Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that products containing THC may be behind the massive spike in lung illnesses related to vaping. THC is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana and is responsible for the feeling of being high.
Full Answer
What illnesses are caused by vaping?
- Nicotine
- Ultrafine particles
- Diacetyl
- Benzene (a chemical found in car exhaust)
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.
What are the long-term effects of vaping?
Many of the long-term effects of vaping are still unknown, but evidence suggests that vaping may lead to increased risks of: Respiratory problems like asthma Heart attacks Reproductive issues Low birth weight for babies when mothers vape during pregnancy Irritation of eyes and airways 2 Poor brain development Infections Seizures Lung disease problems like popcorn lung & EVALI 3
Is vaping bad for mental illness?
Vaping with or without nicotine has been shown to impact impulse control, especially in young adults whose brains have not fully developed yet. Some of these risks include mood disorders and permanent damage to parts of the brain responsible for memory, emotion and critical thinking.
How many deaths are linked to vaping?
Currently, 26 deaths linked to vaping have been confirmed in 21 states. . “Unfortunately, this may be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the escalating health threat this outbreak poses to the American public, particularly youth and young adults.
Why is THC in vaping?
THC is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana and is responsible for the feeling of being high.
How long have e-cigarettes been around?
E-cigarettes — battery-powered devices that heat liquids with substances such as nicotine and marijuana — have been around for more than a decade. But reports of vaping-related illnesses started showing up in April with cases dramatically rising starting in July. Since then, the number of cases has grown steadily.
Can vitamin E acetate cause skin damage?
But if the compound is aerosolized and then inhaled through the lungs, it’s not clear what kind of damage it can do.
Does the CDC work with the FDA?
CDC will continue to work with FDA and state health partners to investigate the cause, or causes, of this outbreak and to bring an end to these lung injuries.”. The CDC is working with state and local governments to locate if there’s a particular line or device that’s linked to these illnesses.
Is Vitamin E acetate a vape?
Vitamin E acetate isn’t approved as a vape product additive by the New York State Medical Marijuana Program. The department is continuing to investigate whether inhaling this oil-like compound could be responsible for the symptoms seen in patients. being tested by the FDA have not contained this compound.
How do e-cigarettes generate aerosols?
E-cigarettes generate an aerosol by heating the solution, or e-liquid, with a metallic coil. The researchers found that e-cigarettes can be a source of exposure to toxic metals and to metals that can be toxic if inhaled, concluding that contact with the coil could cause e-liquid contamination.
How many THC cartridges were tested?
NBC commissioned CannaSafe, a leading testing facility, to test 18 THC cartridges in all. Three were bought from legal dispensaries in California and were found free of heavy metals, pesticides, and solvents such as vitamin E. Of the 15 samples bought from the black market, 13 also had vitamin E.
Is the CDC zeroing in on a single cause?
Even so, the CDC em phasizes it has still not zeroed in on a single cause, although chemical exposure is suspected.
Is Vuse Alto a vitamin?
Vuse Alto. Vitamin E: In early September, lab test results from the New York State Department of Health found high levels of vitamin E acetate in nearly all the cannabis-containing samples analyzed there. The vitamin is not considered harmful when it’s used as a nutritional supplement or put on the skin.
Is e-cigarette smoke heated?
The e-cigarette vapor as you know is heated. It doesn’t contain the same tobacco carcinogens that are in tobacco smoke, but you may now that Phillip Morris for example is developing new products that allow some heating of actual tobacco as part of the e-cigarette platform. So that risk needs to be weighed in.
Does nicotine cause cancer?
And we also believe there are some data that nicotine may promote certain cancer signaling networks, how cancers talk to themselves to grow. There’s also very good evidence that nicotine, particularly in children, adolescents and young adults, can cause some rewiring of the brain’s circuitry.
How many deaths from vaping?
There have been nearly 3,000 hospitalizations as a result of vaping illness or injury ("EVALI") and approximately 60 deaths. Scientists, doctors and officials are learning more and more about vaping each day. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...
Is vaping addictive?
Vaping was designed to be addictive. Vaping manufacturers knowingly put you at risk. Free Evaluation. Provided by. The aerosol produced from smoking an e-cigarette contains fewer toxins than the 7,000 that make up smoke from a non-electronic cigarette, but that doesn't mean it's completely healthy.
Can vaping cause shortness of breath?
Repeated vaping can lead to shortness of breath, coughing and other issues, which aren't solely limited to the lungs; the mouth, teeth, gums, throat, heart, skin and other parts of the body can be affected as well.
How does smoking affect mental health?
As Weinstein says, the research showed that those who use e-cigarettes were 55% more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety.
Do college students use e-cigarettes?
Another study found that the use of e-cigarettes among college students appears to be associated with a variety of mental health problems, and even urged clinicians to be aware that certain conditions may be more common among users.
Is vaping a good idea?
