Emart Humidifier Disinfectant Victim Dies After 13 Years Battling Lung Disease

Park purchased humidifier disinfectant at Emart in 2007
Total deaths from humidifier disinfectant reach 1,559

On the morning of August 16, 2017, at the auditorium of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Park Young-sook, a victim of the humidifier disinfectant, attended the press conference titled "Presentation of Major Cases Requiring Recognition for Relief of Humidifier Disinfectant Victims" while lying on a bed. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-joo] A victim who had been suffering from severe lung disease for 13 years after using Emart's humidifier disinfectant has finally passed away.

On the 12th, the Environmental Health Citizens' Center announced, "Park Young-sook, who used one bottle of Emart PB product 'E-PLUS Humidifier Disinfectant' and had been battling severe lung disease for 13 years, died on the 10th." Park was hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital earlier this month but ultimately did not recover and passed away.

The product in question was made by SK Chemical using chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT) and methylisothiazolinone (MIT), known as the 'humidifier disinfectant ingredients,' and supplied to Emart by Aekyung Industrial.

After purchasing and using this humidifier disinfectant from Emart in 2007, Park experienced difficulty breathing and collapsed in March 2008. Since then, she was unable to breathe on her own and had to use an oxygen respirator.

During the government's first investigation in 2014, Park's respiratory capacity was only 15% of a normal person's, but she was judged to be at stage 3 lung damage, indicating a low likelihood of causality between product use and lung disease, implying a low possibility of damage caused by the humidifier disinfectant.

Later, in August 2016, Choo Mi-ae, then leader of the Open Democratic Party, along with Assemblyman Woo Won-shik, visited Park's home in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, to comfort her during her illness and pledged to "resolve the issue." Park was eventually recognized as a victim in 2017.

Even while battling her illness, Park continued to advocate for uncovering the truth about the humidifier disinfectant damage and for the government to establish countermeasures. In 2017 and 2019, she appeared at press conferences and hearings on a stretcher, urging recognition of victims and implementation of damage measures.

According to the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, as of the 7th of this month, there are 6,833 victims of humidifier disinfectant damage, with 1,558 deaths.

The Special Committee on Social Disaster announced on the 27th of last month that approximately 670,000 people have experienced health damage due to the use of humidifier disinfectants.