가습기 살균제 피해자 호흡기로 흡입된 가습기 살균제 양 추정 - 호흡기 외부(external) 및 내부 노출(internal exposure) 추정 방법과 사례 -

Abstract

In South Korea, many cases of humidifier disinfectant-associated lung injury (HDLI) have been reported amongpeople who used humidifier products containing humidifier disinfectant (HD). The objectives of this study areto estimate both airborne HD concentration in the room where HD was used and the amount of humidifierdisinfectant absorbed into the respiratory system. Information and data on the HDs were collected using astructured questionnaire and home environmental investigations include the volume of HD (ml) and hours usedper day, concentration of disinfectants contained in the HD brand (μg/ml), volume of the room (m3), assumedventilation rate (m3/hr) and breathing rate assumed (m3/hr). We used children aged under five years old as asample and estimated both airborne HD concentrations and amount of HD absorbed into the respiratory system. The estimated airborne concentration of HD in the room ranged from 68 to 369 μg/m3 for PHMG(polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate) and from 16 to 239 μg/m3 for PGH (oligo (2-(2-ethoxy) ethoxyethylguanidine). The amount of HD absorbed in the respiratory system per day was estimated to range from 227 to1,225 μg for PHMG and from 53 to 794 μg for PGH. In conclusion, a great amount of HD was likely absorbedinto respiratory system, likely beyond the level of the capacity of the immune system to remove the HDabsorbed.