Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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It Was Possible to Reduce the Pain of the Victims of Humidifier Disinfectant

가습기살균제 피해자의 아픔을 줄일 수 있었다

  • Kim, Pangyi (Department of Occupational Environmental Health, Yongin University) ;
  • Choi, Yoon-Hyeong (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Gachon University) ;
  • Park, YeongChul (ChemOn Consulting Center) ;
  • Park, Tae-Hyun (Law School, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Leem, JongHan (Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University.Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital)
  • 김판기 (용인대학교 산업환경보건학과) ;
  • 최윤형 (가천대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 박영철 ((주)켐온 컨설팅센터) ;
  • 박태현 (강원대학교 법학전문대학원) ;
  • 임종한 (인하대학교 사회의학교실.인하대병원 직업환경의학과)
  • Received : 2021.10.02
  • Accepted : 2022.02.14
  • Published : 2022.02.28
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Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to reveal the circumstances under which the cases of harm to health caused by humidifier disinfectant were neglected and show the points where the number of victims and the degree of damage could have been reduced. In addition, it attempts to describe how damage management proceeded immediately after the incident and actually exacerbated the damage. Finally, it explores the unfortunate aspects of the recent trial. By doing so, it attempts to take this as an opportunity to consider whether a tragic event such as the humidifier disinfectant incident could occur in the future. Methods: This study collected and analyzed data on chemical material characteristics related to humidifier disinfectants, data on health effect characteristics, data on related laws and regulations from the Ministry of Environment, data related to the damage investigation by the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute, and current contents. Results: The lack of related systems and laws is the area where the greatest responsibility for the cause of the humidifier disinfectant disaster falls, so it is difficult for the government to escape this responsibility. Establishing a dedicated department to identify the prevalence of certain diseases within the functions of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to monitor health can greatly contribute to the prevention and management of diseases through early detection and management of group outbreaks caused by harmful factors. Humidifier disinfectant damage relief should have been expanded earlier beyond HDLI (humidifier disinfectant lung injury) to include non-specific diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, and interstitial pneumonia. The scope of relief benefits should have also been expanded earlier to include the payment of disability benefits. Fortunately, with the 2020 revision of the Special Act, the conditions for estimating causal relations were eased and individual screening systems such as health impact assessment were reorganized along with the introduction of a rapid screening system. Conclusions: The management system for chemical substances in a country is clearly of paramount importance, and the ministry in charge must have a response system in case of damage to health effects. Administration that looks at the victims' situation from their point of view is needed, and technical countermeasures are required to quickly recognize the prevalence of certain diseases.

Keywords

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