Can roll paper be used to wipe my mouth?

I just wiped my mouth with roll paper just two days ago. After seeing it, the classmates were slightly embarrassing to send a goodwill reminder: "Roll paper is used to go to the toilet, you cannot use it to wipe your mouth, and you need to use the paper to wipe your mouth." Essence I was startled when I heard a lot, and started to check the information with a doubtful attitude. I wanted to see what is the difference between roll paper and paper pumping. I also want to see that in the past few years, is it really wrong?

The dispute between roll paper and pumping paper (picture source: VEER gallery)

On the surface, roll paper and paper pump are only different forms of paper. However, as industrial products, roll paper and paper drawing are produced strictly in accordance with relevant standards, so if you want to understand their differences in depth, you need to check the production standards behind. The general basis for rolling paper on the market is GB/T 20810 "toilet paper (including toilet paper)" (hereinafter referred to as "roll paper standard"), and most of the paper drawing paper is GB/T 20808 "Paper Towel" (hereinafter referred to as the "Paper Standard Standard Standard ").

Everyone may not be familiar with the standard name, here is a brief introduction. The "GB" in the standard is the first letter of Pinyin, which means "national standard"; "T" is the first letter of Pinyin, which means "recommendation"; "20810" and "20808" are The order number of the standard; the final "2018" and "2022" are standard releases, and the standards are generally updated from time to time.

Everyone reads it wrong. Both of these standards are recommended national standards and are not mandatory. However, state -owned and national laws have rules and rules. For many considerations such as approval and sales, manufacturers generally follow these standards, and they will also indicate the final products. These standards are publicly released. If you are interested, you can check it yourself.

Standard instructions on roll paper and paper pumping products (picture source: Author shooting)

1. Different design use

Maybe some are unexpected. In fact, the roll paper standard clearly states that the applicable object is toilet toilet paper. It also stipulates that the packaging of this paper should be marked with the word "toilet", as shown in the figure below. However, because the labeling is too small, many people may not pay attention.

"Toilet" instructions on rolled paper products (Picture Source: Author's shooting)

In contrast, the first chapter of the standard for drawing paper states that the applicable object is napkin paper and handkerchief paper, etc. Obviously, the scene of happy drying when the author starts. It can also be seen from these expressions that the original intention of roll paper was designed for toilet, and the pumping paper was the role of a napkin.

2. Different materials for papermaking materials

When it comes to papermaking techniques, everyone must be familiar to everyone. It is one of the four major inventions of our country and has a profound impact on the process of human civilization. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cai Lun improved papermaking, making papermaking with raw materials such as bark, hemp, and cloth.

In fact, to this day, the commonly used papermaking raw materials (pulp) is not much different from the ancients. The classification is shown in the figure below. Use the fiber in the pulp to create a strong and tough paper.

Plasm classification (picture source: authors self -made)

It is generally believed that the quality of native wood pulp is the best, the native non -wood pulp is second, and the quality of the return pulp is the worst. Roll paper standard allows using primary pulp or reuse pulp. The original pulp roll paper can be divided into superior products, first -class products and qualified products (the best products, the most qualified products); while the standard of pumping the paper must be Native pulp, ordinary types can be divided into excellent products and qualified products.

However, you do n’t have to worry too much about it. In actual products, the raw materials of most brands of paper paper are indicated as “100%native wood pulp”, and the quality should be guaranteed. In addition, some merchants have recently promoted pure wood pulp. Here we need to remind everyone that pure wood pulp and native wood pulp are different. Native wood pulp comes from natural wood, and pure wood pulp may include recycled second -hand wood pulp.

Commodity pulp and quality description (picture source: author shooting)

Third, different microorganisms are different

In terms of production standards, the total number of bacterial bacteria of roll paper must not exceed 600cfu/g, and paper pump must not exceed 200cfu/g. The CFU is the meaning of "Colony-Forming Unit", and "600" and "200" can be understood as the number of colonies on a diner.

Seeing that readers may have doubts, the "total number of bacterial colonies" is a bit strange. Why not use the "number of bacteria"? In fact, it is not that researchers do not want to use it. The main reason is that the bacteria are too small and too much. It is impossible to be clear through the naked eye one by one, which makes it difficult for researchers to make it. Later, some people thought that when bacteria grow, they often developed into a settlement centered on themselves. Each settlement indicates that there is at least one bacteria at the beginning, so the number of colonies after cultivation for a period of time is used to characterize the number of bacteria at the beginning.

