Vitamin E acetate is sometimes used to dilute THC oil in vape cartridges to make it go further. The substance can be deadly, but it's not banned everywhere.
Full Answer
Is vitamin E acetate used in vape cartridges?
The investigation has centered on additives in vape cartridges and additives in vape cartridges, and focusing in particular on vitamin E acetate, a thickening agent used in street-market THC cartridges made by unknown manufacturers.
Can vape additives like vitamin E acetate cause lung disease?
With a lack of tangible data, it is possible that vitamin E acetate and other vape additives found in THC carts — like the ones that are the only common denominator in the current outbreak of lung illnesses — may break down into toxic chemicals that can cause irreparable lung damage.
Can vitamin E oil end up in THC cartridges?
According to NBC News, in 2000, a case report in the Canadian Respiratory Journal found that a 30-year-old woman had developed lipid pneumonitis as a result of using homemade cannabis oil brewed with petroleum jelly and vitamin E oil. What remains less clear, however, is exactly how or why vitamin E oil is ending up in THC cartridges to begin with.
Did Ohio ban vitamin E acetate from medical marijuana vape products?
► Ohio banned vitamin E acetate from medical marijuana vape products Nov. 8 after the CDC’s announcement. None of Ohio’s medical marijuana vape makers was using it, so the move was preemptive.
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Do they use vitamin E oil in vape cartridges?
Colorado and Ohio banned vitamin E acetate, which is sometimes used as a thickening agent or to dilute THC oil in vape cartridges to make it go further. Tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, is the ingredient in cannabis that creates the "high."
What happens if you 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.
What are the side effects of vaping vitamin E?
Some reported using nicotine-based products. Clinical presentation for EVALI includes shortness of breath, cough, fever, malaise and gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea). Other symptoms reported by some patients included headache, dizziness and chest pain.
Why is vitamin E acetate in vape juice?
Specifically, vitamin E acetate is most commonly used as an additive in THC-containing vape/e-cigarette products; vitamin E acetate is an oily chemical added to THC vaping liquids used to thicken or dilute them.
Is vitamin E good for lungs?
Vitamins E (alpha-tocopherol) and C (ascorbate) have been shown to decrease asthma exacerbation associated with exposure to ozone. Enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defenses in the airways and lungs is a promising approach for treating respiratory diseases aggravated by allergies.
Is vitamin E Good for smokers?
There is evidence indicating that vitamins E and C interact, and based on biochemical studies, it was proposed that high doses of vitamins C and E might be beneficial for smokers because of the interaction [17]. Furthermore, co-supplementation of high-dose vitamin C and vitamin E is common [1].
Can your lungs heal from vaping?
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.
Can you inhale vitamin E oil?
Experts told the Post it can be dangerous when inhaled, leading to the cough, shortness of breath and chest pain those sickened after vaping have reported. When vaped and inhaled, this oil can harm lung cells, said one respiratory expert.
Is vitamin E acetate toxic?
Vitamin E acetate isn't necessarily harmful when ingested as a supplement or applied to the skin via a cream, but studies have shown it can cause harm when inhaled. Vitamin E in healthy doses is good for you; there's no debate there.
Is synthetic vitamin E harmful?
Some research suggests that taking vitamin E supplements even below these upper limits might cause harm. In one study, for example, men who took 400 IU (180 mg) of synthetic vitamin E each day for several years had an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Does Juul have vitamin E in it?
Vitamin E acetate is sometimes used as an additive in e-cigarettes, most commonly in those containing THC. This additive is strongly linked with the outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
Is vitamin E acetate the same as vitamin E?
Alpha-tocopheryl acetate (ATA) is a specific form of vitamin E that's often found in skin care products and dietary supplements. It's also known as tocopheryl acetate, tocopherol acetate, or vitamin E acetate. Vitamin E is known for its antioxidant properties.
What is vitamin E acetate?
One current suspect in the outbreak is vitamin E acetate, sometimes used as a vape cartridge additive. It’s a popular new diluent thickener found mostly in illicit market THC vape carts. What is vitamin E oil and what makes it dangerous?
Where is vitamin E found?
They’re commonly found in corn and other vegetable oil or made synthetically from petroleum. We often eat tocopherols as a dietary supplement, and manufacturers put tocopherols in food and cosmetics.
How many vape carts contain thickeners?
