Message #16 From:
Timothy Thomas Date: August 18, 2006 09:42:34 AM
WARNING - Better Read This
Message to all customers who purchased NanoMask and Nanofilters manufactured by Emergency Filtration, Inc. August 7, 2006
NanoMasks and the FDAAfter more than two years, it has become clear that NanoMasks and NanoFilters have not been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) or the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. In fact, there is no application pending on behalf of Emergency Filtration, Inc. at the time of this posting and FDA enforcement letters to Emergency Filtration, Inc. have gone ignored by the company. This posting is to make consumers aware that the claims, made on behalf of NanoMasks and NanoFilters by Emergency Filtration, Inc., are not supported by any U.S. regulatory agency, and furthermore to make consumers aware of the fraud being committed by Emergency Filtration, Inc.
NIOSH and NanoMasksA random purchase of NanoMasks was made by NIOSH and tested and found to be critically lacking in several areas, not the least of which is that "it has a 30% leakage failure," this statement according to NIOSH. See references below for a contact person at NIOSH to verify this statement. Ask the NIOSH official to read you a list of additional NanoMask failures. Furthermore, Emergency Filtration, Inc. has claimed that an application has been submitted to NIOSH, but in fact, as of this date, August 7, 2006, no such application has been submitted.The filter used in NanoMask does not even meet N-95 standards according to NIOSH. In fact, you can verify this statement with NIOSH, since they have reported that the quality is "considerably less." This is the first public statement about that fact.
NanoMask DistributorsAt least two NanoMask distributors have quit their agreements with Emergency Filtration, Inc. because the company has repeatedly deceived the distributors and caused irreparable harm to the distributors personally and corporately. Law suits are about to be served. One such deception was recently discovered and demands consumer attention. If you purchased a NanoMask with the so-called NanoFilter actually installed in the NanoMask, then be aware that this so-called NanoFilter has not been sprayed with so-called nanoparticles. In other words, it is a fake, a dummy, designed to mislead the public. Although Emergency Filtration, Inc. has ceased the practice, thousands of these NanoMasks were sold in 2005 and must be recalled. We urge the FDA to issue a product recall and to quarantine NanoMasks and NanoFilters in general. Imagine the tragedy if a consumer uses one of these masks believing that it will afford protection as described.
NanoParticlesThere are several studies underway to determine if indeed nanoparticles are actually leaking into the human bloodstream. Emergency Filtration did not conduct or publicly publish any study or studies that determined nanoparticles to be safe to the human bloodstream. In fact, Peter Dobson, engineering professor at the University of Oxford has confirmed that the "free radicals produced when metal oxide particles are introduced into living cells will damage the molecules and possibly cleave DNA in unwanted ways." Furthermore, Jim Thomas, a researcher with the ETC Group -- an organization that has called for a moratorium on the introduction of nanoparticles until more is known about their safety -- worries that the consumer faces an element of risk. He states that "free radical production could disrupt the DNA of the cell."We urge you to reconsider using NanoMasks and NanoFilters until the science behind nanoparticles is fully tested and revealed to the public.
2H Distributors and NIOSHOne of the distributors for NanoMask and NanoFilters, 2H Distributors, was indicted in 2006 by NIOSH for illegally using the NIOSH label on a product actually produced by Emergency Filtration for and on behalf of 2H Distributors. This product has been known by the name of "Nano2" and "NanoGuard." If you have purchased any of these products, you should report this to the FDA enforcement division at once.
Consumer ComplaintsMany consumers have already called the FDA and filed a formal complaint. We suggest you do the same. Additionally, we suggest a consumer class action lawsuit be developed against Emergency Filtration, Inc. The company carries a product liability insurance policy in the amount of $4 million. Consumer calls to Emergency Filtration, Inc. regarding the NanoMask are largely going unanswered and ignored.
ReferencesSheila Murphey, MD Branch Chief, Infection Control Devices Branch, Division of Anesthesiology, General Hospital, Infection Control and Dental Devices, Office of Device Evaluation, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, FDA – (301) 443-8913Heinz Ahlers, Chief, Technology Evaluation Branch, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory NIOSH – (412) 386-4000Jeff Peterson, NIOSH (412) 386-4000 (ask to be transferred to his office.)
