Review of Humidifier Lung Cases Caused by Use of Humidifier - Focusing on Probable Environmental Causal Agents -

Kim

et al. 2018

IJERPH

The inhalation of a water aerosol from a humidifier containing disinfectants has led to serious lung injuries in Korea. To promote the safe use of products, the Korean government enacted regulations on the chemicals in various consumer products that could have adverse health effects. Given the concern over the potential health risks associated with the hazardous ingredients in deodorizing consumer products, 17 ingredients were analyzed and assessed according to their health risk on 3 groups by the application type in 47 deodorizing products. The risk assessment study followed a stepwise procedure (e.g., collecting toxicological information, hazard identification/exposure assessment, and screening and detailed assessment for inhalation and dermal routes). The worst-case scenario and maximum concentration determined by the product purpose and application type were used as the screening assessment. In a detailed assessment, the 75th exposure factor values were used to estimate the assumed reasonable exposure to ingredients. The exposed concentrations of seven ingredients were calculated. Due to limitation of toxicity information, butylated hydroxyl toluene for a consumer’s exposure via the dermal route only was conducted for a detailed assessment. This study showed that the assessed ingredients have no health risks at their maximum concentrations in deodorizing products. This approach can be used to establish guidelines for ingredients that may pose inhalation and dermal hazards.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Risk Assessment on Hazardous Ingredients in Household Deodorizing Products

Kim

et al. 2018

IJERPH

“…PHMG is highly skin-irritating, but its oral toxicity is low. Unexpectedly, the use of PHMG as a humidifier disinfectant provoked pulmonary fibrosis, claiming hundreds of lives in Korea [ 3 , 4 ]. In addition, due to the outbreak of CoViD-19 pandemic, the role of disinfectants and sanitizers has become critical in the prevention of infection, and the use of them is on the rise worldwide [ 5 ], raising an urgent need to assess their inhalation toxicity for the safe use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local Toxicity of Biocides after Direct and Aerosol Exposure on the Human Skin Epidermis and Airway Tissue Models

Jang

et al. 2021

Toxics

Biocides are commonly used as spray- or trigger-type formulations, thus dermal and respiratory exposure to biocide aerosol is unavoidable. However, little is known about the impact of aerosolization on the local toxicity of biocides on the skin or the airway. We compared the local toxicity of biocides after direct or aerosol exposure on reconstructed human skin epidermis and upper airway models. Three biocides, 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT), 2-phenoxyethanol (PE), and 2-phenylphenol (OPP), most widely used in the market were selected. When the biocide was treated in aerosols, toxicity to the skin epidermis and upper airway tissue became significantly attenuated compared with the direct application as determined by the higher tissue viabilities. This was further confirmed in histological examination, wherein the tissue damages were less pronounced. LC-MS/MS and GC/MS analysis revealed that concentrations of biocides decreased during aerosolization. Importantly, the toxicity of biocides treated in 3 μm (median mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD)) aerosols was stronger than that of 5 μm aerosol, suggesting that the aerosol particle size may affect biocide toxicity. Collectively, we demonstrated that aerosolization could affect the local toxicity of biocides on the skin epidermis and the upper airway.

“…For example, disinfectants were used in humidifier water tanks in order to prevent the growth and spread of germs, molds, and/or algae. Recently, the inhalation of aerosolized water from a humidifier that contained disinfectants led to serious lung issues that resulted in 200 deaths and 700 injuries, including children [ 12 ]; this tragedy heightened public attention and raised concerns. In 2013, the Korean government enacted regulations on substances in a variety of household products that may adversely affect health in an effort to promote the safe use of these products (The Korean Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals or K-REACH)) [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Household products that fall under these regulations are required to be assessed for exposure and risk in order to evaluate the health and environmental hazards associated with their use. Exposure and risk assessment involves the systematic scientific characterization of potential adverse health effects resulting from human exposure to hazardous chemicals or situations [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined Assessment of Preschool Childrens’ Exposure to Substances in Household Products

Kim

Seok

2019

IJERPH

Understanding how indoor-air contaminants affect human health is of critical importance in our developed society. We assessed the combined exposure by inhalation of preschool children and children to household products. A total of 1175 families with 72 infants, 158 toddlers, 230 children, and 239 youths were surveyed to determine the combined respiratory exposure concentrations and amounts associated with 21 substances in eight household product groups. We determined the mean concentrations of these substances in each product, and derived reference toxicity values based on the information gathered in order to identify respiratory health risks. On average, cleaners were used at a rate of 1.0 × 103 g/month, while coating agents and other substances were used at 43 g/month. The combined inhalation exposure concentrations of methanol to infants and toddlers were 5.1 and 4.2 mg/m3 per month, respectively, with values of 2.1 and 1.7 mg/m3 for isopropanol, respectively. Risks to preschool children and children should be assessed on the basis of the toxicity values of combined exposed hazardous substances, as well as their combined concentrations and amounts. This exposure assessment approach can be used to establish improved guidelines for products that may pose inhalation hazards to preschool children and children.