Molekule air purifiers

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made Mar 16, 2020 · , sent to the company Mar 24, 2020 · , published by CPSC Apr 7, 2020

   The product, in the report: PECO is an innovative technology that utilizes free radicals—the same radicals used to destroy cancer cells—to break down pollutants at a molecular level, including VOCs, bacteria, mold, viruses, and allergens. By using nanotechnology, PECO is able to destroy pollutants 1000 times smaller than what traditional [REDACTED] technology was designed to trap. Room size coverage Up to 600 sq. ft. (55.74 m²) Power consumption Lowest speed — 20 kWh | Highest speed — 80 kWh 110-220v (Requires a 3-prong power outlet) Size 23” (53.4cm) high x 8.25” (20.95cm) wide Weight 18 lbs (8kg)

   The Molekule was used in my office. One day my lungs burned as I breathed, became very dizzy and felt like I would pass out, tremors and tachycardia was starting. There was a sensation of inhaling a chemical but I could not smell anything. Leaving my office alleviated the symptoms and would return in my office. I could not figure out where it was coming from and the air purifier was my last guess. The symptoms would reoccur the first hour of the day and right after lunch more strikingly (my door would be shut while absent). I finally decided to turn off the Molekule and my symptoms resolved. Since removing the Molekule from my office, I have not had any symptoms. I did, however, have severe nerve damage/inflammation, became more difficult for me to breath generally, and I have high levels of inflammation that I could not get down for 2 months. I have a rare disease and when I went online to a support group, many people in the group said they reacted to the chemicals released from the machine. I believe my incident was a sudden malfunction as I had it for 2 years. I wrote the company and they were in denial that their machine could possibly cause any issue. They refused to receive my unit and investigate it, I was told to recycle it. I did not want to sue or even replace, I just wanted the company to do the right thing and investigate. Research turned up that the destruction of antigens by the Molekule releases hydroxyls, which are dangerous to any person’s health, but especially those of us who are immune compromised and would rely on equipment like Molekule

   Model

   Molekule Home One MH1-AAA (now Molekule Air on website)

   UPC

   8 18701 02000 1

   Serial number

   MH1M-GLA170514-002723

   Bought from

   www.molekule.com

   Bought

   Oct 2, 2017, about then

   Where

   Claremore, Oklahoma: Other Public Property/Office

   Who was involved

   Age 40, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Molekule, made or sold by Molekule Inc

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

2. No one hurt

   Made Jan 9, 2020 · , sent to the company May 6, 2020 · , published by CPSC May 20, 2020

   The product, in the report: Air purifier replacement filter

   Consumer is reporting that the company sent her replacement filters for the air purifier around 11/2019 overwhelming bad odor like mildew. She stated that the smell caused burning to her throat and eyes. She contacted the company they have sent her about 4 replacement filters one after another that have a awful smell. She stated that she tried cleaning it with bleach which helped a little but the odor returned.

   Caller stated that the original filters that came with the unit was very good but the replacement are not and she would like the problem resolved by the company because she loves the air purifier.

   Model

   mh1-bbb

   Serial number

   mh1m-sha190603005303

   Bought from

   molekule.com

   Bought

   Nov 9, 2019, about then

   Where

   Brooklyn, New York: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand Molekule, made or sold by Molekule Inc

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

3. No one hurt

   Made Apr 15, 2018 · , sent to the company Jul 30, 2018 · , published by CPSC Sep 4, 2018

   The product, in the report: Molekule Air Purifier

   Hi,

   I hope you are doing well. I wanted to write to you about the Molekule air “purifier” product that was recently approved for sale in CA.

   I wanted to reach out to you to let you know that there are many customers out there who have had a fairly negative experience with their device. The main concern being that the device continues to emit a foul odor / VOCs for many weeks after purchase. The company literature says that the unit is expected to off-gas for 24-48 hours. However, many of their customers (myself included) noted that the smell actually didn’t go away for weeks. The problem is not just the smell, but the uncertainty around what actually is being emitted by the unit and whether it is harmful in any way.

   The Company refuses to provide any info about why there is smell or whether there is any danger in inhaling that air. I, for one, can speak from experience that every time I entered the room where we were running the device I would break into incessant coughing. So there is something wrong in the gases being emitted from the unit but I am not sure what it is and dont have the means to test.

   There have been folks who have been enterprising enough to do their own home tests. Many have found that Molekule has almost no impact on VOCs. In fact here is a link to a thread on forum, where a user “[REDACTED]” posts about his experience of thoroughly testing the unit and finding that it doesn’t work. He then got in touch with Molekule and got their tech team to use sophisticated equipment to test his unit and they concurred with him that somehow his unit was defective.

   1: (http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?2254881-MoleKule-Update “The technical folks at MoleKule took an active interest and contacted me in short order. I’ve been working with them for the last couple of weeks. After extensive testing at their facility, including Gas Chromatography (the gold standard for measuring VOCs) they determined my catalyst was defective”)

   2: (http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?2272161-Latest-MoleKule-Austin-Air-Test Test 1: At 70^F ~45RH with VOC levels ~300 ppb the MoleKule didn’t register a significant change. Austin Air showed a decrease of about 15 - 28%. I tested in a couple of rooms.

   Test 2: Same as above but added a small bowl of [REDACTED] equidistant from both devices. MoleKule registered ~15% decrease. Austin Air registered ~ 20 - 30 % decrease.

   Test 3: Same as test 1 except increase heat to ~ 80 - 82 ^F Molekule didn’t register a significant change. )

   This is most concerning to me and should be to CPSC too, and that is why I wanted to point it out to you. There was and is no indicator on the unit or the mobile app to detect whether the unit is working or defective. Most consumers aren’t going to go to the lengths that [REDACTED] went to test their unit. So Molekule could very well be selling defective units without any oversight under the garb of being approved to sell these units.

   I reached out to CARB earlier and they said they had no authority over them and they suggested I reach out to you instead. I have since returned my unit.

   Thanks, [REDACTED]

   Model

   Molekule

   Bought from

   www.molekule.com, California

   Bought

   Nov 22, 2017

   Where

   Palo Alto, California: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 35, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Molekule, made or sold by Molekule Inc

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources