
In a statement issued to the media in September, Tony Abboud, executive director of the Vapor Technology Association, said, in part: "There is clear and compelling evidence that demonstrates that the illnesses are caused by unregulated, black market THC and CBD products—not regulated nicotine vapor products."
What health issues are related to vaping?
Toxic substances found in vape products may include:
- Diacetyl: Diacetyl is a common flavoring chemical found in e-liquids. ...
- Heavy metals: Heavy metal particles have been found in both vape clouds and e-liquids, according to the U.S. ...
- Volatile organic compounds: When the e-liquid in vape products is heated to extremely high temperatures, chemical changes can take place creating volatile organic compounds. ...
What are the dangers of vaping?
- Prevalence of e-cigarette use. The researchers explained that their analysis outlines the significant health threats of vaping, most notably in youths.
- The long-term effects of vaping. ...
- Future research. ...
What are the symptoms of vaping illness?
- Electronic cigarettes —or e-cigarettes—are also called vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, tank systems, mods, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
- Using an e-cigarette is commonly called vaping.
- E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.
How many deaths are caused by vaping?
This is an archived page. An updated vaping illness tracker with data from 2020 is now available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state agencies have reported 2,506 lung injury cases that required hospitalization and 54 deaths linked to vaping.

What is the main cause of vaping?
In the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey, middle and high school students named their top reasons for trying e-cigarettes as: Curiosity (55.3%) A friend or family member used them (30.8%) Availability of flavors like mint, candy, fruit, or chocolate (22.4%)
What are 3 harmful effects of vaping?
The most commonly-reported adverse effects were throat/mouth irritation, headache, cough, and nausea, which tended to dissipate with continued use....The most common side effects of vaping include:coughing.dry mouth and throat.shortness of breath.mouth and throat irritation.headaches.
What in vaping causes lung disease?
Researchers have linked vitamin E acetate, a synthetic form of vitamin E found in some THC-containing vaping products, to EVALI. When inhaled, the chemical can damage the lungs. One study detected vitamin E acetate in the lung fluid of 48 out of 51 EVALI patients sampled across 16 states.
What are 5 dangers of vaping?
5 Dangers of VapingUnknown Chemicals.Illicit Substance Additives.Vaping Impacts Brain Development.Long-Term Lung Damage.Marketing and Media Influence.
How does vaping affect the brain?
Brain Risks These risks include nicotine addiction, mood disorders, and permanent lowering of impulse control. Nicotine also changes the way synapses are formed, which can harm the parts of the brain that control attention and learning.
Is vape worse than cigarettes?
The problem is that there are big health risks with both habits. Both smoking and vaping involve nicotine, which is very addictive. Smoking has been proven to cause cancer, which can kill you. But vaping has been proven to cause serious lung illness, which can also kill you.
Has anyone died from vaping?
A total of 60 deaths linked to vaping products have been confirmed as of January 21, 2020 among 27 states and the District of Columbia. At least one death linked to a vaping product.
What happens when you vape too much?
LUNG INJURIES AND RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS Vaping may cause severe lung injury and can result in cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), popcorn lung, increased cardiovascular risks and even death. NICOTINE INTOXICATION Overexposure to nicotine in vaping liquid can result in nicotine poisoning.
How safe is vaping?
Other health risks of vaping Nicotine is highly addictive and can affect the developing brain, potentially harming teens and young adults. Even some "nicotine-free" e-cigarettes have been found to contain nicotine. Some substances found in e-cigarette vapor have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
What is the safest vape?
A regulated mod or e cig is one of the safest vapes as it has a circuit board built in to protect the user. This would have features such as power cut off modes and max wattage settings.
Is vape better than cigarettes?
Vaping is less harmful and cheaper than smoking, and can have a similar feel. Smoking is bad for your health as the toxins produced by burning tobacco cause smoking-related illnesses. The majority of health benefits are seen when you stop smoking completely.
Can vaping cause permanent damage?
Breathing in the harmful chemicals from vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be cured) lung damage, lung disease and, in some cases, death. Some chemicals in vaping products can also cause cardiovascular disease and biological changes that are associated with cancer development.
How does vaping work?
Beth K. Thielen, University of Minnesota fellow in adult and pediatric infectious diseases, offers a helpful explanation: "With both, the goal of the user is to convert the drug — typically nicotine or THC — into a gas form that can be taken into the body by breathing the drug. With vaping, there is typically a heating element powered by a battery that converts the liquid contents of the vape cartridge into a gas or aerosol. While the way they generate aerosols or gases is different, both smoking and vaping can deliver potentially harmful byproducts in addition to the drug."
