Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Case Studies of Exposures to Humidifier Disinfectant in Hospitals: Focusing on the Exposure Assessment of the Fourth Round of Applicants

병원에서의 가습기살균제 노출 사례 연구: 4차 가습기살균제 피해 신청자를 중심으로

  • Han, Kyunghee (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yoon, Jeonggyo (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jo, Eun-Kyung (Korean Society of Environmental Health) ;
  • Ryu, Hyeonsu (Department of Occupational Health, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Yang, Wonho (Department of Occupational Health, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Choi, Yoon-Hyeong (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine)
  • 한경희 (가천대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 윤정교 (가천대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 조은경 (한국환경보건학회) ;
  • 류현수 (대구가톨릭대학교 산업보건학과) ;
  • 양원호 (대구가톨릭대학교 산업보건학과) ;
  • 최윤형 (가천대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실)
  • Received : 2019.08.02
  • Accepted : 2019.08.17
  • Published : 2019.08.31
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Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to introduce cases of exposure to humidifier disinfectant (HD) in hospitals and to present their exposure characteristics. Methods: We used data from 4,393 subjects who participated in the fourth assessment survey of environmental exposure to HD conducted by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute. In this study, we selected 301 subjects who reported their place of use of HD as a hospital. Then, we classified cases as 'Hospital-provided'. 'Probably hospital-provided', 'Individual purchased', and 'Unknown' according to the supply sources of HD. Also, we introduced detailed exposure characteristics for the selected cases. Results: Of the 4,393 subjects, 301 (6.9%) reported the use of HD in 392 hospitals (including duplicate answers for the use in ${\geq}2$ hospitals). The 301 hospital-user subjects included 139 survivors and 162 non-survivors. When we classified the 392 cases by supply sources, 'Hospital-provided' was 12.2% (48 cases), 'Probably hospital-provided' was 25.5% (100 cases), 'Individual purchased' was 59.7% (234 cases), and 'Unknown' was 2.6% (10 cases). Among the 'Hospital-provided' cases, we selected six cases and provided a detailed description of the HD use in this study. Additionally, we reported details for six cases that had purchased HD upon a doctor or nurse's recommendation and for three cases that had purchased it at hospital stores. Conclusion: This study presents various cases of HD exposure in hospitals. Because there may be a considerable burden of HD exposure in public spaces, including hospitals, further studies are necessary to assess HD exposure in hospitals and public places.

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