Topic-Product Liability

What is humidifier disinfectant?

The water from the humidifier used to increase humidity in dry rooms is usually replenished once or twice a day, but it is not easy to clean the inside of the water bottle because water stains or microorganisms form inside the water bottle. Therefore, it was developed by a large Korean company in 1944 for the purpose of convenience of not having to clean up because it can suppress microorganisms if humidifier disinfectants are put inside the bucket. In the meantime, several Korean conglomerates and companies that are not large companies in the field began to create them. Humidifier disinfectants became popular in the 2000s when large discount marts made and sold their own products, and were especially used in homes with children and patients. But this is what caused the problem.

What health problems do humidifier disinfectants cause?

Humidifier disinfectants have entered the body through people's respirators, causing damage to death in severe cases. The disinfectant mixed with water in the humidifier water bottle functions as sterilization in the water bottle along with the humidifier ignition, and some are discharged out of the humidifier with water. Water particles quickly evaporate in the air, and sterilizer components condense and fly into fine nano-sized particles, and enter the body through the nose and mouth during human breathing. It is very small and penetrates deep into the lungs through the bronchial tubes. In early 2011, seven mothers and one adult man were brought to a hospital emergency room due to breathing difficulties of unknown cause. Four of them died due to worsening conditions, and the other three barely survived lung transplantation. In August 2011, an epidemiological investigation by the government was announced that the cause of death was presumed to be a humidifier disinfectant. Humidifier disinfectant damage follows the airway. It has been confirmed that it causes serious lung damage such as hardening of alveoli around the bronchial tubes leading to lung and leads to death. However, people who use humidifier disinfectants complain of respiratory diseases such as asthma, rhinitis, and pneumonia, as well as various diseases such as eye diseases, skin diseases, and heart diseases in addition to lungs. It was not until June 2016 that research on non-lungal diseases began. The medical community reports that 20,000 out of 70,000 people who died of pneumonia during the humidifier disinfectant sales period may have been caused by humidifier disinfectants.

Are the damage measures being carried out properly?

As the damage to the lungs of humidifier disinfectants was designated as an environmental disease under the Environmental Health Act in March 2014, some hospital and funeral expenses are being paid. However, even this is a condition in which the government receives the cost back through the right to indemnity from manufacturers. In other words, the government provides some of the compensation that victims should receive from the company with taxes and later receives it back from the company. But companies abuse government decisions, and many victims are excluded from compensation.

Question : If there's a similar case in the United States, please explain it and explain how the United States would have taken action.