Polyolism on the Cultin Drin (Picture Source: Reference [4])

G means gram. If the density of the paper is calculated at 0.5g/cm3, for a roll of paper, if the length is 16cm, the width is 12cm, and the thickness is 0.025cm, the weight is 16 × 12 × 0.025 × 0.5 = 2.4g. More than 1440cfu; for a piece of paper, assuming a piece of length of 20cm, a width of 16cm, and a thickness of 0.025cm, the weight is 20 × 16 × 0.025 × 0.5 = 4g, and the total number of bacterial colonies does not exceed 800CFU.

Considering that the area of ​​a single -section roll paper is generally smaller than a single piece of paper, and the amount of roll paper is often more. Therefore, the difference in the number of bacteria in the actual life will be greater. Of course, the size and thickness of different paper are different. This estimation is for reference only, and the specific test shall prevail. Comparison of roll paper and paper pumping (picture source: Author shooting)

From the perspective of quantity, drawing paper is indeed more hygienic, but how much is hygienic, maybe everyone lacks a specific concept. We use the hands and mobile phones that everyone is very familiar with as an example. In 2015, the Chengdu Third People's Hospital walked into the office building to carry out bacterial testing public welfare projects on the "Global Washing Day". It was found that the total number of bacteria colonies before washing hands in the workplace could reach 500CFU.

The numbers may not have enough impact. The following picture is the result of the American biologist Tasha Sturm that allowed the son who had just played from the outside to play from the petriographs. However, it is worth mentioning that hand -wash can effectively reduce the number of bacteria on the hands. In the event mentioned earlier, the total number of bacteria colonies after washing the handwriting can be reduced to less than 5CFU after washing the handwriting.

Plotement cultivated by handprints (picture source: reference [6])

The British "Daily Mail" reported in August 2018 that the mobile phone screen is the hardest hit area for hidden dirt. In the survey sample of the mobile phone insurance company Insurance2GO, the total number of bacteria per icon of Samsung Galaxy 8 per square centimeter is 100CFU, iPhone 6 is available 40CFU, Google Pixel has 12CFU. We take the iPhone 6 in the middle of the iPhone 6 as an example. The iPhone 6 height is 138.1mm, 67. 12CFU 0mm, and 92.527cm2 on the front area.

Considering that it is not a full -screen design, the screen area is reduced to 80cm2, then there are 40 × 80 = 3200cfu on the iPhone 6 screen, which does not include other areas such as the back of the mobile phone. It is recommended that you clean your mobile phone regularly, and it is best to put down the mobile phone that is reluctant during meals.

The mobile phone screen that gets along with each other (picture source: map insect creativity)

In comparison, if the roll paper and pumping paper just meet the standard, the gap between the number of bacteria of a roll paper and a piece of paper pump is probably equivalent to the number of bacteria on one hand, or the number of bacteria on the screen of 1/5 mobile phone.

4. Different technical indicators

There are many different technical indicators of roll paper and paper pumping. Among them, the more attention is migrant fluorescent substances, heavy metal content, and longitudinal wet resistance.

"Migration" means that the material can be transferred to the skin or mucous membrane by touching it; "fluorescent substances" mainly refer to the fluorescent whitening agent used by manufacturers to make the paper towel look whiter. It is a complex organic compound. After entering the body, it may cause harm. The surface of the human skin has a keratin, which can hinder the skin absorption of macromolecular organic matter such as fluorescent whitening agents. However, when we wipe our mouths with paper towels, if there is a migrant fluorescent whitening agent in the paper, it may enter the mouth to cause causing it Hidden health hazards.

In the production standards, the rolls of paper pumping and the use of primary pulp have clearly required not to detect migrant fluorescent substances on the paper surface, but there are no requirements for roll paper using the replacement pulp, and there are hidden safety hazards. In terms of heavy metal content, there are many types of elements that are tested on paper than roll paper, and the standards are stricter. As shown in the table below:

Caption: Perhaps because the safety of native pulp is relatively high, the roll paper standards have not made clear the heavy metal content of the native pulp roll paper. The roll paper requirements are required to use the reincarnation pulp roll paper. (Picture source: references 1, 2)

Due to the needs, the paper towels are required to have a high longitudinal wet resistance. After the water is used, it is still relatively tough, and it will not dip the paper scraps everywhere, which is convenient to wipe the mouth and the table. Low longitudinal dampness resistance, the water is quickly dispersed after the toilet is used to avoid blocking the sewer.

