Reckitt admits role after 5-year delay
Exec slapped during apology
Disinfectants linked to 100+ deaths
Millions exposed over years
Products banned in 2011
Compensation + probe underway
Major regulatory failure exposed
What was once considered a routine household practice in South Korea became one of the deadliest consumer product disasters in modern history. Humidifier disinfectants, widely used to prevent microbial growth in water tanks, were later found to cause severe and often fatal lung injuries when inhaled over time.
The crisis unfolded over nearly two decades and exposed critical gaps in both corporate accountability and chemical safety regulation.
Humidifier disinfectant products were introduced in South Korea in the mid 1990s and quickly gained popularity, particularly among families with young children.
Between 2006 and 2011, hospitals began reporting clusters of patients, including pregnant women and children, with unexplained and rapidly progressive lung disease.
In 2011, South Korean health authorities identified a link between these cases and humidifier disinfectant exposure. The products were subsequently withdrawn from the market the same year.
In May 2016, Reckitt Benckiser issued a public apology, acknowledging its role in the crisis and admitting delays in its response.
The products contained chemicals such as polyhexamethylene guanidine and related compounds. When added to humidifiers, these substances were dispersed into indoor air as fine particles and inhaled directly into the lungs.
This route of exposure proved highly dangerous. Instead of remaining on surfaces, the chemicals reached deep into the respiratory system, leading to inflammation, fibrosis, and irreversible lung damage. Many affected individuals developed severe respiratory failure, and in numerous cases, the condition was fatal.
According to BBC Ata Safdar, during the press conference in 2016, head of Reckitt Benckiser Korea and Japan, bowed repeatedly before victims and their families, acknowledging the company’s responsibility for the harm caused by its humidifier sterilizer products. The audience included severely affected individuals, such as a 13-year-old boy who now depends on an oxygen tank to breathe.
The Seoul press conference marked the first time Reckitt Benckiser publicly accepted full responsibility for the damage caused by its humidifier sterilizer products, marketed under its former South Korean unit, Oxy Reckitt Benckiser.
“Today’s apology was about acceptance of responsibility for the harm that Oxy HS has caused,” Safdar said, as reported by The Guardian. He admitted the company’s response had been delayed, stating, “We were late. Five years have passed. We are apologizing far too late.”
At the time, the company had previously issued a written apology and acknowledged failures in communication with victims.
South Korean authorities estimate that at least 92 people have died due to lung injuries linked to humidifier disinfectants, although not all cases involved Reckitt Benckiser products. Later figures suggest the death toll may be closer to 130 confirmed fatalities.
The scale of exposure is staggering. Between 1994 and 2011, more than 20 types of humidifier disinfectants were sold, and an estimated eight million people used these products. By 2016, around 530 individuals had officially registered claims of lung-related illnesses tied to the disinfectants.
Safdar noted that approximately 178 users of Reckitt Benckiser’s products were among those identified as affected.
Many victims were particularly vulnerable, including children and pregnant women.
The South Korean government banned the sale of humidifier sterilizer products in 2011 after identifying a link between the chemicals and severe lung conditions. Prosecutors have since launched criminal investigations into multiple manufacturers and distributors, including Reckitt Benckiser and other firms.
Notably, South Korea is believed to be the only country where these disinfectant products were sold.
Reckitt Benckiser rebranded its local unit in 2014, distancing itself from the earlier Oxy Reckitt Benckiser identity.
Experts and academic bodies have highlighted serious regulatory failures that allowed the tragedy to unfold.
Manufacturers reportedly marketed the disinfectants as safe despite lacking proper toxicity testing. Meanwhile, suppliers allegedly sold harmful chemicals while being aware of their toxicity.
A fragmented regulatory system further compounded the issue. Different government agencies oversaw chemicals and consumer products separately, making it difficult to assess risks when chemicals were repurposed for new uses such as being inhaled through humidifiers.
Because the disinfectants were classified as industrial products, they fell under voluntary certification standards with no strict safety requirements. This loophole meant that no minimum safety benchmarks were enforced before the products reached consumers.
The lack of coordination among agencies including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; the Ministry of Environment; and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also delayed accountability and compensation.
The Korean Society of Environmental Health and Toxicology and the Korean Society of Environmental Health have played a key role in investigating the crisis since its emergence.
The organizations conducted independent research, hosted forums, and participated in government investigations. Despite these efforts, they note that many victims still have not received adequate compensation.
They have called for sweeping reforms, including:
Establishing strict toxicity testing standards for inhaled chemical products
Creating an integrated regulatory framework for chemicals and consumer products
Ensuring all victims receive compensation, regardless of scientific or administrative limitations
Providing long-term medical, psychological, and social support
Monitoring affected individuals and identifying unreported victims
Setting up a centralized Toxic Substance Control Center for post-market surveillance
Introducing legislation requiring mandatory registration and approval of biocide products
(Rh/ARC)
