Unrecognized Bomb Hidden in the Babies' Room: Fatal Pulmonary Damage Related with Use of Biocide in Humidifiers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently suggested that prolonged inhalation of water aerosol containing biocide in humidifiers can bring about rapidly progressive respiratory fibrosis, which killed more than nine people, including four pregnant women in Korea, based on epidemiologic and toxicological studies It also ordered banning of six consumer products containing three responsible chemicals, oligo [2-(2-ethoxy) ethoxyethyl] guanidium chloride (PGH, Akacid ) and polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate (PHMG phosphate, Skybio1125 ) or hydrochloride (PHMG HCl, Akacid plus ). It suggested that extensive use of a humidifier in a poorly ventilated room with these biocides dissolved in the water could trigger development of fatal pulmonary syndrome, which has never