Advisory

February 5, 1999

Health Canada advises the public about air cleaners designed to intentionally generate ozone (Ozone generators)

OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising the public not to use air cleaners
designed to intentionally generate ozone (ozone generators) in their homes.
Health Canada is concerned with the adverse health effects that may result
from the deliberate exposure of the public to ozone from air cleaners that
intentionally generate ozone gas. Ozone is an irritant that can cause coughs,
chest discomfort, and irritation of the nose and throat. The direct and
purposeful generation of ozone indoors should be avoided.

Following a review of current information and in consultation with Health
Canada and others, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) recently
made the decision not to certify these products for household use and issued
new interim requirements for commercial units.

Health Canada advises all owners of ozone generators to stop using them in
their homes. Owners of commercial ozone generators are advised to either
discontinue use or have their devices tested to ensure that recommended
exposure levels for ozone are not exceeded. Commercial ozone generators
should never be used in homes.

Products affected include portable, bread-box sized units that plug into the
wall, and some smaller units that may be battery-powered. The units have one
or more control knobs or switches on the front face. Most devices of this kind
have been sold door-to-door and not in retail outlets. This warning does not
apply to any other type of air cleaners such as mechanical filter-type air
cleaners or electrostatic precipitators.

Health Canada is working with manufacturers and distributors of air cleaners
designed to intentionally generate ozone to voluntarily recall any ozone
generators (residential or commercial) sold to consumers for household use.

For more information, call the Health Canada toll free number for ozone
generators at 1-800-267-3364 (Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST)

For Canadian Standards Association (CSA) enquiries, please contact them
directly at (416) 747-4000.

Media inquiries:
Margot Geduld
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803

Warning

April 13, 1999

Health Canada warns the public about air cleaners designed to intentionally
generate ozone (Ozone generators)

OTTAWA - Further to the ozone generator advisory that Health Canada issued on February 5, 1999, we are now issuing this updated warning and the attached list of affected ozone generator brands and models. This list will be updated as new information becomes available. Health Canada warns the public not to use air cleaners designed to intentionally generate ozone (ozone generators) in their homes.

Health Canada is concerned with the adverse health effects that may result
from the deliberate exposure of the public to ozone from air cleaners that
intentionally generate ozone gas. Ozone is an irritant that can cause coughs,
chest discomfort, and irritation of the nose and throat. A risk evaluation by
Health Canada concluded that the direct and purposeful generation of ozone
in indoor occupied spaces should be avoided. Health Canada has received
complaints from consumers of respiratory problems when using ozone
generators. Persons with pre-existing lung diseases, such as asthma, are
especially at risk and are warned not to use ozone generators in their homes.

Following a review of current information and in consultation with Health
Canada and others, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) recently
made the decision not to certify these products for household use and issued
new interim requirements for commercial units.

Products affected include portable, bread-box sized units that plug into the
wall, and some smaller units that may be battery-powered. The units have one
or more control knobs or switches on the front face and may have an ozone
detector built-in. Most devices of this kind have been sold door-to-door and not
in retail outlets.

Health Canada advises owners of commercial ozone generators to
discontinue use in indoor occupied spaces. Commercial ozone generators
should never be used in homes.

This warning does not apply to ozone generators designed for use in industrial
applications such as fire damage restoration and water purification where
occupants are not normally present. Any beneficial application using ozone
requires extremely high levels of ozone to be effective and this is not safe for
human exposure. This warning also does not apply to any other type of air
cleaners such as mechanical filter-type air cleaners or electrostatic
precipitators.

For more information, consumers should contact the nearest regional Product
Safety office of Health Canada listed below:

Burnaby (604) 666-5003
Edmonton (403) 495-2626
Calgary (403) 292-4677
Saskatoon (306) 975-4502
Winnipeg (204) 983-5490
Scarborough (416) 973-4705
Hamilton (905) 572-2845
Montreal (514) 283-5488
Sillery (418) 648-4327
Moncton (506) 851-6638
Dartmouth (902) 426-8300
St. John's (709) 772-4050

Media inquiries:
Margot Geduld
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803

Mississauga, Ontario Canada Tel: (905) 824-4620 Toll Free 1-800-923-5304 Fax: (905) 824-9469 E-Mail: info@newtechon.com