January 9, 2026 – A serious safety concern has emerged regarding “The Airline by J SINK” breathing air systems, including models R360XL, R260XL, R260-4, E160V2, E260V2, and 12V160-3. An incident report details the use of unapproved lead-based, nickel-plated brass fittings in these units, which are corroding and releasing toxic metal compounds directly into the breathing air supply for divers. This has led to reports of severe health symptoms among both customers and employees, including gastrointestinal distress, respiratory issues, and potential heavy metal poisoning.
Product Details
Incident Overview
The incident report, filed on December 5, 2025, describes a deeply concerning situation involving the manufacturing and use of “The Airline by J SINK” breathing air systems. It reveals that JL GORY, LLC is allegedly using lead-based, nickel-plated brass fittings in all its breathing air products, including hoses that supply air directly to divers. These fittings were reportedly never approved for breathing air applications by their original manufacturer due to their lead content and an insufficient nickel coating thickness, which fails to prevent end-user poisoning.
The nickel plating on these fittings is described as “too thin” and easily scratches off during assembly, particularly when crimped onto hoses with a pneumatic crimper. This process causes visible flaking. Employees in the manufacturing area have reported a significant amount of metal residue and dust, with one employee stating they could “actually tasted the metals” in their mouth while working.
Adding to the problem, the manufacturing process involves pre-heating fittings in heated dish detergent for easier insertion into stiff breathing lines. This water is reportedly not changed regularly and contains an alkaline detergent, which may be exacerbating corrosion and leaving an unrinsed, alkaline coating on fittings before they are crimped into lines. The facility’s manufacturing area has also not been cleaned since the business moved to its current location, leading to a pervasive, metal-laden environment.
A customer complaint detailed their entire crew experiencing symptoms such as hoarseness, throat irritation, lethargy, nausea, shortness of breath, and “lack of oxygen symptoms” after using these units commercially. Upon repairing returned units, an employee witnessed at least 30 units with a noticeable green coating, solid material, or dust in the compressor heads and cylinder cups where moist sea air is drawn in. This material is difficult to remove, smells of metal, and in some cases, has corroded and flaked off the powder coating *inside* the breathing air volumes. The fittings in these units were always found to be rusted, green, and unserviceable.
The incident report also highlights significant health impacts on employees. One employee has experienced consistent localized fingertip pain and numbness, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, starting approximately one month after employment began. These symptoms subside when away from the environment but return within 30 minutes of being in the facility. Three other employees, including the owner, his son, and wife, are reportedly affected. The owner’s son, with the most exposure from hose making and fitting application without PPE, suffers from severe gastrointestinal issues preventing him from leaving his house. The owner’s wife experiences bouts with IBS, which the owner attributes to family history. The reporting employee suspects a combination of lead, copper, and nickel toxicity.
Further concerns include the alleged use of unapproved car air suspension tanks from Amazon as breathing air volume tanks. These tanks are rinsed only with tap water until “the black stuff stops coming out,” potentially introducing hexavalent chromium byproducts and exacerbating internal corrosion. The entire building, including office areas, is exposed due to a lack of cleaning, material segregation, and shared ductwork.
The reporting employee informed the owner of these issues, including customer complaints and personal health problems, multiple times since October 17, 2025, and provided a written mitigation and abatement plan. While the owner acknowledged the problem and promised action, no changes have been made. The owner stated he had scheduled his son for blood tests and an endoscopy for heavy metal poisoning, indicating that if those tests returned positive, the reporting employee would then be tested. He expressed skepticism about the link between the reported symptoms and the working environment or products.
Despite advice from an industrial hygienist to stop work, cease sales, and immediately test, the owner reportedly refused, citing business continuity. He also admitted that air quality tests advertised on the company website had not been performed since he acquired the company, with the last test date being 2008 on prototypes. The manufacturer of the *fittings* informed the reporting employee that they had not sold the parts since 2019 and would not provide them for breathing air applications due to the thin coating’s hazard when subjected to galvanic corrosion, especially in saltwater.
Safety Concerns
The described situation presents severe and immediate safety concerns for users of “The Airline by J SINK” breathing air systems, as well as for employees involved in their manufacturing and repair.
- Immediate Dangers:
* Toxic Metal Inhalation: Divers are directly breathing air contaminated with corroded lead-based, nickel-plated brass fittings. The “green sludge/dust/solid material” is believed to contain toxic Nickel Salts or Copper Salts, which can be directly inhaled into the lungs.
