'Korea University Ansan Hospital and Safety Evaluation Research Institute' Designated as Toxicity Assessment Center for Humidifier Disinfectant Health Center

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The National Institute of Environmental Research announced on the 4th that it has designated two institutions, Korea University Ansan Hospital and the Safety Evaluation Research Institute, as the 'Toxicity Assessment Humidifier Disinfectant Health Center,' which is responsible for research on the effects of diseases caused by the toxicity of humidifier disinfectants.

With this designation, the total number of health centers now amounts to 13 institutions, including 10 physical health monitoring centers designated in March last year and one mental health monitoring center (including 148 regional counseling centers nationwide).

The Toxicity Assessment Health Center focuses on investigating the occurrence of various respiratory diseases and chronic diseases such as cancer, in addition to asthma and pulmonary fibrosis reported by victims of humidifier disinfectants, as well as exploring toxicological mechanisms (the basic principles that cause physiological actions in organisms).

Korea University Ansan Hospital integrates animal experiments with computed tomography diagnostic techniques to track the occurrence and progression of chronic diseases such as cancer. The Safety Evaluation Research Institute utilizes inhalation exposure test technology to study toxicological mechanisms related not only to respiratory diseases but also to various health effects.

The research results from the Toxicity Assessment Health Center will be used as evidence for estimating causal relationships of health effects caused by humidifier disinfectants.

Furthermore, if the possibility of disease occurrence is confirmed, the findings will be used for early diagnosis and medical support for victims of humidifier disinfectants, contributing to victim relief efforts.

The National Institute of Environmental Research plans to finalize the research plans submitted by the Toxicity Assessment Health Center by the end of this month and officially start the humidifier disinfectant disease research project from April this year.

Jung Hyun-mi, head of the Environmental Health Research Department at the Institute of Environmental Science, said, "Toxicity research has played an important role in determining the damage caused by humidifier disinfectants so far," and added, "Through the operation of the health center, we will ensure that the confirmation of causal relationships of health damage and support for victims are carried out together."