Alex Dixon, CEO of Floraplex, which makes the chemical thickener Uber Thick, told Leafly that as many as 50 million carts may contain the thickeners. “It’s in every store in downtown LA,” said Jones.
How many forms of vitamin E are there?
Vitamin E oil has 8 forms. Eight main types of tocopherol exist, from alpha-tocopherol all the way through gamma-tocopherol. “The most relevant vitamin E compound is alpha-tocopherol since it is the most abundant and potent of the group,” said Vu Lam, an official with Anresco Laboratories in San Francisco. “The main difference between naturally ...
How many people died from vitamin E injections in 1984?
In stark contrast, 38 US children died from vitamin E oil injections in 1984.
Can you inhale vitamin E?
Neither is OK to inhale, experts say. All these chemicals with vitamin E activity go into foot creams, face creams, and other cosmetics as topicals. In some people it can cause rashes. The cosmetics industry never considered tocopherols’ use for inhalation, at least beyond accidentally getting some lotion in your nose.
Is it safe to use alpha tocopherol in vape pen?
Some merchants think it’s safe. Merchants have demonstrated inadequate proof of the product’s safety for inhalation. Constant Therapeutics of California confirmed earlier this week that the company holds a patent on the use of alpha-tocopherol in a vape pen for medical cannabis patients.
How many people died from vaping in New York?
These vapes were identified by the New York State Department of Health as part of 34 cases of severe pulmonary illnesses in the state, among 380 confirmed and probable cases, with six patients dying, throughout the U.S. Health officials are looking into vitamin E acetate and its link to the illnesses.
Is benzene a carcinogen?
Benzene rings are very common degradation products; they are known carcinogens. Methacrolein is another one; it is extremely toxic and burns the skin and lungs when inhaled,” Rae said. Studies have shown that tocopherol quinones, a common family of degradation product molecules, are extremely toxic to human cells.
Does NYDOH have vitamin E?
Along with the announcement to focus its search into vitamin E acetate, the NYDOH also released photos of vape pens found to have vitamin E acetate, which included “Dank Vapes,” a vape brand that in August 2019, news site Inverse.com labeled “the 'biggest conspiracy' in pot that can put you in a coma.”.
Is vitamin E acetate harmful?
The short answer: Doctors are still unsure of the cause and the CDC investigation is still ongoing. In the meantime, consumers should know more about vitamin E acetate and other potentially harmful additives and cutting agents.
Can you buy vape pen off the street?
Public health officials have warned against purchasing vape pens off the street. The New York Department of Health (NYDOH) found that many of these products contained vitamin E acetate.
Does cannabis use vitamin E acetate?
Cannabis Industry is Responding. Many cannabis companies have been quick to respond with statements to confirm that they do not use additives, including vitamin E acetate, in their cannabis vape products.
Is vitamin E acetate produced by plants?
It is not produced by plants or animals. “There is very little toxicological and safety data available for the inhalation of [vitamin E acetate]. Aside from use in some hairsprays with no apparent effect, there appears to be little else.”. Raber said.
Is vitamin E acetate legal in marijuana?
Policing Vitamin E acetate's inclusion in THC-based vape products has proven to be much harder, considering the fact that marijuana regulations differ from state to state and marijuana is still banned ...
Does Vitamin E acetate harm the skin?
Vitamin E acetate doesn't necessarily cause harm when ingested as a supplement or applied to the skin via a cream, but studies have shown it can cause harm when inhaled.
Is vitamin E acetate bad for you?
Vitamin E acetate isn't necessarily harmful when ingested as a supplement or applied to the skin via a cream, but studies have shown it can cause harm when inhaled. Vitamin E in healthy doses is good for you; there's no debate there. It's a vitamin that dissolves in fat, and is naturally occurring in many of the wholesome foods you eat daily.
Is vaping addictive?
Vaping was designed to be addictive. Because of its antioxidant characteristics and capabilities, studies have shown Vitamin E's effectiveness in treating many conditions ranging from Alzheimer's to certain blood disorders, and even decreasing menstrual cramp pain.
Is Vitamin E acetate still being studied?
As with most of the information regarding vaping due to its recent rise in popularity, Vitamin E acetate's role and effects are still being studied and determined. One thing is for sure, its inclusion has been somewhat of a recent addition; for example, vape cartridges studied in Minnesota in 2018 were without Vitamin E acetate, ...
Should we ban vitamin E acetate?