* Acute Poisoning Symptoms: Users and employees have reported hoarseness, throat irritation, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and “lack of oxygen symptoms.” These are consistent with acute exposure to heavy metals.
* Unapproved Components: The use of fittings never approved for breathing air and potentially hexavalent chromium-containing car air suspension tanks introduces unknown and uncontrolled hazards into the life support system.
- Long-Term Risks:
* Carcinogenic Exposure: Nickel Salts and Copper Salts are explicitly identified as known carcinogens, with a strong link to lung cancer. Chronic exposure dramatically increases the risk of developing various cancers.
* Heavy Metal Poisoning: Lead, nickel, and copper are all heavy metals that can accumulate in the body over time, leading to chronic poisoning. Symptoms can include severe gastrointestinal issues (as seen in the owner’s son), neurological damage (fingertip pain/numbness, lethargy), kidney damage, anemia, and other systemic health problems.
* Respiratory System Damage: Continuous inhalation of metal dust and salts can lead to chronic lung irritation, inflammation, and long-term respiratory disease.
* Unsanitary Manufacturing Environment: The unclean facility, shared ventilation, and use of unrinsed alkaline detergent in manufacturing exacerbate the risk, potentially contaminating products further and exposing all occupants to hazardous airborne particles.
- Who Might Be Affected:
* Divers: Anyone using “The Airline by J SINK” breathing air systems, particularly those used commercially or frequently, are at immediate and severe risk of breathing in toxic metal particles.
* Employees: All employees working in the manufacturing facility, especially those involved in assembly and repair (like the hose maker and the reporting employee), face high exposure risks through inhalation, skin contact, and accidental ingestion. Even office staff could be affected due to shared ventilation.
* Consumers handling units: Anyone handling or servicing these units could be exposed to the corroded materials.
- Property Damage Potential:
* The corrosion is causing visible damage to the units, including the flaking of powder coating inside breathing air volumes and making fittings unserviceable. This indicates a systemic failure of material integrity that compromises the very function and safety of the life support equipment.
What Consumers Should Do
Given the severe nature of the reported hazards, immediate action is crucial for consumers who own or use “The Airline by J SINK” breathing air systems.
- Immediate Steps to Take:
1. Stop Use Immediately: If you own or use any “The Airline by J SINK” breathing air system (models R360XL, R260XL, R260-4, E160V2, E260V2, 12V160-3), discontinue use immediately. Do not operate these units under any circumstances.
2. Seek Medical Attention: If you or anyone who has used these units has experienced symptoms such as hoarseness, throat irritation, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, or any unexplained health issues, consult a medical professional immediately and inform them of potential heavy metal exposure.
3. Isolate the Product: Secure the product in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors, to prevent further exposure. Handle with gloves if possible.
- How to Check if You Own the Affected Product:
* Verify the brand “The Airline by J SINK” and check the model number on your unit against the list: R360XL, R260XL, R260-4, E160V2, E260V2, 12V160-3.
* Inspect your unit, particularly compressor heads, cylinder cups, and hose fittings, for any visible signs of corrosion, green residue, flaking metallic material, or unusual odors. Do not attempt to clean or tamper with any suspicious material.
- Prevention Measures:
* Do not attempt to repair, modify, or clean the product yourself if you suspect contamination. Any disturbance could release more hazardous materials.
* Ensure proper ventilation if the product is stored indoors before safe disposal or return.
- Reporting Procedures:
* Report to the Manufacturer/Retailer: Contact JL GORY, LLC (www.airlinebyjsink.com) to report your findings and inquire about return or refund procedures.
* Report to Regulatory Authorities: File a report with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov/incident. Your report helps identify hazardous products and contributes to public safety.
Manufacturer’s Response
JL GORY, LLC, the manufacturer, responded “Yes” to the incident report. However, internal discussions detailed in the report indicate that the owner has acknowledged the existence of the problem and the potential need to switch to 316 stainless steel fittings (which are approved for marine breathing air applications). Despite this acknowledgment and an employee providing a mitigation and abatement plan, the owner has reportedly taken no steps to fix the issue, refusing to halt sales or operations. He has also dismissed customer complaints and employee symptoms, attributing them to stress or existing health conditions unrelated to the product or work environment. The owner admitted to not having recent air quality tests (last conducted in 2008 on prototypes). Furthermore, the original manufacturer of the fittings in question confirmed they stopped selling the parts in 2019 and would not provide them for breathing air applications due to the thin coating’s inability to prevent galvanic corrosion when compromised.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.