What danger do wet wipes hide
No one will deny the fact that wet wipes are very convenient. We use them on the road, in nature, at work and even at home. But these hygiene products are not so harmless. Scientists know for sure that they are dangerous for both humans and the environment. So what's wrong with wet wipes?
Doctors from the USA say that wet wipes pose the greatest danger to children. The publication Good Housekeeping published the results of studies that confirmed the connection of food allergies in children with the use of napkins. Scientists have determined that 35 percent of young dermatologist patients who have complaints of skin allergic reactions also have allergies to certain foods.
To learn more about this addiction, scientists began observing newborn mice with skin dysfunction. The experimental animals were divided into two groups. Animals from one were treated with sodium lauryl sulfate, which is part of wet wipes. Mice from the other were not exposed. It soon became clear that the mice from the first group began to suffer from food allergies. The second group remained completely healthy.
We are sure that wet wipes have a disinfecting effect. But this is not the case. Moreover, they are capable of spreading infections. This also applies to hygiene products, which specifically indicate that they have a bactericidal effect. Scientists from the British University of Cardiff studied napkins of 7 brands. Among them were both ordinary and with bactericidal properties.
Unexpectedly, it turned out that both do not affect the number of bacteria in any way. Moreover, they equally well contribute to the transfer of microorganisms from one place to another, contributing to the spread of infections. Among the many different bacteria, such life-threatening as tetanus bacillus and Staphylococcus have also been found.
As a result, the researchers concluded that the quality of cleaning using wet wipes will always be very low. It is much more effective to wipe the surfaces with the most ordinary damp cloth. Given that few people are ready to give up napkins today, scientists recommend at least using different ones for different surfaces. And they also do not advise using one napkin to clean more than 1 square meter of the surface.
It turns out that the disposal of wet wipes is also very bad. A representative of one of Europe's largest manufacturers of these products told the press about the labeling problem. It turns out that napkins can't be flushed down the toilet. This should be notified by a clearly visible inscription on the package. In addition, precise instructions for the disposal of these hygiene products should also be placed on the packs.
Environmentalists are sounding the alarm, as napkins pollute rivers and oceans with plastic fibers. At the very least, we shouldn't throw them down the drain. The situation can be slightly improved if you take out the napkins along with the usual solid garbage. Each polyester napkin breaks down into millions of microscopic particles that do not decompose in water. Previously, scientists warned about the danger that reusable plastic bottles bring to our planet.