Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Review of Health Effects Caused by Chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT) and Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) - Focusing on Humidifier Disinfectant-associated Lung Injury (HDLI) -

Chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT)과 Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)의 건강영향에 대한 고찰 - 가습기 살균제 폐 손상을 중심으로 -

  • Park, Dong-Uk (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Kim, Jiwon (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Ryu, Seung-Hun (Humidifier Disinfectant Health Center, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Park, Jihoon (Environmental Safety Group, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Europe Forschungsgesellschaft mbH) ;
  • Kwon, Jung-Hwan (Faculty of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University) ;
  • Lee, So-Yeon (Department of Pediatrics, Humidifier Disinfectant Health Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Soyoung (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University)
  • 박동욱 (한국방송통신대학교 환경보건학과) ;
  • 김지원 (한국방송통신대학교 환경보건학과) ;
  • 류승훈 (국립환경과학원 가습기살균제보건센터) ;
  • 박지훈 (한국과학기술연구원 유럽연구소 환경안전성연구단) ;
  • 권정환 (고려대학교 환경생태공학부) ;
  • 이소연 (울산대학교 의과대학, 서울아산병원 소아청소년과, 가습기살균제보건센터) ;
  • 박소영 (성균관대학교 의과대학, 강북삼성병원 직업환경의학과)
  • Received : 2020.06.03
  • Accepted : 2020.06.15
  • Published : 2020.06.30
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Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to summarize the physiochemical properties, toxicity, and legal regulation of chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT) and/or methylisothiazolinone (MIT), review the health effects caused by exposure to CMIT/MIT, and evaluate the individual association of lung injury with the use of humidifier disinfectants (HD) containing a mixture of CMIT and MIT. Method: A literature review was conducted by searching keywords such as CMIT, MIT, health effect, dermatitis, asthma, and lung injury, either singly or combined. Results: Both CMIT and/or MIT were found to be associated with the development of several types of adverse health effects. In particular, respiratory diseases including asthma, nasal symptoms, cough, and rhinitis were caused by the use of products including CMIT or/and MIT. The mixture of CMIT/MIT has been banned in cosmetics. As of the end of 2017, nine patients who were confirmed to have HD associated lung injury (HDLI) were found to have used only an HD brand containing CMIT and MIT. Their responses regarding the name of the HD used could be trustworthy based on the short duration of HD use (less than six months) before the onset of HDLI and frequent use of HD per day. Conclusion: According to the toxicity and HDLI cases, the use of HD containing CMIT and /or MIT can cause fatal lung injury. Further study with manufacturers' assistance is necessary in order to obtain more clear evidence on the causal relationship since HDLI cases are being reported continuously.

Keywords

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