What’s causing the explosion in dangerous and deadly lung illnesses among vapers nationwide? While health officials hunt for answers, one leading theory points to a bad ingredient in vaping liquids, perhaps Vitamin E, sold on the street. But some physicians suspect the epidemic has always been there, unnoticed until now.
Is vape juice bad for You?
· Oregon officials announced a second death, saying a middle-aged adult fell seriously ill after vaping with marijuana oil. It was the first casualty linked to a store-bought product. The list of ...
How many people die from vaping each year?
· At this point, health authorities have not been able to identify what is causing the illnesses and deaths related to vaping. So far, there has not been one factor—like type of e-liquid, brand, where the vaping device and e-liquid were purchased, etc.—that has been common across all cases. Hopefully [we'll know more] very soon.
What is vape juice and how does it work?
While we don’t know exactly what chemicals are in e-cigarettes, Blaha says “There’s almost no doubt that vaping exposes you to fewer toxic chemicals than smoking traditional cigarettes.” However, there has been an outbreak of lung injuries and deaths associated with vaping. In February 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 2,807 cases of …
Is vaping of unknown substances dangerous?
· You may have seen news reports of sudden and severe lung problems, including deaths, linked to vaping. This condition is called e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury, or EVALI. According to the CDC: More than 2800 e-cigarette users have required hospital admission due to EVALI through February 2020; 68 of these people died.
What is causing vaping deaths?
CDC investigators identified direct exposure to chemicals present in illegal cannabis vaping products as responsible for the outbreak. Vitamin E acetate is a very strong culprit of concern in the lung illnesses related to THC-based vaping products, but the CDC did not rule out other chemicals as possible causes.
What are 4 harmful chemicals in Vapes?
Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes can contain harmful and potentially harmful ingredients, including:ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.flavorants such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.volatile organic compounds.heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.
What is toxic in vape juice?
Nicotine 'e-liquid', the fluid used in an e-cigarette, has the potential to cause poisoning if it is swallowed or absorbed through the skin. At high enough doses, nicotine is very toxic.
What does vitamin E acetate do to the lungs?
Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Chemical Research in Toxicology have uncovered a possible mechanism: Vitamin E acetate could increase the fluidity of lung surfactant, causing the surfactant layer to collapse, contributing to symptoms such as shortness of breath and lung inflammation.
What's the safest vape?
One of the safest vape mods would be the Geekvape Aegis Max. How does it work? The Geekvape Aegis Max works on button draw technology and is powered by a single 21700 or 18650 battery. The 2ml tank is best topped up with your thicker and lower nicotine juices as resistance dips below 1ohm.
What should you avoid in e-liquid?
Ingredients You Should Avoid Using In Your Vape JuiceMint or Menthol. Don't purchase any e juices that have mint or menthol mentioned as a flavor. ... Caffeine. ... Cinnamon. ... Diketones. ... Vanilla. ... Fragrance oils. ... Strawberry and Banana flavors. ... Titanium dioxide.
What are the most harmful Vapes?
These Are The 7 Most Toxic Vaping Flavors, According To ScienceCinnamon. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images. ... Vanilla. ... Buttered Popcorn. ... Strawberry & Banana. ... Creamy Flavors. ... Mint (Menthol) ... Complex Flavors.
Is it safe to vape propylene glycol?
Yes - it's used as a food additive in many, many products, so you probably already consume it on a daily basis. Is propylene glycol safe to vape? Yes, to be clear, it is considered extremely safe, non-toxic, and has no cancer-causing properties, unlike tobacco!
What are 5 dangers of vaping?
Vaping has been linked to lung injury.Rapid onset of coughing.Breathing difficulties.Weight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.
Why do they put vitamin E in vape juice?
Vitamin E acetate is an oily chemical commonly added to THC vaping liquids to dilute or thicken them; the substance has been acknowledged as a potential toxin of concern by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), due to its ability to remain in the lungs for long periods of time, and therefore cause ...
Is vaping healthier than smoking?
1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.
What happens if u smoke vitamin E?
It has been proposed that vaping induced pyrolysis of vitamin E acetate may produce a highly toxic gas called ketene. Inhalation of ketene can cause severe lung damage in low concentrations and death in high concentrations.
How did the sixth person die from vaping?
A sixth person in the United States has died from lung disease related to vaping, Kansas health officials said Tuesday. The woman was older than 50 and had a history of health problems. She became seriously ill shortly after she started using e-cigarettes and her symptoms progressed rapidly. It’s not clear what type of vaping products she used, ...
What age did a healthy teenager die?
