Ministry of Environment Officially Recognizes Lung Cancer as a Harm Caused by Humidifier Disinfectants After 12 Years

The Ministry of Environment has recognized lung cancer as a damage caused by humidifier disinfectants for the first time. This comes 12 years after the harm caused by humidifier disinfectants was first revealed to the public in 2011.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 5th, at the 36th Humidifier Disinfectant Damage Relief Committee meeting held in a conference room near Seoul Station, the Ministry of Environment announced that it recognized the damage of one person who died of lung cancer after exposure to humidifier disinfectants and decided to provide relief.

Until now, lung cancer had not been practically recognized as damage caused by humidifier disinfectants. The Ministry of Environment explained, "Previous studies lacked sufficient scientific evidence to recognize lung cancer as damage caused by humidifier disinfectants, so the decision was deferred." According to the Ministry, among applicants for humidifier disinfectant relief benefits, 206 people have been diagnosed with lung cancer so far.

The recognition of lung cancer as damage caused by humidifier disinfectants was decisively influenced by the results of the "Study on Changes in Lung Disease Caused by Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Phosphate (PHMG), a Component of Humidifier Disinfectants," conducted by the Korea University Ansan Hospital Humidifier Disinfectant Health Center from March 2021 to December last year. Evidence was established that exposure to PHMG can lead to the development of lung cancer.

The Ministry of Environment stated, "Not all cases of lung cancer will be recognized as damage, and each application will be individually reviewed for damage recognition." It also emphasized, "Since it is impossible to distinguish between lung cancer caused by environmental or genetic factors and lung cancer caused by humidifier disinfectants, expedited review will not be applied." Expedited review is a method under the National Health Protection Act that quickly decides on relief benefit payments based on claims data such as medical expense claims.

At the committee meeting, relief benefits were decided for a total of 136 victims who had not previously been recognized as damaged. Additionally, damage grades were assigned to 357 victims whose damage had been recognized but whose damage grades had not been determined. With this committee decision, the number of people eligible for humidifier disinfectant relief benefits has increased to 5,176.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.