Affecting Factors of Lung Disease and Classification of Exposure Rating of Applicants for Injuries from Humidifier Disinfectants

Abstract

Background: Lung injuries due to exposure to humidifier disinfectants (HDs) were reported in 2011 in South Korea. As a result of the government's epidemiological investigation and toxicity test study, it was found that HDs caused health damage such as lung disease. Objectives:The purpose of this study was to classify HD exposure ratings and analyze the affecting factors that could identify the relationship with lung disease.Methods: Exposure assessment for HDs was conducted using a questionnaire during face-to-face interviews with the applicants. Ratings of high exposure (Class 1) and low exposure (Class 2) were cross-tabulated with clinical ratings (acceptable and unacceptable). Logistic regression analysis was carried out by setting the clinical rating of lung disease as a dependent variable and the socio-demographic and exposure characteristics obtained through the questionnaire as independent variables. Results:The concentration in air of polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) was 71.96±107.47 µg/m 3 , and the exposure concentration was 15.21±23.28 µg/m 3 . The exposure rating was overestimated with 97.1% of affected subjects having high exposure using margin of exposure (MOE), but only 9.9% matching the clinical class. In the overestimated group, it could be explained by the fact that the exposure time was long and the subjects had already recovered from damage symptoms. As a result of logistic regression analysis, ten variables were found to be significant influencing factors. Conclusions:A new exposure rating could be calculated based on the MOE, and factors affecting lung disease could be estimated through comparative evaluation with the clinical rating.

Analysis of Exposure Characteristics and Exposure Rating of Participants with Injuries from CMIT/MIT Humidifier Disinfectants

“…13) 가습기살균제 노출 피 해 사건은 과거노출(past exposure)이기 때문에 개인시료 및 생 물학적 모니터링은 불가능하여 직접적으로 평가하는 방법이 불 가능하다. 14) 따라서 과거노출을 평가하기 위해 환경노출조사에 사용된 설문지의 조사항목과 노출 알고리즘을 이용한 모델링 (modeling)을 이용하여 노출을 평가하는 것이 적합하다. 15) 피해구제 신청자들이 가장 많이 사용한 가습기살균제 성분…”