DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Individual Exposure Characteristics to Humidifier Disinfectant according to Exposure Classification Groups - Focusing on 4-1 and 4-2 Applicants -

가습기살균제 환경노출 판정등급에 따른 개인 노출 특성 분포 - 4-1차와 4-2차 신청자를 중심으로 -

  • Lee, Seula (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yoon, Jeonggyo (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine) ;
  • Ock, Jeongwon (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jo, Eun-Kyung (Korean Society of Environmental Health) ;
  • Ryu, Hyeonsu (Department of Occupational Health, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Yang, Wonho (Department of Occupational Health, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Choi, Yoon-Hyeong (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine)
  • 이슬아 (가천대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 윤정교 (가천대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 옥정원 (가천대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 조은경 (한국환경보건학회) ;
  • 류현수 (대구가톨릭대학교 산업보건학과) ;
  • 양원호 (대구가톨릭대학교 산업보건학과) ;
  • 최윤형 (가천대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실)
  • Received : 2019.08.02
  • Accepted : 2019.08.19
  • Published : 2019.08.31

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the distribution of individual exposure characteristics according to an exposure assessment classification for humidifier disinfectant and to identify the factors that influence assessment classification. Methods: We examined the exposure characteristics of 4,482 subjects who applied for the 4-1 and 4-2 assessments of environmental exposure to humidifier disinfectant conducted by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI). Environmental exposure assessment classification was assessed using the following seven criteria: 1) Distance from humidifier to face; 2) Spray direction; 3) Time used, daytime 4) Time used, during sleep; 5) Time used, cumulative; 6) Exposure intensity; and 7) Cumulative exposure level. Each criteria was then classified as 'high' or low'. When participants answered for more than four criteria, exposure assessment was determined as 'definite,' 'probable,' or 'possible' depending on the ratio of 'high' responses. If participants' responses were inconsistent, exposure assessment was listed as 'unlikely.' If participants answered for less than four criteria, exposure assessment was considered 'indeterminate.' Results: For the exposure assessment classes, definite was assigned to 38.5% (1,725 subjects), probable assigned to 32.9% (1,474 subjects), 25.0% (1,122 subjects) were assigned to as possible, unlikely assigned to 0.1% (3 subjects), and indeterminate assigned to 3.5% (158 subjects). Overall, participants who used 'Oxy Ssakssak New Gaseupgi Dangbun,' 'Aekyung Gaseupgi Mate,' 'Homeplus Gaseupgi Chungjungje,' and 'E-Mart Gaseupgi Salgyunje' totaled 2,996, 557, 176, and 162 subjects, respectively. There was a statistical difference in the type of humidifier disinfectant products between high-exposed and low-exposed participants. Based on the assessment criteria of humidifier disinfectant exposure, subjects were likely to be in the highly exposed classes (definite and probable) when the subjects were exposed 1) for more than ten hours per day and 2) for more than four hours at night 3) when the total cumulative exposure time was higher than the average, 4) when the direction of humidifier spray was toward the face, 5) when the respiratory position was less than 1 meter of distance from the humidifier, 6) when the concentration of indoor contaminants (ug/m3) was higher than the average exposure intensity, and 7) when overall exposure level ($ug/m3^*hr$) was higher than the average exposure level. Conclusion: This study suggests that each exposure assessment criteria was able to appropriately estimate cumulative exposure levels.

Keywords

References

  1. Hwang JH. Humidifier Design Study that does not Require Germicide-Mainly with a structure and design. Journal of Digital Design, 2013; 13(4): 569-578. https://doi.org/10.17280/jdd.2013.13.4.056
  2. Ha MN, Lee SY, Hwang SS, Park YS, Sheen SS, Cheong HK et al. Evaluation report on the causal association between humidifier disinfectants and lung injury. 2016; 38: e2016037 https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2016037
  3. Committee for lung injury investigation of Center for Disease Control of Ministry of Health and Welfare. White Paper of the humidifier disinfectant health damage issue. 2014.
  4. Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute. Comprehensive portal for humidifier disinfectant damage support: Statistics [2019. 07. 19.]
  5. Park DU, Friesen MC, Roh HS, Choi YY, Ahn JJ, Lim HK, et al. Estimating retrospective exposure of household humidifier disinfectants. Indoor air. 2015; 25(6): 631-640. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12180
  6. Park DU, Ryu SH, Lim HK, Kim SK, Roh HS, Cha WS. Estimation of Humidifier Disinfectant Amounts Inhaled into the Respiratory System. J Environ Health Sci. 2016; 42(3): 141-146.
  7. Choi YH, Ryu HS, Yoon JG, Lee SA, Kwak JH, Han BY, et al. Demographic Characteristics and Exposure Assessment for Applicants Who Have Been Injured by Humidifier Disinfectant -Focusing on 4-1 and 4-2 Applicants-. J Environ Health Sci. 2018; 44(4): 301-314.
  8. Ryu HS, Jo EK, Choi YH, Lee SA, Yoon JG, Kwak JH, et al. Analysis of Affecting Factors on Exposure Assessment Errors and Characteristics of Applicants for Damage by Usage of Humidifier Disinfectants. J Environ Health Sci. 2019; 45(1): 71-81.
  9. Leem JH, Lee JH. Humidifier disinfectant-associated specific diseases should be called together as "humidifier disinfectant syndrome". Environ Health Toxicol. 2017; 32: e2017017 https://doi.org/10.5620/eht.e2017017