In this study, we examined the residual amounts of formaldehyde in hygiene products to determine the safety of these products in Gyeonggi-do. Formaldehyde is among the harmful substances that may remain within certain hygiene products. On the basis of an analysis of formaldehyde in a total of 222 items (6 disposable paper straws, 9 disposable paper napkins, 21 toilet papers, 13 disposable dishcloths, 16 disposable paper towels, 32 wet wipes for food service restaurants, 25 disposable cotton swabs, and 100 disposable diapers), we detected traces in three wet wipes for food service restaurants (1.87 to 4.45 mg/kg), which is approximately 9% to 22% of the standard level (20 mg/kg). We established that all the hygiene products assessed in the study met the individual standards for formaldehyde, thereby confirming that safe products are being distributed. In the standards and specifications for hygiene products, the formaldehyde test method is regulated for application with respect to three categories based on the type of product. The samples used in this study were of types for which method 1 or method 2 is applied, and the limits of detection, limits of quantification, linearity, and recovery rates were reviewed to verify the validity of each test method. When method 2 was applied, we experienced interference when performing analysis at a wavelength of 412 nm, which was associated with the influence of impurities in some samples of disposable cotton swabs and disposable diapers. Consequently, in these cases, the results were compared after analysis using method 1. By comparing the results obtained using method 2 with those obtained using method 1, the latter of which were unaffected by the interference of impurities, we were able to detect formaldehyde at low concentrations. These findings accordingly highlight the necessity to standardize the formaldehyde test method for future analyses.

ABSTRACT
Materials and Method
    대상시료
    표준물질 및 시약
    표준원액 및 표준용액의 조제
    분석방법 및 장비
    분석법 검증
Results and Discussion
    분석법 검증 결과
    포름알데히드 잔류량 검사 결과
    시료 추출액의 분석 파장 간섭 확인
국문요약
Conflict of interests
ORCID
References

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• 윤희정(경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) | Hee-Jeong Yun (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment, Suwon, Korea)
• 박성희(경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) | Sung-Hee Park (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment, Suwon, Korea)
• 장미경(경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) | Mi-Kyung Jang (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment, Suwon, Korea)
• 채선영(경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) | Sun-Young Chae (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment, Suwon, Korea)
• 전종섭(경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) | Jong-Sup Jeon (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment, Suwon, Korea)
• 이명진(경기도보건환경연구원 식품의약품연구부 첨가물분석팀) | Myung-Jin Lee (Food Additives Analysis Team, Food and Drug Research Division, Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment, Suwon, Korea)