The Seoul metropolitan government on Tuesday said it will conduct a full-scale investigation to see if any city-run preschools and nursing homes have used a set of allegedly toxic humidifier disinfectants, as part of its efforts to assuage growing public health concerns.

The municipality said it will look into city-run or public preschools, nursing homes and welfare institutions for the physically challenged to check their past records of using humidifier disinfectants, and call on victims to report their cases.

It also plans to launch a program to offer "continued" psychological treatment and counseling to the victims and conduct an analysis of chemical products, such as air fresheners, deodorants and laundry softening agents to see if they pose any health risks.

These series of moves come amid the city's stepped-up efforts to address public anxiety over toxic chemicals used to clean household humidifiers. According to the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute under the environment ministry, more than 40 Seoul citizens have been confirmed as victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants.

"As there may be more victims than the number that has so far been confirmed, we will continue to find victims (to support them)," a Seoul municipality official said, declining to be named. (Yonhap)