Humidifier disinfectant case – Wikipedia

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Lung disease outbreak in South Korea

The humidifier disinfectant case was an outbreak of severe lung disease in South Korea caused by humidifier disinfectant contained in the spray.

The pulmonary toxicity of humidifier disinfectants was discovered due to an outbreak of severe lung disease in South Korea, detected in children in the spring of the years 2006 to 2011, and in adults in the spring of 2011; the mortality rate in children was 58 percent, while among adults, 53 percent died or required lung transplants.[1]Autopsies and epidemiological work, followed up by animal studies, led the South Korean CDC to identify PHMG used in humidifiers as the cause.[1]s[2]

Its cause was due to Polyhexamethylene guanidine(PHMG), Methylchloroisothiazolinone(CMIT), Methylisothiazolinone(MIT) and oligo(2-(2-ethoxy)-ethoxyethyl)guanidinium-chloride(PGH).[3]. Experiment of South Korean government found pulmonary toxicity of PHMG and PGH[4][5] PHMG and PGH caused pulmonary fibrosis in animal experiment. On November 11, 2011, six humidifier disinfectants which contain PHMG and PGH were recovered. PHMG and PGH was banned in 2011, and new cases ceased occurring.[1][2]

However Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not find a causal relationship that CMIT and MIT in humidifier disinfectants cause pulmonary fibrosis. This result did not mean that CMIT and MIT were safe.[4] At least five victim who died due to severe lung disease only used CMIT or MIT-based humidifier disinfectant.[6][7] CMIT/MIT containing humidifier disinfectants were exempt in recall.[7] However, other toxicity of CMIT and MIT such as brain toxicity and skin toxicity were founded.[8]

Most victims were killed by Oxy’s humidifier disinfectant: Oxy Ssakssak New Humidifier on duty (옥시 싹싹 뉴 가습기 당번). Oxy was the largest seller of humidifier disinfectants. Oxy’s original humidifier disinfectant, Oxy Ssakssak Humidifier on duty (옥시 싹싹 가습기 당번) had been tested on animals because German professor told that inhalation toxicity test is required to make humidifier disinfectant. Oxy changed disinfectant ingredient to PHMG in 2000 and omitted inhalation toxicity test. [9]

Producer of PHMG and PGH based humidifier disinfectants were sentenced guilty. However producer of CMIT and MIT based humidifier disinfectants were sentenced not guilty in the first instance. Scientific experiment about pulmonary toxicity of CMIT and MIT were published after the first sentence. [10][11]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Cummings, K. J.; Kreiss, K. (2015). “Occupational and environmental bronchiolar disorders”. Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 36 (3): 366–78. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1549452. PMC 4610354. PMID 26024345.
  2. ^ a b Dirk W. Lachenmeier (2015). “Chapter 24 – Antiseptic Drugs and Disinfectants”. Side Effects of Drugs Annual. Vol. 37. pp. 273–279. doi:10.1016/bs.seda.2015.06.005. ISBN 9780444635259.
  3. ^ “‘가습기살균제’ 새 재판부 “사회적 참사라는 성찰 아래 공방해야”“. www.donga.com. November 12, 2019.
  4. ^ a b “알림 > 보도설명 내용보기 ” [4월12일, 경향신문] 보건복지부는 ´독성 없다던 가습기살균제, 환경부선 작년 ´유독물´ 지정´, ´환경부 “가습기 살균 물질 극소량 노출된 흰쥐 절반이 죽어” 관련 보도 해명자료 ” | 힘이 되는 평생 친구, 보건복지부”. www.mohw.go.kr.
  5. ^ “가습기살균제, 폐손상 최종 확인”. ktv.go.kr.
  6. ^ “가습기살균제 위해 성분 2종 유독물 지정”. KBS 뉴스.
  7. ^ a b “정부 ‘괜찮다’던 가습기살균제에 18명 사망, 40명 환자 – 고발뉴스닷컴”. www.gobalnews.com.
  8. ^ “:: Korean Journal of Environmental Biology ::”. www.ebr.or.kr. doi:10.11626/KJEB.2020.38.2.271. S2CID 225755701.
  9. ^ “‘가습기 살균제’ 최대 피해낸 ‘옥시싹싹’ 독성실험없이 출시”. 연합뉴스. April 27, 2016.
  10. ^ 기자, 이효상 (December 26, 2022). “가습기 살균제 무죄, 2심은 뒤집힐까”. weekly.khan.co.kr.
  11. ^ “가습기살균제 참사 항소심 ‘게임 체인저 ‘부상, 왜?”. www.ilyosisa.co.kr. December 27, 2022.