Healthy teen's symptoms baffle doctors. Kansas health officials reported the patient who died was older than 50, had a history of underlying health issues and “was hospitalized with symptoms that progressed rapidly,” according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Health officials said it wasn’t clear what type ...
Is vaping a priority for the FDA?
FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Caccomo said in an emailed statement Tuesday that getting to the bottom of the illnesses linked with vaping remains a “top priority” for the agency and its partners. shutterstock. video. FDA releases anti-vaping TV ads aimed at teens.
Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes?
Tuesday, the American Lung Association warned that “e-cigarettes are not safe” and can cause irreversible lung damage and disease.
Is vaping rising in teens?
Teen vaping continues to rise while other drug use declines, survey finds. “It is time to stop vaping,” Dr. Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the state health officer, said in the statement Tuesday announcing the country’s sixth death. “If you or a loved one is vaping, please stop.
Is it illegal to smoke e-cigarettes in England?
The Department of Health have ruled out the outlawing of 'e-cigs' in enclosed spaces in England, despite calls by WHO, The World Health Organisation to do so. WHO have recommended a ban on indoor smoking of e-cigs as part of tougher regulation of products dangerous to children.
Can you use e-cigarettes while pregnant?
The CDC says e-cigarettes should never be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.
Why is vaping in the crosshairs?
Vaping was in the cross-hairs straight away, because the individual was reportedly a vaper. Soon, the numbers of cases rose, and along with it, more deaths were reported, from Oregon, Indiana, Minnesota, California and the most recent (on Tuesday the 10 th) from Kansas.
What does thinking about the outbreak in epidemiological terms really help clarify?
Imagining we know nothing about what the affected individuals have done previously, think about the key points: in a short period of time , in a specific geographic region, people largely confined to a specific age group have developed an acute illness. The initial investigations have ruled out infections or anything similar as the cause, and all of the signs point to some sort of chemical exposure. So what are the options?
Is salt nicotine a new phenomenon?
Salt nicotine e-juice is a pretty new phenomenon, but by “pretty new,” we mean “in the last few years” rather than “in the last few months.”. Other than that, the liquids people are vaping today use the same (pharmaceutical grade) propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin they always have.
What is the only real conclusion from the basic facts of the cases?
The only real conclusion from the basic facts of the cases is that it has to be related to either new products, recent changes to existing products or a change in the supply or manufacturing processes for the same products. While there is no definitive cause as of yet, acting as though all causes are still on the table means ignoring some of the most important facts you should use to narrow down cases like this.
Is vaping older than the average age?
It doesn’t make sense that products available all around the world would only be causing issues in one country, either. And the average age of vapers is much older than the average age of the people affected by the illness, so the affected groups don’t really match up either.
Is vaping becoming more popular?
Vaping has been becoming increasingly popular for around a decade now, and people all over the world vape, so why would the condition appear now, and not, say, in 2010? Why would it only affect vapers in the US, and not the UK, for example?
Is the outbreak still unclear?
The cause of the outbreak is still unclear, to some extent, and the investigation is ongoing. It’s unlikely that authorities will settle on an official cause particularly soon. The wording of most newspaper articles and official statements on the issue have kept all options on the table.
What chemicals are in vaping?
Vaping exposes the lungs to a variety of chemicals. These may include the main active chemicals in tobacco (nicotine) or marijuana (THC), flavorants, and other ingredients that are added to vaping liquids. Plus, other chemicals can be produced during the vaporizing process.
What are vaping devices?
Vaping devices, also known as e-cigarettes, vape pens, and e-hookahs among other terms, come in many shapes and sizes. Some look like traditional cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Others are shaped like every-day objects, such as pens or USB memory sticks.
How old do you have to be to vape?
New laws are aimed at curbing vaping among teens. People must now be 21 to buy any tobacco product, including vaping products. And companies can no longer produce and sell flavors that appeal to children like fruit and mint. If you’ve already started vaping or smoking cigarettes, it’s never too late to quit.
Is vitamin E acetate harmful?
One harmful chemical may be a thickening agent called Vitamin E acetate, which is sometimes used as an additive in THC-containing vape products. The CDC identified it as a “chemical of concern” among people with vaping-associated lung injuries.
Can nicotine be inhaled in a vaporizer?
Plus, other chemicals can be produced during the vaporizing process. “If the liquid has nicotine in it, then the user is inhaling nicotine along with the other ingredients in the liquid,” explains Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, an expert on tobacco research at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Is vaping harmful?
So how safe is vaping? Studies suggest nicotine vaping may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes when people who regularly smoke switch to them as a complete replacement. But nicotine vaping could still damage your health.
Is vaping more popular in high school?