How many people died from vaping in 2019?
The first smattering of cases were recognized in April 2019. By August, the mysterious illness had claimed its first lives. Months later, with the case count at 2,290 and 47 confirmed deaths, health organizations are scrambling to discover the cause of the vaping-related illness. Much is still unknown about the illness and its causes, ...
What percentage of vaping patients are male?
Of the reported cases where the requisite data is available, the CDC reports that 70 percent of patients are male, 79 percent are under the age of 35, and a full 86 percent report the use of products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — the main psychoactive compound present in marijuana — suggesting that the chemical plays a marked role in this outbreak.
What is evali in vaping?
First, let's cover the basics. The condition has been given the term EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury). Whether intentionally or not, it's an acronym that speaks directly to how little is known about the illness; thus far, the only solid link between cases is that those who fell ill reported a history of vaping or e-cigarette use. Sufferers typically report a gradual onset of early symptoms over days or weeks, including respiratory symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath, as well as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and weight loss.
What chemical was found in the first lab test?
In early November, the CDC announced the results of the first lab test in which it had found a common chemical across every sample. That chemical? Vitamin E acetate. From the CDC's statement about the results:
What are the metals in e-cigarettes?
As far back as February 28, scientists at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health warned that the tiny metal coils inside an e-cigarette — that heat and ultimately aerosolize the liquid nitrogen — could be tainted with toxic metals like chromium, manganese, nickel, and even lead.
Is smoking a byproduct of vaping?
With smoking, of course, we now know that those potentially harmful byproducts, include tar and carbon monoxide, ingredients e-cigarettes were specifically designed to sidestep. But in avoiding one potential contaminant, the largely unregulated vaping industry opened the door to a host of others.
What are the chemicals in vape liquid?
When these substances are heated, they form aldehydes following oxidation. Formaldehyde (a carcinogen) and acrolein are two oxidizing agents found in vape liquid. Sustained exposure to such chemicals is linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular issues.
Is vaping harmful?
Many argue that vaping is less harmful than smoking regular cigarettes because they contain fewer chemical components. However, contrasting research suggests that vaping may cause a variety of adverse health effects.
Can vaping cause nicotine addiction?
Many use vaping as a method to wean themselves from traditional cigarette smoking. However, many health professionals worry that vaping – as a nicotine delivery system – may be causing nicotine dependency in adults and high school-aged children. Flavorings in vaping products have also been associated with increased nicotine intake.
Do vapes cause mental health issues?
Research investigating the effect of regular vape use and mental health suggests that users are more likely to have affective disorders. Researchers found that those who used vapes daily were more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
Does vaping cause respiratory problems?
Case study data suggests that vaping may cause adverse effects on the respiratory system following the case of a woman who was diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia, which was thought to have been caused due to the inhalation of a glycerin-derived oil found in vape liquid.
Can you use vapes for smoking cessation?
The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of vapes for smoking cessation due to conflicting and limited rigorous data concerning the long-term implications. However, traditional smoking cessation methods, such as nicotine replacement chewing gums, nasal sprays, and skin patches, are recommended by healthcare providers and health authorities.
When will vaping peak?
Emergency department (ED) visits related to e-cigarette, or vaping, products continue to decline, after sharply increasing in August 2019 and peaking in September.
How to contact CDC about e-cigarettes?
If you have questions about CDC’s investigation into the lung injuries associated with use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, contact CDC-INFO or call 1-800-232-4636.
What is an e-cigarette?
Using an e-cigarette is commonly called vaping. E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.
Is vitamin E acetate linked to the eli outbreak?
Vitamin E acetate is strongly linked to the EVALI outbreak. Vitamin E acetate has been found in product samples tested by FDA and state laboratories and in patient lung fluid samples tested by CDC from geographically diverse states. Vitamin E acetate has not been found in the lung fluid of people that do not have EVALI.
When is the next vaping hospital admission?
Dates of symptom onset and hospital admission for patients with lung injury associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping — United States, March 31, 2019–February 15, 2020. Numbers do not sum to 2,807 due to missing admission dates.
Who monitors e-cigarettes?
CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners are continuing to monitor e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
Is vitamin E acetate in bronchoalveolar fluid?
Vitamin E acetate was identified in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples (fluid samples collected from the lungs) from 48 of the 51 EVALI patients, but not in the BAL fluid from the healthy comparison group.
What is a vape pen?
