess moisture and irritants from urine and feces weakens the stratum corneum, making the skin more susceptible to irritation. The use of wet wipes for infants (baby wipes) is a common practice to clean skin after urine or a bowel movement, and this practice even extends to cleaning the hands and face, resulting in repeated daily use. Therefore, ensuring that baby wipes contain ingredients that are safe and mild on skin is important to help minimize skin irritation and discomfort. While disposable baby wipes have been shown to be effective and gentle at cleaning infant skin, even the skin of premature infants, there is growing public concern regarding their safety and tolerability. Not all products are made the same, as differences exist in manufacturing processes, ingredients, materials, safety, and quality testing. Therefore, it is important that healthcare professionals have accessible evidenced‐based information on the safety and tolerability of common ingredients found in baby wipes to optimally educate their patients and families. Herein, we provide a review on best practices for ingredient selection, safety, and efficacy of baby wipes.

Performance assessment of Swedish sewer pipe networks using pipe blockage and other associated performance indicators

Abstract Sewer pipe networks are expected to operate with minimal or no interruptions. The complex nature of randomly occurring failures in sewer networks arising from blockages significantly adds to the cost of operation and maintenance. Blockages are significant due to sewage backup or basements flooding, resulting from their occurrence. Therefore, continuous performance assessment of sewer pipe networks is necessary to ensure required levels of service at an acceptable cost. This study provides insight into the performance of the sewer pipe networks by assessing the proneness of the network to blockages. Furthermore it draws inferences at a holistic strategic level of influential explanatory factors of blockage proneness, using data available in the Swedish Water and Wastewater Association's benchmarking system. Results indicate that medium sized municipalities are prone to at least 30% more blockages per km per year compared to other municipalities. A hypothesis of explanatory factors includes reduced flow volumes and flow depth. Flow velocities below self-cleaning velocity in sewer pipe networks, encouraged by sluggishness of flow are responsible for increased possibility for sediment deposition and accumulation in sewers leading to blockages. This is also exacerbated by the deposition of non-disposables (wet wipes, baby diapers, hard paper, etc.), accumulation of fats, oils and grease in sewers and increased water conservation measures.

Dermatosurgery Practice and Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations by IADVL SIG Dermatosurgery (IADVL Academy).

Dermatosurgery Practice and Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations by IADVL SIG Dermatosurgery (IADVL Academy).

A SURVEY OF PARABENS IN COMMERCIAL BABY WIPES FROM BRAZIL AND ESTIMATION OF DAILY EXPOSURE

Several studies have shown endocrine-disrupting effects of parabens. Parabens are a group of antimicrobials used as preservatives in a wide variety of products, mainly in personal care products. However, little information is available regarding the occurrence of parabens in baby products. In this study, the concentrations of five commonly used parabens, methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl- and, benzyl-paraben in 50 Brazilian baby wet wipes were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. All samples contained parabens, and the total concentrations ranged from 16 to 332,470 ng g-1 (geometric mean: 5344 ng g-1). Methyl-paraben, ethyl-paraben, propyl-paraben, and butyl-paraben were found in >65% of the samples. 24 out of 50 samples exceed the permitted value of 0.4 % for methyl-paraben for their use in personal care products. Although, propyl-paraben and butyl-paraben are forbidden in cosmetic products designed for application on the nappy area of children under three years of age, the detection rate of them were 94 and 70 %, respectively. Based on the measured concentrations and use frequency of baby wipes the estimated daily intake of parabens was calculated. The median estimated daily intake values of total concentrations of parabens for babies of one year old was 391 ng kg-1 bw day-1. In conclusion, babies and children may be exposed to high levels of parabens through use of baby wipes. It is also worth to mention that two forbidden parabens were frequently detected.

Effectiveness of two bed bath methods in removing microorganisms from hospitalized patients: A prospective randomized crossover study

Few studies have compared the effectiveness of washing with either soap and water or disposable wet wipes. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of washing with either soap and water or disposable wet wipes in reducing microorganisms in the groin and perineum of hospitalized patients, which could potentially reduce the risk of hospital-acquired urinary tract infections. In this crossover, block-randomized trial, skin swabs from the groin and perineum areas of patients were obtained before and after these areas were washed with either soap and water or disposable wet wipes. Columbia agar plates and CHROMagar Orientation Medium (Becton Dickinson; Franklin Lakes, NJ) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry procedures were used to identify species of microorganisms. Fifty-eight paired skin swabs were obtained. Both washing methods resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the amount of all microorganisms, including microorganisms with the potential to cause urinary tract infections. New species were observed after using both washing methods. No statistically significant difference in the removal of microorganisms was observed between the two washing methods. The two washing methods appear to be equally efficient in removal of microorganisms in the groin and perineum areas, including microorganisms that potentially could cause hospital-acquired urinary tract infections.

Application and effect evaluation of clohexidine wipes in patients with liver transplantation

Objective To investigate the application of clohexidine wipes in patients after liver transplantation and the effect of infection prevention. Methods A total of 279 patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation in the first affiliated hospital of sun yat-sen university from January 2017 to December 2018 and were transferred to the intensive care department of our hospital after the surgery were selected as subjects. Among them, 145 patients who received liver transplantation between January and December 2017 were selected as the control group. From January to December, 2018, 134 patients after liver transplantation were enrolled as the intervention group, and were treated with clohexidine 2% gluconate wet wipes, and the hospital infection rate, infection rate, multiple drug-resistant bacteria infection rate, bath time consumption, and adverse reaction rate were compared between the two groups. Results The hospital infection rate of the control group was 20.00% (29/145), the infection rate of patients was 37.93%(55/145), the infection rate of multiple drug-resistant bacteria was 25.52%(37/145), and the infection rate of the intervention group was 11.19% (15/134), 24.63% (33/134), 14.93% (20/134). The differences were statistically significant (χ2=4.065, 5.709, 4.806, P<0.05). The bath time of the control group was (16.70±1.42) minutes, and the intervention group was (14.07±1.53) minutes. Compared with the control group, the bath time of the intervention group was saved, and the difference was statistically significant (t=9.637, P<0.01).No discomfort symptoms such as disinfectant allergy were found in both groups. Conclusion The application of clohexidine 2% gluconate wet wipes in the wiping bath of patients after liver transplantation had a good effect, significantly reducing the hospital infection rate, saving the time of wiping bath. Key words: Clohexidine; Clean bath; Liver transplantation; Intensive care; Infection

Natural Antibacterial Finished Wet Wipes

Natural Antibacterial Finished Wet Wipes