Consumers are banding together for civil and criminal suits against Coway, South Korea's leading maker of water purifiers, after nickel was discovered mixed in the water when using certain company models, industry officials said Thursday.

Some consumers are claiming the same defect in products from other companies, raising the possibility that the latest public outcry could hit the entire industry, they said.

Nickel coating was found in dispensed water in three ice maker/water purifier models by Coway. The number of users involved is estimated at about 87,000.  The company allegedly knew of the defect for over a year and tried to cover it up, switching the faulty components by telling consumers that the appliances were being upgraded.

Coway apologized for the controversy and said it will take responsibility should any health problems be confirmed from using company products, but consumers have grouped up online to prepare for a collective suit. Within two days, one online community gained 2,700 members who are seeking legal advice to proceed with civil suits against Coway. Some of the members argued they should also file a criminal suit to demand damage compensation.

Coway estimates that it will need some 53.8 billion won ($ 46.38 million) to recall and discard the appliances that have caused problems and pay back more than 50 billion won in rental fees.

The controversy has not only deepened the public health scare but also corporate distrust. South Koreans are still angry from toxic humidifier cleansers sold by British firm Oxy Reckitt Benckiser that killed more than 100 people. Lawmakers unanimously voted on Wednesday to hold a parliamentary probe into the case.

Prosecution investigation so far has shown rampant lies, a cover-up and shoddy monitoring.

This week, filters used in air purifiers were found to have been coated with one of the chemicals associated with the toxic humidifier cleansers.

Industry officials say confirming the damage from Coway's faulty appliances will be the key in consumers' movement. Some of the users have come forward with claims of side effects.

Park, a 29-year-old mother of two who has been using one of the defective Coway products since November 2014, said she and her oldest child were suffering from unexplained skin rashes.

"I have taken my oldest child to all the dermatologists in the neighborhood and even to university hospitals, but none of them could say what the cause was," she said. "It's frustrating that it's difficult for ordinary consumers to prove the link between nickel consumption and skin problems."

Uhm, 42, said she has seen a number of instances online in which water purifier users complained of skin-related conditions.

"I have been using the purifier to drink clean water. But I ended up paying money to have my children drink nickel-tainted water."

Officials say the entire industry could take a big hit as consumers grow suspicious of other companies. ChungHo Nais, No. 2 in the water purifier business, said it is looking into complaints of same defects as Coway in some of its ice maker/water purifier lines. 

"We suspect that it could be from defective coating or aged devices, but we will need to find out more," a company official said.

An industry official noted how consumer anxiety about everyday appliances used at home is at its peak after the humidifier incident.

"Now with the problems with air purifiers and water purifiers, the entire appliance rental market could be affected," he said. (Yonhap)