LÜBECK/TELFORD (dpa-AFX) - Medical and safety technology group Drägerwerk is recalling a number of its Carina ventilators worldwide due to possible contamination of the breathing gas with a chemical compound. The SDax-listed company made the announcement on Tuesday in Telford, Pennsylvania. The company plans to remove the foam from equipment still in use and replace it with a new blower cover without additional foam to reduce noise.

The breathing gas could be contaminated with 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol, from the group of alcohols and chlorine compounds, which is acutely toxic and potentially carcinogenic, the company said. The substance is a component of polyurethane foams used for noise insulation in the device.

So far, there have been no reports of fatalities in this connection, the company added. Also, no symptoms of acute toxic reaction or other complaints related to the ventilator have been reported to date, it said.

However, certain standard tests conducted by Dräger had measured concentrations of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol that were above the permissible intake level when used continuously for more than 30 days in children.

Drägerwerk had manufactured its Carina ventilators worldwide from 2006 to 2019. Outside the U.S., where distribution already ended in October 2012, the device was still available until Feb. 3, 2022./mne/tav/mis