But the reality is, it comes with a whole host of side effects and health risks. And that's why some experts say any amount of vaping isn't a good idea.
Is vaping safe for you?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA have even recommended that people avoid all vaping products. "Smoking or vaping in itself is inherently unsafe," Dr. Lawrence Weinstein, chief medical officer at American Addiction Centers, tells Bustle.
Is vaping bad for fertility?
Recent studies have also shown that "the effects of vaping on fertility are essentially synonymous to the effects of cigarettes," Dr. Mark Trolice, a fertility expert with Fertility CARE: The IVF Center, tells Bustle. "There are many false assumptions that vaping is a safer alternative, but both can greatly increase infertility in women and men and also harm babies in the womb." That's why he says that anyone who's trying to conceive should stay away from vaping, e-cigarettes, and cigarettes altogether.
Is vape juice regulated by the FDA?
As mentioned above, it's impossible to know for sure what's in vape products, seeing as e-cigarette juice isn't regulated by the FDA. And that's why it's possible to end up with some serious and scary side effects, like seizures. "Studies have shown that many of the liquid nicotine samples used in e-cigarette devices can contain ...
Is nicotine bad for mental health?
More research is needed to see the effects of nicotine consumption on brain function and mental health, the study noted, especially in young people. But it's troubling to think it could be having a negative impact.
When did Michigan stop vaping?
On Oct. 15 , a Michigan judge halted the state’s flavor ban about two weeks after it took effect, ruling that the damage to vape businesses outweighs government’s interest in decreasing youth vaping, according to the Detroit Free Press. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has pledged to appeal the decision.
How many samples of THC are there in vaping?
In testimony before a House panel, Sharpless said the FDA has received 300 samples from vaping-related injury patients and tested 150. About 70 percent are products containing THC, and about half of those contain vitamin E oil, which Sharpless said has “no business” being in the lungs.
Which states have banned vaping?
Michigan, New York, Rhode Island and Washington have enacted similar bans on flavored vaping sales over industry protests, and Massachusetts recently announced the strictest statewide regulations to date: a four-month halt to sales of all vaping products, effective immediately.
When did the e-cigarette crackdown end?
On Jan. 2, 2020 , the Food and Drug Administration ordered companies to stop manufacturing, distributing and selling most cartridge-based e-cigarette flavors — including mint and fruity flavors — by early February, saying the crackdown is urgently needed to stem a surge in teen vaping.
Will the e-cigarette ban be lifted?
The restrictions would be lifted only for products that the FDA approves. Tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes will not be affected, officials said.
Is vaping a criminal offense?
Federal officials are not pursuing individual vapers. But if the FDA determines “someone is manufacturing or distributing illicit, adulterated vaping products that caused illness and death for personal profit, we would consider that to be a criminal act,” said then-acting FDA commissioner Norman “Ned” Sharpless.
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 ...
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.
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.
Does vitamin E acetate cause inflammation?
“It wasn’t something that was used prior to this—that would explain why this is happening now.”. Inhaling the Vitamin E could be irritating to the lungs, causing inflammation.
Is vaping good for you?
Vaping in general: Despite all the warnings to stay away from vapes, this illness is not being caused by vaping at large. Yes, vaping is not good for you. Nicotine isn’t a neutral substance, plus vaping involves inhaling other chemicals with unknown risks.
Why do teens vape?
When it comes to why teens themselves say they vape, many of their reasons have a social connection. In the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey, middle and high school students named their top reasons for trying e-cigarettes as: 1 Curiosity (55.3%) 2 A friend or family member used them (30.8%) 3 Availability of flavors like mint, candy, fruit, or chocolate (22.4%) 4 They can be used to do tricks (21.2%)
Why is the nicotine content in e-cigarettes going up?
That’s largely because some e-cigarettes contain nicotine salts instead of freebase nicotine, which allows for a higher level to be absorbed more quickly, and with less irritation.
How many high school students smoke e-cigarettes?
Cigarette smoking rates, meanwhile, continue to drop — 5.8% of high school students smoked in 2019, ...
Can you still buy flavored e-liquid?
Vape shops can also still sell flavored e-liquids for refillable devices. Physical retail stores, including vape shops, are where 74% of young people buy e-cigarettes, according to a 2018 survey by the Truth Initiative.
Is a disposable e-cigarette cheaper than a non-disposable?
Most of these disposable e-cigarettes are cheaper than non-disposable devices and contain as much nicotine as some popular pods.
When did e-cigarettes come out?
E-cigarettes first came on the market in 2007 in a no-man’s land of regulation. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) didn’t have the authority to regulate them as a tobacco product until 2016.
Do teens underestimate the risk of smoking?
Teens are especially prone to underestimate the risk. When students were asked in the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey which tobacco products they perceived as causing no harm or little harm when used some days, but not every day, 28.2% said e-cigarettes, compared to 9.5% for cigarettes.