Vaping is now more popular among teens than smoking traditional cigarettes. One in four high school seniors say they vaped nicotine in the past month. And studies have found that teens who vape nicotine may be more likely to go on to smoke traditional cigarettes.
How old was the boy who died from vaping?
In New York, a 17-year-old male from the Bronx was hospitalized in early September with a vaping-related respiratory illness and readmitted in late September. He died Oct. 4. The U.S. Army is tracking two cases in active-duty soldiers, according to a statement from the U.S. Army Public Health Center.
How long have e-cigarettes been sold?
E-cigarettes have been sold for more than a decade, but reports of vaping-linked illness started proliferating this year. An investigation by state health departments in Illinois and Wisconsin traced the first signs of illness among 53 tracked patients to April. The victims — mostly young men with a median age of 19 — overwhelmingly ended up in the hospital, many under intensive care. A third went on respirators.
What substances are found in lung fluids?
But CDC tested for a wide range of substances that might be found in patients’ lung fluids, including plant oils and petroleum distillates, such as mineral oil. None of the others were detected.
Is vitamin E in marijuana?
The Post reported in early September that investigators at the Food and Drug Administration found the same vitamin E-derived oil in marijuana products vaped by multiple people sickened around the country.
Is vaping a counterfeit product?
The nationwide investigation has found no particular vaping devices or products linked to all cases and is looking into potential contamination or counterfeits. Many have also used multiple products, according to the CDC.
What is the psychoactive component of marijuana?
Officials are still trying to figure out what, exactly, is causing people to fall ill. But growing evidence points to products with THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana.
How did Oregon's second death happen?
Story continues below advertisement. Oregon officials announced a second death, saying a middle-a ged adult fell seriously ill after vaping with marijuana oil. It was the first casualty linked to a store-bought product. The list of states with deaths has grown quickly since.
What's causing the sudden surge in illnesses and deaths related to vaping?
At this point, health authorities have not been able to identify what is causing the illnesses and deaths related to vaping. So far, there has not been one factor—like type of e-liquid, brand, where the vaping device and e-liquid were purchased, etc.—that has been common across all cases.
What's your advice for people who used to smoke traditional cigarettes and have switched to vaping since it was supposed to be safer? Should they go back to tobacco?
The only group who should use vaping products are cigarette smokers who are trying to quit smoking, or former smokers who have successfully switched to vaping. If you fully switched and no longer smoke cigarettes, congratulations! Now it's important to try to get off vaping products as well because these products are not safe.
Why are flavors in e-cigarettes being targeted for regulations?
Flavors are a focus of regulations because flavored products appeal to youth. Most youth who vape use a flavored product. [They] have been exposed to a marketing for e-cigarette products through a range of channels, including social media/social influencers, product displays in stores, and ads outside of stores.
What should schools do about young people and vaping? Pediatricians? Parents?
No one other than cigarette smokers trying to quit smoking should be using e-cigarettes.
How many people died from vaping in 2020?
As of Jan. 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 60 deaths in patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI).
How many chemicals are in e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic. While we don’t know exactly what chemicals are in e-cigarettes, Blaha says “there’s almost no doubt that they expose you to fewer toxic chemicals than traditional cigarettes.”
Why are e-cigarettes so popular?
First, many teens believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Second, e-cigarettes have a lower per-use cost than traditional cigarettes.
Is e-cigarettes as addictive as heroin?
Both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes contain nicotine, which research suggests may be as addictive as heroin and cocaine. What’s worse, says Blaha, many e-cigarette users get even more nicotine than they would from a tobacco product — you can buy extra-strength cartridges, which have a higher concentration of nicotine, or you can increase the e-cigarette’s voltage to get a greater hit of the substance.
Is vaping bad for you?
Is vaping bad for you? There are many unknowns about vaping, including what chemicals make up the vapor and how they affect physical health over the long term . “People need to understand that e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous to your health,” says Blaha. “Emerging data suggests links to chronic lung disease and asthma, and associations between dual use of e-cigarettes and smoking with cardiovascular disease. You’re exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals that we don’t yet understand and that are probably not safe.”
Is nicotine a substance?
Nicotine is the primary agent in both regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is also a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.
Can you use THC in a vape?
The CDC recommends that people: Do not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Avoid using informal sources, such as friends, family or online dealers to obtain a vaping device. Do not modify or add any substances to a vaping device that are not intended by the manufacturer.
How many teens use vaping?