With vaping, a device (typically a vape pen or a mod — an enhanced vape pen — that may look like a flash drive) heats up a liquid ( called vape juice or e -liquid) until it turns into a vapor that you inhale. “Vaping is a delivery system similar to a nebulizer, which people with asthma or other lung conditions may be familiar with,” says Broderick. ...
What is the condition called when you get sick from eating popcorn?
“Popcorn lung” is another name for bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), a rare condition that results from damage of the lungs’ small airways. BO was originally discovered when popcorn factory workers started getting sick. The culprit was diacetyl, a food additive used to simulate butter flavor in microwave popcorn.
What happens if you inhale diacetyl?
Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes inflammation and may lead to permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways — popcorn lung — which makes breathing difficult. Popcorn lung has no lasting treatment. There are, however, treatments that manage BO symptoms, such as: 1 Coughing 2 Wheezing 3 Chest pain 4 Shortness of breath
What is the chemical that can damage your lungs?
Acrolein: Most often used as a weed killer, this chemical can also damage lungs.
What is the food additive used to deepen e-cigarette flavors?
Diacetyl: This food additive, used to deepen e-cigarette flavors, is known to damage small passageways in the lungs.
Is second hand vapor safe?
Secondhand Vapor Isn’t Safe Either. It’s a myth that secondhand emissions from e-cigarettes are harmless. Many people think the secondhand vapor is just water, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The vapor emitted when someone exhales contains a variety of dangerous substances, which may include: Nicotine.
Does vaping affect the lungs?
Instead of bathing lung tissue with a therapeutic mist, just as a nebulizer does, vaping coats lungs with potentially harmful chemicals. E-liquid concoctions usually include some mix of flavorings, aromatic additives and nicotine or THC (the chemical in marijuana that causes psychological effects), dissolved in an oily liquid base.
What is the e-cigarette vaping outbreak?
Lung injuries and a spate of deaths are the result of what's now called EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury). (Getty Images) The outbreak has raised nationwide concern and questions about the effects of vaping on the lungs.
What are the symptoms of e-cigarettes?
If you've recently used e-cigarettes or other vaping devices, what could make you suspect that you might have EVALI? Shortness of breath and cough are primary symptoms. Some patients also have symptoms of gastric illness and even weight loss.
What are the symptoms of evali?
As CDC gleaned data from medical records, they found that patients eventually diagnosed with EVALI initially had some of the following symptoms: 1 Cough. 2 Chest pain. 3 Shortness of breath. 4 Abdominal pain. 5 Nausea. 6 Vomiting. 7 Diarrhea. 8 Fever. 9 Chills. 10 Weight loss.
How many young people use e-cigarettes?
About 1 in 5 young adults between ages 18 to 38 uses e-cigarettes either daily or recreationally, according to survey data released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in September. Nearly 1 in 4 young adults believes that the products are harmless and not addictive, the ASCO survey found.
Which state has no e-cigarettes?
Alaska is the only state without a reported EVALI case. Scientists with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are working to identify patterns that are common to EVALI patients and their vaping and e-cigarette use.
What is the name of the abnormally rapid breathing?
Rapid heart rate (tachycardia). Abnormally rapid breathing (tachypnea). Decreased oxygen levels in the blood (measured by a pulse-oximeter device). Stethoscope exams typically didn't reveal any remarkable respiratory changes, even among patients with severe lung injury.
Does vaping cause lung problems?
How Vaping Causes Serious Lung Disorders. More. Across the U.S., an epidemic of severe lung disease is affecting people who vape. Although vapers don't expect to end up in the intensive care unit with respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, that's been the experience for some. Lung injuries and a spate of deaths are the result ...
How do you know if you have vaping problems?
Symptoms include: Persistent cough. Chest pain. Shortness of breath. Some users may even experience diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fatigue before any breathing problems develop.
Can vaping cause lung injury?
There are some common symptoms of EVALI, including persistent cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath. As vaping and e-cigarettes have grown in popularity in recent years, so has e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Vaping was designed to be addictive.
How many people die from vaping?
There have been 1,299 reported cases of people suffering lung injuries after using electronic cigarettes or vaping products in the U.S., along with 26 official deaths, according to a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The numbers are expected to rise along with awareness ...
What is the CDC's name for vaping?
While the concept of vaping-related illness is fairly new, the CDC just revealed there’s now a name for it: e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury, aka EVALI. There’s a lot health officials still haven’t figured out about EVALI, but here’s what they do know about its potential causes, symptoms, and treatment.
What tests are done to determine if a patient is using e-cigarettes?
