The recent revelation that 21 people have died of carbon-monoxide poisoning caused by malfunctioning gas water heaters points to a lack of awareness and slow action on the part of the parties involved -- the manufacturer and its parent company, Paloma Industries Ltd. and Paloma Co., the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the police.
The 21 who died were among more than 50 people affected in 27 incidents of carbon-monoxide poisoning that took place in Hokkaido, Akita, Nagano, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Nara, Fukuoka and other prefectures between 1985 and 2005.
The ministry didn't go public with news of the cases until July 14, when Paloma Co. held its first news conference. Illegal modifications of the products, possibly by installers in many cases, are believed to have led to 15 of the 27 malfunctioning incidents. On July 19, Paloma firms placed ads in newspapers stating that they would examine, repair or recall the types of gas water heaters involved.