[Concern about lung damage caused by guanidine cationic disinfectants]

This article summarized the use of guanidine disinfectants in China and the use of guanidine cationic disinfectants, polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG), in South Korea, which had caused severe lung damage events such as pulmonary fibrosis. The authors reviewed the studies that Chinese scientists employed ultrasonic atomization technology to simulate the actual scenario of human exposure to PHMG and proved the findings that PHMG could cause pulmonary fibrosis. These results could highlight the necessity of full attention to lung damage caused by guanidine disinfectants and its mechanism, so as to provide the important scientific basis for the protection of public health safety and the formulation of corresponding policies.