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http://dx.doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2018.44.4.301

Demographic Characteristics and Exposure Assessment for Applicants Who Have Been Injured by Humidifier Disinfectant - Focusing on 4-1 and 4-2 Applicants -  

Choi, Yoon-Hyeong (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine)
Ryu, Hyeonsu (Department of Occupational Health, Daegu Catholic University)
Yoon, Jeonggyo (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine)
Lee, Seula (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine)
Kwak, Jung Hyun (Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine)
Han, Bo-Young (Korean Society of Environmental Health)
Chu, Yeon-Hee (Korean Society of Environmental Health)
Kim, Pan-Gyi (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yongin University)
Yang, Wonho (Department of Occupational Health, Daegu Catholic University)
Publication Information
Journal of Environmental Health Sciences / v.44, no.4, 2018 , pp. 301-314 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to introduce the overall progress of exposure assessment to humidifier disinfectant (HD); to present participants' demographic characteristics, exposure characteristics to humidifier disinfectant, and exposure classification; and furthermore to compare those characteristics between survivors and non-survivors. Methods: An assessment of environmental exposure to HD was conducted using modified HD-specific questionnaires that had been previously validated. We analyzed the data from 4,482 participants who had been potentially exposed to HD and had registered with the KEITI (Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute) from September 2016 to May 2018 (the fourth survey). Environmental exposure assessments were performed as follows: 1) contact with participants, 2) environmental exposure assessment though face-to-face interviews, 3) assessment review and coding, and 4) exposure rating. Results: Overall, survivors made up 77.1% (3,457 subjects) and non-survivors made up 22.9% (1,025 subjects). When compared with the survivors, non-survivors had a higher proportion of subjects aged >60 years and subjects who answered as suffering lung damage and having purchased HD because it is "Beneficial to health" (p<0.05). For the exposure characteristics compared to survivors, non-survivors had a higher proportion of cases of distance from humidifier to face being less that one meter and the spray direction being toward the face (p<0.05). Overall, respondents who used the "Oxy Ssak Ssak New Gaseupgi Dangbun", "Aekyung Gaseupgi Mate", "Homeplus Gaseupgi Chungjungje", and "E-Mart Gaseupgi Salgyunje" products made up 66.1, 12.3, 4.0, and 3.6%, respectively, and 72.5% of respondents used products with PHMG as the active chemical. When compared with survivors, non-survivors had a higher proportion of use of "Oxy Ssak Ssak New Gaseupgi Dangbun" but a lower proportion of use of products with CMIT/MIT, PGH, or PHMG as the active chemical. Conclusions: This study provided demographic characteristics and exposure assessment for applicants who have been injured by HD. In spite of the limitations of performing past exposure assessment through a questionnaire survey, such as recall bias, useful results may be obtained by comparing survivors with non-survivors. Further studies such as the exposure rating method and so on are necessary to assess past exposure to HD.
Keywords
humidifier disinfectant; environmental exposure; exposure classification;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
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