We can do a simple experiment to confirm it. As shown in the figure, put a roll paper and a piece of paper into the same water cup. After the same time is stirred, the roll paper is torn and scattered. It was turbid; the pumping paper remained complete, and the water in the cup was relatively clear. If you are interested, you can try it yourself.

Concerning experimental results: Roll paper on the left, and the right side of the paper (picture source: Author shooting)

Back to the initial question: Can roll paper be used to wipe your mouth? In fact, through the previous analysis, we can see that the various indicators of roll paper are designed around the toilet. If the conditions are allowed, it is recommended to specially paper, the napkins are pumped, and the toilet paper is used for roll paper.

Of course, because the quality of most brands of roll paper is better. If there is no pumping paper on the body, it is urgent to obey the power, and there is no problem with the quality of roll paper as a tissue paper temporarily. Just like soap and soap, if the soap is used up, it can be washed with soap occasionally. However, if you encounter unknown roll paper provided by small restaurants on the street or public toilet, it is recommended to be careful not to wipe your mouth.

Finally, you need to remind everyone that whether it is rolling paper or pumping paper, there is a shelf life, generally 3 years, and it is also indicated in the packaging. After the shelf life, the number of microorganisms of paper may exceed the scope of application, and the strength and toughness are no longer guaranteed. At this time, it is not recommended that you continue to use these paper, at least not to wipe the skin (can be used to clean the table cabinet, etc.) In order to protect our health. Note:

1. GB/T 20808-2022 "paper towel" is the standard for just updated this year, and it will be implemented in May 2023;

2. Because GB/T 20810-2018 "toilet paper (including toilet paper)" and GB/T 20808-2022 "Paper Towel" are recommended national standards, not compulsory standards. Therefore These standards, in accordance with the corporate standards that they are formulated, usually start with the "Q" of the "Q" of the "Enterprise", such as Q/KHBW003. However, don't worry that the corporate standards must be reported to the competent department for the record, and must not be lower than the mandatory national standards.

3. Everyone often sees a sanitary standard GB 15979-2002 "Hygienic Standards for Disposure" on the packaging of paper and handkerchief paper. The mandatory national standards of sexual gloves, sanitary napkins, etc.).

Produced: Popular Science China

Author: Xiao Yidong (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences) Zhang Yi (Southeast University) (Southeast University)

Producer: China Science Popularization Expo

references:

[1] GB/T 20810-2018, "toilet paper (including toilet paper)" [S]. Beijing: State Administration of Market Supervision and Management, China National Standardization Management Committee, 2018.

[2] GB/T 20808-2022, "Towel" [S]. Beijing: State Administration of Market Supervision and Management, National Standardization Management Committee, 2022.

[3] Baidu Encyclopedia-Cai Lun.

[4] Microbial testing project measurement unit: The differences between CFU and MPN [eb/ol], https://www.huankai.com/show/35488.html, 2021-08-31.

[5] King. Global Washing Day Chengdu Hospital Experiment: 500 bacteria with one hand [eb/ol], https://sichuan.scol.com.cn/fffy/201510/54024295.html, 2015-10-10 -15.

[6] Margarita Noriega. Here's how to make your own bacteria handprint [eb/ol], https://www.vox.com/2015/6/8/8744399/bacteria-handprint, 2015-06-08.

[7] Fu Shuyi. Foreign media surveys found that the bacteria on the smartphone are ten times the toilet ring [eb/ol], http://it.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0825/c1009-30250943.html,, 2018-08-25.

[8] iphone 6-Technical specifications [eb/ol], https://support.apple.com/kb/sp705?Locale=zh_cn, 2021-4-15.

[9] The difference between wood pulp paper and bamboo pulp paper is very different! Toilet paper, are you right? [EB/OL], http://www.hbzjy.com/content/?2283.html, 2018-01-18.

[10] GB 15979-2002, "Sanitary Standards for Disposal Sanitary Products" [S]. Beijing: General Administration of Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China: 2002.

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