The rising popularity of vaping has been dramatic, especially among teenagers. According to a recent study, about 37% of high school seniors reported vaping in 2018, up from 28% the year before. An estimated 2.1 million middle school and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2017; that number jumped to 3.6 million in 2018. Certainly, age restrictions — it’s illegal to sell e-cigarettes to anyone under 21 (18 or 19 in some states) — aren’t preventing use among teens and young adults. And nearly seven million adults 18 or older use e-cigarettes, according to a 2017 survey by the CDC.
What is an e-cigarette?
E-cigarettes use a battery-powered device that heats a liquid to form vapors — or, more accurately, aerosol — that the user can inhale (thu s "vaping"). These devices heat up various flavorings, nicotine, marijuana, or other potentially harmful substances. Nicotine is addictive, of course. And while that fact is prominently displayed in advertising, ...
Can you vape with e-cigarettes?
And many smokers who vape continue to use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The CDC’s position is that "E-cigarettes have the potential to benefit adult smokers who are not pregnant if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products.".
Is vaping safe for pregnant women?
The CDC’s position is that "E-cigarettes have the potential to benefit adult smokers who are not pregnant if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products." Meanwhile, the FDA warns that vaping is "not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products."
Can e-cigarettes cause nicotine poisoning?
Accidental exposure to liquid from e-cigarettes has caused acute nicotine poisoning in children and adults.
Is e-cigarette vapor harmful?
Some substances found in e-cigarette vapor have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Is lung disease linked to e-cigarettes?
The lung disease has not been linked to a specific brand or flavor of e-cigarette. The FDA, CDC, and state health officials are investigating these cases to determine the specific cause (s) and how to prevent and treat them.
How long does it take to know the damage of vaping?
It may take decades to know the full extent of the damage done by vaping, although Jani thinks we shouldn’t wait that long.
How long does it take for a vape to show symptoms?
One clue pointing toward contaminants is the sudden onset of symptoms — occuring within weeks or months of vaping a certain product, rather than developing slowly over years of use.
Is vaping safer than smoking?
While vaping products aren’t completely harmless, they appear to be safer than smoking. Cigarette smoke contains a much larger number of toxins and cancer-causing chemicals than e-cigarette vapor.
Is vaping safe?
While some physicians say there’s no safe level of vaping, other experts — along with industry spokespeople — say the real problem is illicit or adulterated vaping products.
Can e-cigarettes cause lung disease?
More recent studies have found that e-cigarette vapor can harm blood vessels and cause cellular changes that could lead to lung disease.
Is vaping safe for health?
The FDA and CDC investigation is currently focused on possible contaminants. But even vape products purchased from trustworthy retailers carry some health risks.
Is it safe to buy unregulated THC?
The danger of buying unregulated THC oils or vape liquids is that they can contain potentially unsafe ingredients. This includes unknown “cutting” agents to thin out the liquid or flavoring chemicals.
What is vape juice?
The vape juice is heated in e-cigarettes and vape rigs, and it creates an aerosol that users inhale. Vape juice comes in a variety of flavors, including candy, bubblegum and children’s cereals. Johns Hopkins cardiologist Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H., discusses vape flavors and other e-liquid ingredients, and how they may affect health, ...
Is flavor in vape juice?
Flavor is just one of the ingredients in e-liquid. Vape juices usually include nicotine and many other additives and chemicals, and Blaha says the unpredictable variety of ingredients is a problem. Even the heating coil, which allows the liquid to become an inhalable aerosol, releases new chemical substances and trace metals ...
Is Blaha concerned about vaping?
But Blaha is particularly concerned about e-cigarette use and vaping among young people, and the surging incidence of vaping among kids who have never smoked. These young people are vulnerable to becoming addicted to the nicotine in vaping devices and e-cigarettes, and flavors may be making vaping more appealing to them.
Is it safe to eat vitamin E acetate?
“Some of the chest X-rays of patients with EVALI show signs of oily chemical irritation of the lungs. “So when it comes to inhaling vape juice, we don’t know what’s ‘safe.’.
Is e-liquid dangerous?
Some of these additives found in e-liquid are dangerous — even deadly. For example, vitamin E acetate has been indicated in EVALI, which stands for e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury. This is a potentially fatal syndrome associated with vaping, and it was on the rise in 2019.
Is vape juice toxic?
He explains that while there may be production standards for commercial e-cigarette companies, standards for vape shops, off-brand online vendors or “homemade” vape juice blends are less consistent. “Vape juice can contain a variety of things that could be toxic,” Blaha says.
Is vaping harmful to your lungs?
While more research may determine the overall harm from vaping, it is already clear that using “homemade” or unregulated vape juices can introduce unknown and potentially harmful substances into users’ lungs. Another main concern is the addictive nature of nicotine in vape juice or any tobacco product.
