No, it is not defective. AirTamer uses a conductive cord (lanyard) to boost cleaning performance. This means that your body is used as a "ground" to increase the number of negative ions that are emitted from ion emitter brush. Some people occasionally feel a tingle from the lanyard when the air is particularly dry and the lanyard is on the skin of their neck. If you experience this, you have a couple of options: (1) Put the lanyard over your shirt/blouse, or (2) Rub some body lotion on the portion of the lanyard that touches your neck.