Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Abrupt Rise of Humidifier Disinfectant Associated Health Problems since 2008: Was it chance or inevitable?

2008년부터 가습기 살균제 건강 피해 급증: 우연인가, 필연인가?

  • Park, Dong-Uk (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Park, Soyoung (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Ju-Hyun (Department of Statistics, Dongguk University) ;
  • Park, Jihoon (Environmental Safety Group, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Europe Forschungsgesellschaft mbH) ;
  • Hong, Soo-Jong (Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Asthma and Atopy Center, Environmental Health Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Paek, Domyung (Department of Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • 박동욱 (한국방송통신대학교 환경보건학과) ;
  • 박소영 (성균관대학교 의과대학 강북삼성병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 박주현 (동국대학교 통계학과) ;
  • 박지훈 (한국과학기술연구원 유럽연구소 환경안전성연구단) ;
  • 홍수종 (울산대학교 서울아산병원 호흡기 내과, 소아천식아토피센터, 환경보건센터) ;
  • 백도명 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과)
  • Received : 2020.03.03
  • Accepted : 2020.04.07
  • Published : 2020.04.30
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Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this study are to report the number of humidifier disinfectant (HD) associated health problems, including HD associated lung injury (HDLI), by year. This data was analyzed by the type of HD and HD brand. Methods: A total of 530 patients registered with the national program on HD through its third round were distributed based on the year when they developed their first health problem including HDLI (N=221). The distribution of health problems at diagnosis was clinically evaluated in order to examine the association between their lung injury and the use of HD. Results: The number of HD associated victims and HDLI patients was found to rise sharply from 2008 to 2011, with a peak in 2011. This trend was found not only for HD brands containing polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG), but also chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT). The number of patients who responded as developing health problems in the specific year was 35 for 2008, 51 for 2009, 108 for 2010 and 182 for 2011. Other types of HD brands and HD chemicals did not follow the trend of abrupt increase in HD associated patients since 2008. Conclusion: This study found the number of HD associated victims and HDLI patients who used HD brands containing PHMG sharply increased starting in 2008. A significant change in the process of manufacturing PHMG can be suspected with the abrupt rise in HD associated patients in specific years.

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References

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