States "should be banning vitamin E acetate. No question," said cannabis industry executive Tyrell Towle, who is on a Colorado government advisory committee. "There's no reason to use cutting agents because you can make high-quality vape cartridges using only cannabis-derived ingredients.". Towle is director of chemistry ...
Is vitamin E acetate banned in Colorado?
Colorado and Ohio banned vitamin E acetate, which is sometimes used as a thickening agent or to dilute THC oil in vape cartridges to make it go further. Tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, is the ingredient in cannabis that creates the "high.". States "should be banning vitamin E acetate.
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, ...
What is the heating coil in e-liquid?
Even the heating coil, which allows the liquid to become an inhalable aerosol, releases new chemical substances and trace metals that go into the user’s lungs. “There are so many ingredients in e-liquids, and to date, no one is taking responsibility to account for them,” notes Blaha.
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 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 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.
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 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.
What is the extract called in vape carts?
Check store licenses on regulators’ websites, like California’s license lookup tool. In terms of extracts, additive-free extract is called “rosin”, and it also comes in vape carts in mature adult-use markets.
What are the names of the tainted vapes?
Health officials have confirmed that among the tainted carts are ones with the illicit market brand names Dank Vapes, TKO, Off White, Moon Rocks, Chronic Carts, and West Coast Carts , but the condition is linked to multiple illicit market brands across multiple states.
What is additive free extract?
In terms of extracts, additive-free extract is called “rosin”, and it also comes in vape carts in mature adult-use markets. There’s also tinctures, sublinguals, edibles, topicals, and transdermals, for those who want to avoid all cannabinoid inhalation products. Leafly originally published this story Sept. 6.
Can vape carts cause lung damage?
There are multiple known contaminants in illicit vape carts that could cause lung injury. But on Nov. 8, the CDC announced a “very strong culprit of concern”—vitamin E oil, (aka tocopheryl-acetate).
Can you throw away a vape cartridge?
If you own illicit vape cartridges, throw them away immediately. The CDC, FDA, and HHS advised consumers to avoid buying cannabis vapes or using products off the street. They are unregulated, untested, and are often contaminated. If you purchase any disposable vaporizer cartridge—either THC, nicotine, or CBD—and it’s filled with ...
Is tocopheryl acetate found in vape cartridges?
California lab Anresco announced Oct. 28 that no tocopheryl-acetate has been found in tests of over 200 licensed cartridges.
Is tocopheryl acetate banned in vapes?
Washington and Oregon banned tocopheryl acetate in vapes mid-November. Colorado intends to ban tocopheryl-acetate, MCT oil, and PEG this winter. Cheap illicit market vape carts also routinely malfunction. Malfunctioning carts can get very hot, and burn additives and thickeners, releasing an unknown noxious gas.
How to tell if a vape oil is compatible with a cartridge?
Most vape oil producers will tell you which voltage is compatible with the selected cartridge. These devices come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. Some vape pens have a button that activates the vape cartridge, while others are buttonless and only activated once the user takes a draw.
Where are vape cartridges made?
A large portion of vape cartridge components are produced at metal foundries in China, many of which add small amounts of lead into brass and copper feedstocks to improve the malleability of metals. This includes the heating coil, which heats up the cannabis oil, potentially transferring toxic metals into the consumer's vapors.
What to do if your vape cartridge is counterfeit?
If you have a vape cartridge that you suspect might be counterfeit, go to the manufacturer's website and compare your cartridge with legitimate products.
What is a vape pen?
Vape pens are designed to vaporize cannabis oils and distillates. A vape pen comprises two primary components: a battery and the vape cartridge. The battery consists of the bottom portion of the vape pen, providing power to the heating element, which vaporizes the cannabis oil contained inside the vape cartridge.
What is the binding agent in vape cartridges?
Propylene glycol (PG): a binding agent that is added to cannabis vape cartridges because of its ability to foster even vape draws. Vegetable glycerin (VG): Added to vape liquids to help generate large vape clouds for the user.
How many people died from vaping in New York?
These vapes were identified by the New York State Department of Health as part of 34 cases of severe pulmonary illnesses in the state, among 380 confirmed and probable cases, with six patients dying, throughout the U.S. Health officials are looking into vitamin E acetate and its link to the illnesses.
What is leaking from e-cigarettes?
In a 2018 study conducted by scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, researchers discovered that unsafe amounts of toxic metals, including lead, were leaking from the heating coils of e-cigarettes and seeping into the aerosol that was inhaled.
