Inhalation Lung Injury Associated with Humidifier Disinfectants in Adults.
10.3346/jkms.2016.31.12.1857
- Author:
Jin Won HUH
1
;
Sang Bum HONG
;
Kyung Hyun DO
;
Hyun Jung KOO
;
Se Jin JANG
;
Moo Song LEE
;
Domyung PAEK
;
Dong Uk PARK
;
Chae Man LIM
;
Younsuck KOH
Author Information
1. Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. yskoh@amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Respiratory Failure;
Humidifier Disinfectants;
Chemicals;
Lung Injury;
Adults
- MeSH:
Adult*;
Animals;
Case-Control Studies;
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.);
Disinfectants*;
Family Characteristics;
Humans;
Humidifiers*;
Inhalation*;
Korea;
Lung Injury*;
Lung*;
Peripartum Period;
Public Health;
Respiratory Insufficiency;
Social Control, Formal
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2016;31(12):1857-1862
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
We recently established a novel disease entity presented as progressive respiratory failure associated with the inhalation of humidifier disinfectants. In April 2011, we encountered a series of peripartum patients with complaints of respiratory distress of unknown etiology, which was an uncommon phenomenon. Accordingly, we created a multidisciplinary team comprising intensivists, radiologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Further, we defined the disease entity and performed a case-control study, epidemiologic investigation, and animal study to determine the etiology. The study findings indicated that the lung injury outbreak was related to the inhalation of humidifier disinfectants and showed that household chemical inhalation can cause severe respiratory failure. Following the withdrawal of humidifier disinfectants from the Korean market in 2012, no such cases were reported. This tragic event is a warning that appropriate safety regulations and monitoring for potential toxic household chemicals are critical to protect public health.
