Safety evaluation of recycling process used to produce recycled pulp for adult paper diapers.

Eight contaminants were used to perform a surrogate contamination test to evaluate safety of the process for producing recycled pulp for adult paper diapers. We performed a safety evaluation of the recycling process for producing recycled pulp following the European Food Safety Authority safety assessment for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles using recycled PET. We also compared the first tier safety limit established on the basis of TTC (C limit) in the pulp that contained recycled pulp with residual contaminant concentrations (C res). If C limit > C res, there is no concern regarding safety of the recycling process. C limit was determined to be 0.46 mg/kg-pulp based on the human exposure threshold of 0.15 μg/person/day using the scenario in which a bedridden senior citizen uses four adult paper diapers manufactured with pulp containing 10% recycled pulp per day. C res was derived from the initial concentration in used pulp (0.17 mg/kg-pulp), and decontamination rate was obtained from the surrogate contamination test. The C res of the eight contaminants were between 0.0017 and 0.10 mg/kg-pulp, which were all below the C limit of 0.46 mg/kg-pulp. These results indicated there was no safety problem regarding this process for producing recycled pulp for adult paper diapers. • A safety evaluation of the process was performed for producing recycled pulp. • The contamination by unexpected chemicals must be considered when recycling. • A surrogate contamination test was performed using eight contaminants. • The evaluation followed the EFSA safety assessment for recycled PET. • Our results indicated there was no safety problem regarding this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]