In a troubling revelation, 217 workers at a major automotive battery plant in South Korea received chelation injections, a treatment for heavy metal exposure, under the guise of vitamin shots. Some workers claim the company described the injections as 'vitamin shots,' with one worker reporting he received the treatment 28 times.
The MBC investigative program 'Straight' highlighted the chelation treatment practices at DN Automotive's Ulsan plant, which produces automotive batteries using lead and sulfuric acid. The company reported over 3.6 trillion won in revenue and more than 500 billion won in operating profit last year.
Footage from the broadcast showed dust containing lead particles accumulating around production equipment, with some floors corroded by sulfuric acid.
Blood tests revealed elevated lead levels among workers. An analysis by the labor union of special health examination data from 114 workers between 2022 and 2025 showed an average blood lead level of 15.6 µg/dL, significantly higher than the average of 1.44 µg/dL for adults.
However, there were no recorded instances of blood lead levels exceeding 40 µg/dL in the special health examinations over the past five years. Internal company testing also indicated that most results were below 30 µg/dL.
The so-called 'vitamin shots' were identified by the labor union at the end of last year as chelation therapy, which uses specific medications to help remove heavy metals like lead from the body. While it is used for actual heavy metal poisoning cases, it carries risks of side effects, including kidney damage, and should be administered cautiously based on the patient's condition.
One worker testified that he received the injections three to four times a year, while another reported six injections over two months. Notably, Kim Hyung-jin (pseudonym), who donated a kidney to his son, stated he received the injections 28 times without being informed of potential side effects or questioned about his kidney condition.
Professor Roh Sang-cheol from Dankook University Hospital's Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine expressed concern over the repeated administration of chelation therapy without adequate explanation and consent, noting that it can also deplete essential minerals from the body.
According to the World Health Organization's clinical management guidelines for lead exposure, chelation therapy is not universally recommended for all individuals exposed to lead. Treatment decisions should consider blood lead levels, symptoms of poisoning, age, and other factors. Generally, chelation therapy is not advised for asymptomatic adult males with blood lead levels between 45 and 70 µg/dL.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) under the CDC also warns against using chelation therapy for preventive purposes or repeating treatments in environments with ongoing lead exposure.
Another issue raised in this case is whether the company attempted to manage workers' blood lead levels to influence health examination results. Internal company documents obtained by 'Straight' indicated records of additional chelation treatment candidates and the number of injections, suggesting that the health examination dates for workers with high lead levels could be postponed as needed.
Workers allege that the company managed the scheduling of chelation treatments and health examinations to prevent high blood lead levels from appearing in special health assessments.
The ENT doctor who administered the injections since last year stated to reporters that he conducted chelation therapy at the company's request to lower blood lead levels.
DN Automotive has denied the allegations, asserting that it never described the treatment as 'vitamin shots' and that employees participated voluntarily based on medical advice. The company maintains that the medications used for the injections are legal and that no causal relationship has been established between reported health issues and lead exposure.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.