Recognition of Victims Resumes for Mothers Who Suffered Miscarriage or Stillbirth Due to Humidifier Disinfectants

The recognition of victims for mothers who suffered miscarriages or stillbirths after using humidifier disinfectants has resumed.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment held the "49th Humidifier Disinfectant Damage Relief Committee" today (June 16) and decided to recognize 26 new individuals as victims and provide them with relief benefits.

The total number of officially recognized victims under the Humidifier Disinfectant Damage Relief Act has now reached 6,037.

During this committee meeting, the damage grades for 35 individuals who were previously recognized as victims but had not yet been assigned specific grades were also finalized.

Among those newly recognized as victims or assigned a grade, four mothers who experienced miscarriages or stillbirths due to exposure to humidifier disinfectants were included.

This decision follows recent reports of epidemiological studies showing a significantly higher rate of miscarriage and stillbirth when humidifier disinfectants are used before or during pregnancy, as well as toxicological studies indicating that even minor lung damage caused by exposure to these disinfectants increases the likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth.

In line with the amendment to the Humidifier Disinfectant Damage Relief Act, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment plans to complete the review for mothers who suffered miscarriage or stillbirth damage as much as possible before the final damage relief committee meeting, which will be held in September.

Previously, on December 24 last year, the Humidifier Disinfectant Damage Relief Act was amended to shift from the existing system, where the government collected contributions from liable companies to provide relief, to a system where both the companies and the state share responsibility and provide full compensation.

When the amended law takes effect in October, the "Humidifier Disinfectant Compensation Deliberation Committee," to be newly established under the Prime Minister, will take over the responsibility of reviewing compensation claims.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.