DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

An analysis of a humidifier disinfectant case from a toxicological perspective

  • Received : 2016.05.24
  • Accepted : 2016.07.03
  • Published : 2016.01.01

Abstract

An analysis of patients and fatalities due to exposure to polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) shows that PHMG causes mainly lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. However, no research on the other organs has been conducted on this matter yet. So, an in-depth discussion on toxicological techniques is needed to determine whether or not PHMG is toxic to organs other than just the lungs. For the test of target organ toxicity by PHMG exposure, a toxicokinetic study must first be conducted. However, measurement method for PHMG injected into the body has not yet been established because it is not easy to analyze polymer PHMG, so related base studies on analytical technique for PHMG including radio-labeling chemistry must come first. Moreover, research on exposure-biomarker and effect-biomarker must also be conducted, primarily related to clinical application. Several limitations seem to be expected to apply the biomarker study to the patient because much time has passed after exposure to the humidifier disinfectant. It is why a more comprehensive toxicological researches must be introduced to the causality for the victims.

Keywords

References

  1. Asian Citizen's Center for Environment and Health. Population survey of humidifier disinfectant use; 2016 [cited 2016 Feb 25]. Available from: http://eco-health.org/bbs/board.php?bo_table=sub02_04&wr_id=160 (Korean).
  2. Choi Y, Paek D. Humidifier disinfectants, unfinished stories. Environ Health Toxicol 2016;31:e2016004. https://doi.org/10.5620/eht.e2016004
  3. Ostapenko YN, Brusin KM, Zobnin YV, Shchupak AY, Vishnevetskiy MK, Sentsov VG, et al. Acute cholestatic liver injury caused by polyhexamethyleneguanidine hydrochloride admixed to ethyl alcohol. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2011;49(6):471-477. https://doi.org/10.3109/15563650.2011.592837
  4. Asiedu-Gyekye IJ, Mahmood SA, Awortwe C, Nyarko AK. A preliminary safety evaluation of polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride. Int J Toxicol 2014;33(6):523-531. https://doi.org/10.1177/1091581814553036
  5. Kim HR, Lee K, Park CW, Song JA, Shin da Y, Park YJ, et al. Polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate aerosol particles induce pulmonary inflammatory and fibrotic responses. Arch Toxicol 2016;90(3):617-632. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-015-1486-9
  6. Kwon do Y, Kim HM, Kim E, Lim YM, Kim P, Choi K, et al. Acute pulmonary toxicity and inflammation induced by combined exposure to didecyldimethylammonium chloride and ethylene glycol in rats. J Toxicol Sci 2016;41(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.2131/jts.41.17
  7. Ohnuma-Koyama A, Yoshida T, Tajima-Horiuchi H, Takahashi N, Yamaguchi S, Ohtsuka R, et al. Didecyldimethylammonium chloride induces pulmonary fibrosis in association with TGF-${\beta}$ signaling in mice. Exp Toxicol Pathol 2013;65(7-8):1003-1009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etp.2013.02.003
  8. Ohnuma A, Yoshida T, Tajima H, Fukuyama T, Hayashi K, Yamaguchi S, et al. Didecyldimethylammonium chloride induces pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in mice. Exp Toxicol Pathol 2010;62(6):643-651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etp.2009.08.007

Cited by

  1. Analysis of genomic responses in a rat lung model treated with a humidifier sterilizer containing polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate vol.268, pp.None, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.11.005
  2. Guanidine-based disinfectants, polyhexamethylene guanidine-phosphate (PHMG-P), polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), and oligo(2-(2-ethoxy)ethoxyethyl guanidinium chloride (PGH) induced epithelial-mesen vol.31, pp.4, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1080/08958378.2019.1624896
  3. Antibacterial, chemical and physical properties of sealants with polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride vol.33, pp.None, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-3107bor-2019.vol33.0019
  4. Guanidine derivative inhibits C. albicans biofilm growth on denture liner without promote loss of materials’ resistance vol.5, pp.2, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2020.02.007
  5. Safety Assessment of Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (Polyhexamethylene Biguanide Hydrochloride) as Used in Cosmetics vol.39, pp.3, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1177/1091581820958683
  6. Effects of chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT) on Th2/Th17-related immune modulation in an atopic dermatitis mouse model vol.10, pp.None, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60966-8
  7. Fibrosis as a result of polyhexamethylene guanide exposure in cultured Statens Seruminstitut Rabbit Cornea (SIRC) cells vol.36, pp.2, 2021, https://doi.org/10.5620/eaht.2021009
  8. Study on biological distribution of polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG), a toxic household chemical, using radiolabeling and molecular imaging tools vol.27, pp.5, 2016, https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2021.393