Inhalation Lung Injury Associated with Humidifier Disinfectants in Adults.
We recently established a novel disease entity presented as progressive respiratory failure associated with the inhalation of humidifier disinfectants. In April 2011, we encountered a series of peripartum patients with complaints of respiratory distress of unknown etiology, which was an uncommon phenomenon. Accordingly, we created a multidisciplinary team comprising intensivists, radiologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Further, we defined the disease entity and performed a case-control study, epidemiologic investigation, and animal study to determine the etiology. The study findings indicated that the lung injury outbreak was related to the inhalation of humidifier disinfectants and showed that household chemical inhalation can cause severe respiratory failure. Following the withdrawal of humidifier disinfectants from the Korean market in 2012, no such cases were reported. This tragic event is a warning that appropriate safety regulations and monitoring for potential toxic household chemicals are critical to protect public health.
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Jin Won
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3449-0461
JW
Huh
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Sang Bum
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2737-7695
SB
Hong
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Kyung Hyun
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1922-4680
KH
Do
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun Jung
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5640-3835
HJ
Koo
Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Se Jin
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8239-4362
SJ
Jang
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Moo Song
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1085-9073
MS
Lee
Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Domyung
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4510-6362
D
Paek
Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University, Seoul, Korea.
Dong Uk
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3847-7392
DU
Park
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Chae Man
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5400-6588
CM
Lim
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. yskoh@amc.seoul.kr.
Younsuck
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5066-2027
Y
Koh
D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D000068998:Humidifiers; D001239:Inhalation; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D058725:Peripartum Period; D011634:Public Health; D056910:Republic of Korea
D004202:Disinfectants
Adults; Chemicals; Humidifier Disinfectants; Lung Injury; Respiratory Failure