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Properties of Polyhexamethylene Guanidine (PHMG) Associated with Fatal Lung Injury in Korea

Authors :
Dong-Uk Park
Jihoon Park
Kee Won Yang
Ju-Hyun Park
Jung-Hwan Kwon
Han Bin Oh
Source :
Molecules, Vol 25, Iss 14, p 3301 (2020)
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2020.

Abstract

The use of humidifier disinfectant (HD) has been determined to be associated with lung injuries (HDLI) in Korea. Although HD brands containing polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) oligomers have been found to cause more HDLI compared to brands containing other disinfectants, the physicochemical properties of PHMG have been poorly defined. We aimed to quantify the PHMG dissolved in HD brands, characterize the number-average (Mn) and weight-average (Mw) molecular masses, and identify the polymerization degree of PHMG. Analysis of the PHMG oligomers was performed using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS) operated in positive-ion reflectron mode. Eight brands of HD containing PHMG were identified. The PHMG concentrations in these brands ranged from 160 to 37,200 ppm (mean = 3100.9 ppm). Concentration was a significant variable among and within HD brands. The degree of PHMG oligomerization fell within the range of two to four. The averages of Mn and Mw were 517.2 g/mol (range: 422–613 g/mol) and 537.3 g/mol (range: 441.0–678.0 g/mol), respectively. Based on the average molecular weight and the degree of polymerization, the PHMG examined here could be regarded as oligomers, which may be associated with the highest proportion of HDLI being caused by PHMG.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
25143301 and 14203049
Volume :
25
Issue :
14
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Molecules
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.66c66bd9117e483f84c6a556814d8f43
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25143301