That should be followed by a physical exam, which includes taking the patient’s vital signs and pulse-oximetry (a test to measure oxygen levels in the blood).
Is e-cigarettes a cause of lung cancer?
While experts know that e-cigarettes and va ping products are involved , they’re not exactly sure what it is about those products that’s causing the lung illness. The CDC did note that more than 80 percent of cases of EVALI involved products with THC (the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects). As a result, officials are looking into thickeners and additives that are found in black market THC cartridges.
Can you put someone on a ventilator for evali?
Many patients with EVALI have been hospitalized, and the CDC says treatment with corticosteroids has been shown to help in some cases. Some people will be placed on ventilators to help them breathe, Dr. Onugha says.
Can vaping help you quit smoking?
If you’re using vaping to help you quit smoking, Dr. Tsai recommends having a conversation with your doctor. They’ll likely steer you toward an evidence-based way of quitting and using FDA-approved medications, she says.
Does vaping make you feel fat?
Some pathology reports have also shown that vaping causes fat to accumulate in the lungs, and that triggers an inflammatory response that makes it hard to breathe, says Osita Onugha, MD, a thoracic surgeon and director of thoracic surgery research and surgical innovation lab at John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif.
What is the cause of vaping?
So far, experts believe chemicals like formaldehyde and acrolein could be to blame, as well as vitamin E acetate, a component of vegetable oil that is often used to turn nicotine or THC into the aerosol users then inhale.
Why are vapes toxic?
Research has found that people who vape are exposed to toxic metals like lead because of the metal coils used in e-cigarette devices to heat the vape juice into a vapor.
How many deaths from vaping in the US?
As of September 17, the CDC reported 530 cases of vaping -related illnesses in 38 states and confirmed seven deaths in six states. On September 11, the Trump administration announced it's pushing forward a ban on all flavored e-cigarettes, including mint and menthol flavors, across the US. Health experts have been unable to pinpoint ...
Can vaping cause throat irritation?
The chemicals in vape juices, the liquid that's heated to a vapor for users to inhale, is laden with various chemicals, many which are known to cause throat irritation. As a result, a user might develop a chronic cough if they develop a vaping habit.
Is vaping dangerous?
"It is at this point very clear that vaping is not only unhealthy, but it is very dangerous.
Can vapes cause pneumonia?
It's possible that some of these ingredients don't completely vaporize so when users inhale them, fluid enters the lungs and builds up, causing rare forms of pneumonia reported in many of the recent vape-related hospitalizations.
Is vaping bad for you?
As vaping-related lung illnesses continue to lead to hospitalizations, medically induced comas, and even deaths across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning people about the risks of using e- cigarette devices, both with tobacco and cannabis products.
Why are vapes made with THC?
Black market vapes: The reason most of the responsible products contain THC might be because THC vapes are more likely to be doctored than nicotine vapes, particularly in states where marijuana is illegal.
How many people have died from vaping?
There have been more than 1,600 cases of the mysterious illness that is associated with vaping since May. Thirty-six people have died. The New York Times has a dedicated tracker. What exactly is causing these illnesses and deaths is still unclear, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has been trying to assess ...
What does it mean when a vape burns hotter?
A higher burn temperature means that chemicals like formaldehyde that form as an ordinary vape operates can be produced more quickly, possibly delivering a dangerous dose.
What flavoring is in vapes?
The flavoring in vapes: Mango and gummy bear vapes are very easy to be concerned about: They appeal to teenagers, and to the already-hard task of figuring out the long-term effects of vaping, they add a whole additional mess of chemicals and reactions.
How many Juul mint pods are contaminated?
Contaminated Juuls: Earlier this year, Juul allegedly shipped 1 million contaminated mint pods, BuzzFeed News revealed this week. The claim comes from a lawsuit filed by a former high-ranking employee. The company told BuzzFeed that there had been a manufacturing issue but denied that this issue led to unsafe pods. The exact alleged contaminant is unspecified.
Is weed cartridge contaminated?
Weed cartridges that are otherwise contaminated: Perhaps otheringredients or contaminants in black market THC vapes are at least partially responsible. In tests commissioned by NBC News, 10 out of 10 bootleg THC vape cartridges contained harmful pesticides. (Though what dose of those pesticides is unclear; they weren’t present in samples of three legit cartridges.)
Is Juuls a cause of vaping?
Is it causing the vaping epidemic?: It’s plausible that contaminated Juuls could be responsible for a few cases, but since they don’t contain THC, it’s unlikely that they are the main cause.
