Herein, we report on the determination of formaldehyde, pH, and heavy metals (Pb, As, Co, Cr, Ni, and Cd) in various baby apparel (cotton, polyester, nylon, elastane, and polyethylene) of different colours (light, medium, and dark) purchased from both high-end and low-end market stores. The concentrations of the heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) after wet digestion and also after extraction using artificial sweat for a selected range of skin-contact baby apparel. The relative standard deviation for the determination of all heavy metals was less than 5% except for nickel which was 10.49%. The concentrations of the heavy metals in wet digested samples were found to be in the following range: Pb (0.02–23.662 mg/kg), As (0.009–0.033 mg/kg), Co (0.001–1.053 mg/kg), Cr (0.053–6.373 mg/kg), Ni (0.039–36.715 mg/kg), and Cd (0.001–0.914 mg/kg), whereas the concentrations in artificial sweat extracted samples were in the following range: Pb (0.006–1.658 mg/kg), As (not detected), Co (0.001–1.05 mg/kg), Cr (0.112–0.371 mg/kg), Ni (0.062–0.121 mg/kg), and Cd (0.001–0.018 mg/kg). The highest concentrations of Pb, Cr, and Co after wet digestion were found in baby apparel purchased from low-end market stores, whereas for As, Ni, and Cd were from high-end market stores. All the samples had a formaldehyde concentration within the acceptable limits recommended by Oeko-Tex. Out of the thirty-four samples analysed, fifteen samples were found to have a pH higher than Oeko-Tex limits. The pH values for the samples that exceeded the Oeko-Tex limits were in the alkali region, and the highest was 11.31 which exceeded by 3.81.
Baby diaper rash is a common problem, especially allergic contact dermatitis, which could be due to heavy metals, pH, formaldehyde, or allergens in the diapers. This study reports on the determination of formaldehyde, heavy metals (Pb, As, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn, Sr, Fe, and Cd), and pH in diapers purchased from low-, medium-, and high-end stores. Inductively coupled plasma was used to determine the concentrations of heavy metals after extraction using artificial urine and artificial sweat. All heavy metals were found in all diapers except Sr, which was not found in sample M7. All samples had concentrations of heavy metals within the Oeko-Tex limits, except samples H2 and L2, whose Ni concentrations were above permissible limits. Fifty percent of diapers had a formaldehyde concentration above the Oeko-Tex recommended limits. The highest formaldehyde concentration of 17.62 mg/kg was found in diaper M2 and the lowest (ca. 10.4 mg/kg) in H1. All samples had pH values in the alkaline region, with only five samples having pH values within the recommended limits. The research concluded that the diaper rash experienced by some babies, among other factors, could be due to high alkaline skin pH and formaldehyde levels, which are higher than the Oeko-Tex recommended limits.
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