There are humidifier disinfectants that have affected more than 800 people over the past 10 years. It is a’humidifier mate’ made by SK Chemicals and sold by Aekyung Industrial. Twelve people who used this humidifier disinfectant died in the end. The trials against the two companies lasted for two years, and they were finally acquitted today (12th). That was why the association with lung disease was not proven.
First, reporter Oh Sun-min.
[기자]
‘Humidifier Mate’, made and sold by SK Chemicals and Aekyung Industrial, is the second product that caused the most victims after Oxy’s’Oxyssack’.
The main ingredients are CMIT·MIT.
It is a different ingredient from PHMG·PGH of’Oxy Sprout’, which has been recognized as harmful by the court.
In 2018, the Ministry of Environment announced that the risk of lung damage caused by the components of the humidifier mate was recognized.
He explained that even though the ingredients were different from the oxy product, the same disease appeared.
However, the court’s judgment was different.
The first trial court sentenced the former representatives of SK Chemicals and Aekyung Industries, who were accused of manslaughter, etc. in their work, to acquittal.
All studies conducted to date have demonstrated that no causal relationship has been established between CMIT/MIT components and lung disease or asthma.
Although there were results from animal experiments, it was conducted at an unrealistic level, and even this did not show any association with the disease.
He explained that the official recognition of the damage by the Ministry of Environment was widely viewed for the purpose of’rescuing victims’, but not scientifically proven.
However, I admitted the limitations of this ruling.
“I don’t know what kind of evaluation it will be historically evaluated as further research results come out,” he said.
He said, “It is recognized as a social disaster that caused tremendous damage,” and said, “It is unfortunate and complicated.”
The prosecution said it would appeal.
“The court overlooked the difference between the results of animal experiments and human damage, and denied the results of the damage judgment reviewed by experts through strict procedures,” he countered.
The trial lasted nearly two years.
Judgment may be different if additional evidence is presented at the appeal hearing to establish a causal relationship between the disinfectant component and lung disease.
(Video Design: Kang Aram)
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