For more than six months, headlines have been warning Americans about a mysterious illness affecting people who vape. More than 2,000 individuals have been sickened, and to date 42 have died. Many of the afflicted individuals were previously healthy. Then they developed symptoms such as cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, stomachache, fever, chills or even weight loss. A large number have been hospitalized. What has harmed them?
Finding Out What Is Behind the Lung Injuries:
The CDC has been working hard to figure out what is causing this widespread problem. This week it announced that it has identified a possible culprit in the vaping-associated lung injury. Scientists examined fluid from the lungs of victims and found a compound called vitamin E acetate in all of them. Other suspected compounds such as mineral oil or terpenes did not show up in many of the samples. Some manufacturers add vitamin E acetate to e-cigarette products, especially those that contain THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the marijuana compound believed to be responsible for euphoria.
Protecting People Who Vape:
The public health officials believe that vitamin E acetate is behind what the CDC is calling EVALI, e-cigarette and vaping product use associated lung injury. Vitamin E acetate is an oil. Pulmonologists have long known that lipids inhaled into the lungs can cause serious inflammation, which they term lipid pneumonitis. Vitamin E acetate is safe when swallowed but potentially dangerous when inhaled. Although vitamin E acetate is the prime suspect, the CDC investigators warn that other compounds may also be creating hazards for people who vape.
Public health experts recommend not vaping any THC-containing products, as these have been strongly implicated in the EVALI epidemic. (They account for 86 percent of the reported cases.) Officials also warn that young people and pregnant women should not use e-cigarettes or vaping products at all. People who vape as a way of quitting smoking should consider using a nicotine replacement product such as Nicorette instead.
