Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Survey on Health Effects among Workers in the Humidifier Disinfectant Manufacturing Process

가습기 살균제 제조 공정 근로자 건강영향 조사

  • Kang, Young Joong (COMWEL Incheon Hospital, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service) ;
  • Park, Soon Woo (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Eom, Huisu (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Kim, Eun-A (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency)
  • 강영중 (근로복지공단 인천병원) ;
  • 박순우 (안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 엄희수 (안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 김은아 (안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원)
  • Received : 2018.04.26
  • Accepted : 2018.09.03
  • Published : 2018.10.28
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Abstract

Objectives: An outbreak of humidifier disinfectant-related respiratory disease has not only been a massive disaster for end users, but it is also a concern for the workers of the manufacturers. This study presents the results of a questionnaire survey on the health effects among workers involved in the manufacture of humidifier disinfectants. Methods: Seven sites where humidifier disinfectants were manufactured were identified. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the physical symptoms experienced by workers related to humidifier disinfectants. Among a total of 177 workers, 42 subjects were available for the survey. Results: Twenty-one of the 42 respondents reported that they experienced respiratory or skin and mucosal irritation symptoms during work. Of the respondents who experienced symptoms, 14 believed that their symptoms were related to the work process and reported that the symptoms were experienced while working. However, no respondents reported ongoing symptoms or sequelae during the investigation period, and this result could not minimize selection bias due to low response rates. We then compared the characteristics of the group who experienced suspicious symptoms with those of the group without any symptoms. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups. Conclusions: We could not find significant health effects related to the humidifier disinfectant manufacturing process, although 21 respondents experienced stimulant symptoms and 14 respondents believed that the symptoms were related to the work process. Due to the long period of time after occupational exposure and the lack of data, there were many limitations to this study. However, this is one of the few follow-up investigations of workers related to this large-scale disaster in South Korea and the limitations of this study highlight the need to follow up with a nationwide database rather than an occasional survey.

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