South Korea admits disinfectant in humidifiers causes lung cancer

The South Korean government has admitted that disinfectants in humidifiers sold between 1996 and 2011 caused lung cancer, possibly leading to the deaths of 1,800 people.

It is the first such admission in South Korea since the humidifier disinfectant scandal that rocked the country 12 years ago. The government has pledged to remedy the damage caused to 599 people who suffered lung diseases after using the products, the environment ministry said on September 6 during its 36th committee meeting.

South Korea's environment ministry has paid damages to the family of a non-smoking man in his 30s who died of lung cancer after using a humidifier containing disinfectant.

The compensation decision was based on research published by Ansan University Hospital in January, providing evidence that exposure to polyhexamethylene (PHMG), a chemical component in some humidifier disinfectants, may increase the risk of developing malignant tumors in the lungs.

According to South Korea's Vice Minister of Environment Lim Sang-jun, it is scientifically difficult to prove the correlation between disinfectants and lung cancer, requiring long-term testing.

People protest in front of Seoul Station to commemorate those who died from lung diseases caused by humidifying disinfectants, August 31. Photo: Yonhap

The Ministry of Environment will continue to evaluate 206 more cancer patients to find ways to mitigate the damage on a case-by-case basis, while considering risk factors such as smoking.

The total number of people whose complaints were resolved was more than 5,000, out of about 7,800 people who requested compensation. Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, SK Chemical, Aekyung Industrial... were involved in the incident, with the role of manufacturing or distributing disinfectants.

So far, the amount of damages paid by these companies amounts to 140.6 billion won ($105.5 million).

Thuc Linh (According to Korea Joongang Daily )

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