Samples of lung fluid from 29 lung injury patients in 10 states all contained the same chemical, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced. According to a report on The Verge, this discovery is a big step forward in the ongoing investigation into the severe and mysterious lung injuries that have affected e-cigarette users across the country. The CDC now considers vitamin E acetate to be a chemical of concern. As of Nov. 5, 39 people have died, and 2,051 cases of lung injuries related to vaping are being investigated.
What’s Causing the Problem?
The CDC stated that vitamin E acetate is an oily substance in several everyday household items, including foods, supplements, and skin creams. While this chemical doesn’t cause harm when applied to the skin or ingested as a supplement, previous research shows that inhaling it may interfere with normal lung functioning. The oil might work well for skincare. But, when heated up, it could act like a greasy substance, and inhaling vaporized grease could seriously affect the lungs. Researchers are still trying to determine the exact mechanism causing lung damage.
Investigators say the substance has been added to e-cigarettes as a thickener and is particularly attractive to people manufacturing illicit products because it resembles THC oil; THC is the active ingredient in marijuana that provides users with a high. Early in September, some state agencies discovered vitamin E acetate in samples of vaping products used by people with lung disease, and this discovery led to a link between the substance and lung injuries.
However, finding it in patients is a far more significant discovery. Researchers looked at the fluid taken from the lungs of patients suffering from the injury and found vitamin E acetate in every single sample. They also found THC in 82% of the lung fluid samples and nicotine in 62% of the samples, suggesting that a vast majority of patients who were vaping may be using both THC and nicotine products.
Dangerous and Defective Products
Health officials say other chemicals could have also contributed to the ongoing outbreak. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are continuing their investigations. Health officials recommend that people not use THC vaping products.
Our product defect lawyers are closely following these cases. If you or a loved one has experienced adverse health effects or has developed a lung disease as a result of using e-cigarettes or vaping devices, please get in touch with an experienced product defect attorney who is handling these types of cases. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries, damages and losses.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/8/20955446/cdc-vaping-breakthrough-lung-injury-investigation
