We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Wet wipes as a cause of environmental problems: a mini review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines wet wipes as a source of environmental harm, finding that the EU used 68 billion wet wipes per year by 2017 (511,000 tons of waste) with global production expected to grow 3.8% through 2030. Researchers found that wet wipes contribute to microplastic accumulation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water and soil contamination due to their plastic content and low biodegradability.
Our everyday life cannot be imagined without using various hygiene and cleansing products, wet wipes in particular, that protect us from undesirable pollution and contamination, and even could be used as a medical treatment. Besides all these positive aspects wet wipes can be very harmful for the different natural environments. The aim of this study was to analyze and summarize data from literary sources regarding wet wipes as a cause of environmental problems. According to the theoretical analysis, it was established that in the countries of the European Union, the use of individual wet wipes was 68 billion (by 2017, reference year) that equates to 511,000 tons of waste per year. In China, waste wet wipes make up 0.2% of all household waste. In Ukraine, according to 2015 data, the market share of wet wipes was 23%. The global market for wet wipes has a growing trend and is expected to increase its production from 2023 to 2030 by 3.8%. Wet wipes pose a threat to the environment because they contain toxic compounds (surfactants, plastic) and have low biodegradability. As a result, a number of environmental problems arise: 1) accumulation of wet wipes in the environment; 2) increase in greenhouse gas emissions; 3) pollution of water, soil, groundwater; 4) an increase in microplastics in the environment. To eliminate the environmental problems associated with wet wipes while maintaining the functionality of the products, it is suggested, first of all, to use eco-safe, biodegradable base fabric materials and non-toxic solutions for wetting. In addition, an important place is occupied by the formation of a conscious attitude of consumers of wet wipes to their disposal.
More Papers Like This
Assessment of Wet Wipes and their Environmental Significance – A Review Article
AI summary Read the abstract
This review assessed the environmental significance of wet wipes, which are typically made of non-woven synthetic materials and are one of the fastest-growing consumer products worldwide. The study examined how wipes shed microplastic fibers into the environment and contribute to waterway pollution.
A Study on Consumption Characteristics of Single-use Wet Wipes and Life Cycle Assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a life cycle assessment of single-use wet wipes in South Korea across 2019–2022, finding that pandemic-driven consumption spikes significantly increased the environmental burden of these largely plastic-fiber products across energy use, water consumption, and waste generation categories.
Wet wipes contribution to microfiber contamination under COVID-19 era: An important but overlooked problem
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers highlight that the surge in wet wipe use during COVID-19 — for disinfection and medical purposes — has become an overlooked but significant source of microfiber pollution, with wipes already turning up in marine plastic litter surveys. They call for dedicated studies on how different wipe materials shed fibers and degrade under environmental conditions to fully account for pandemic-related plastic pollution.
Lifecycle of a Wipe: Determining the Contamination, Fate, and Transformation of Wet Wipe Pollution in the Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Plastic wet wipes are a significant but underappreciated source of microplastic pollution in urban waterways, largely because many products are mislabeled as "flushable" despite being made of synthetic materials like polypropylene and polyester. Researchers collected hundreds of wipes from a London river and showed that 99% were plastic, and lab experiments confirmed that wipes break apart into microplastics when wet — with polypropylene shedding more particles than polyester. Better labeling and stricter industry standards are needed to prevent these products from entering sewer systems and ultimately fragmenting into the microplastic particles found throughout aquatic environments.
Wet wipes and disposable surgical masks are becoming new sources of fiber microplastic pollution during global COVID-19
AI summary Read the abstract
Wet wipes and disposable surgical masks were identified as growing sources of microplastic fiber pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic, with environmental degradation of these products releasing billions of synthetic fibers into water and soil environments.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.