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Characterisation of “flushable” and “non-flushable” commercial wet wipes using microRaman, FTIR spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy: to flush or not to flush
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Researchers used Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and fluorescence microscopy to characterize "flushable" and "non-flushable" commercial wet wipes, finding that most contained synthetic polymer fibers regardless of their labeling. The study contributes to evidence that wet wipes marketed as flushable can still contribute microfibers and non-degradable materials to wastewater and sewer systems.
The introduction to the market of wet wipes, advertised and labelled as "flushable", has been the subject of controversy due to their perceived potential to block sewer systems as observed with other non-woven cloths such as traditional non-flushable wipes. Non-woven cloths that enter wastewater systems can find their way into the aquatic environment via wastewater effluents and it has been suggested that the breakdown of these fabrics can release materials such as microplastics into the environment. Worldwide research has revealed the alarming number of aquatic organisms affected by the presence of plastic debris in the aquatic environment harbouring a potential risk to humans through the introduction of microplastics into the food chains. However, the actual material composition of flushable wipes, their fate and impacts in the aquatic environment have not yet been scientifically studied. This paper investigates the fibre composition of flushable and non-flushable wipes, specifically with regard to synthetic polymer material, using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and microRaman spectroscopy along with fluorescence microscopy. The study demonstrated the presence of polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, (PET)), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene/vinyl acetate (PEVA/EVA) in some flushable wipes and PET in all non-flushable. Other polymers such us polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyurethane (PU) were also identified as potential components in the flushable material. Hence, commercially available wet wipes labelled as flushable could also be considered as a possible source of microplastic fibres in the wastewater streams and, if not retained, in the environment.
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Lifecycle of a Wipe: Determining the Contamination, Fate, and Transformation of Wet Wipe Pollution in the Environment
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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.
The role of wet wipes and sanitary towels as a source of white microplastic fibres in the marine environment
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White microplastic fibers found near a wastewater outfall were chemically matched to fibers from commercially available wet wipes and sanitary towels, many of which are made from polyester and polypropylene rather than natural materials. The study identifies these flushed personal hygiene products as a direct source of white synthetic fibers in coastal marine sediments.
Discharge of microplastics fibres from wet wipes in aquatic and solid environments under different release conditions
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Researchers studied how wet wipes release microplastic fibers under different conditions, including rubbing on hands and immersion in water. They found that wet wipes released significantly more polyester microfibers when submerged in water (up to 1,966 fibers per sheet when wet) compared to being rubbed on hands or solid surfaces. The findings suggest that flushing wet wipes poses a substantially greater risk of microplastic pollution to aquatic environments than disposal in regular waste.
Assessment of Wet Wipes and their Environmental Significance – A Review Article
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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.
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Researchers examined sources of uncertainty in microplastic analysis from sewage sludge, finding that the physicochemical properties of different polymers introduce variability in Raman spectroscopy measurements and identifying key factors affecting method reliability for regulatory monitoring.
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