The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that Vitamin E acetate is just one of the culprits behind the outbreak of vaping lung illnesses.
Following the outbreak of a strange vaping illness that caused lung damage to more than 2,000 people in the United States and killed at least 39, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found the likely culprit: Vitamin E acetate.
The CDC’s report explains that they came to this conclusion after analyzing the data from 29 patients with EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping product use Associated Lung Injury) from 10 different states across the country. All of them showed traces of Vitamin E acetate in their lungs.
“Vitamin E acetate is used as an additive in the production of e-cigarette, or vaping, products. This is the first time that we have detected a potential chemical of concern in biologic samples from patients with these lung injuries,” explains the report.
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The data goes further, explaining that both THC and nicotine vape devices currently pose a risk for smokers. Out of the 29 patients tested, 82% of them had THC in their lungs and 62 of them had nicotine.
Other substances thought to be associated with the disease were tested, with most of them showing no links to the illness. “CDC tested for a range of other chemicals that might be found in e-cigarette, or vaping, products, including plant oils, petroleum distillates like mineral oil, MCT oil, and terpenes (which are compounds found in or added to THC products). None of these potential chemicals of concern were detected in the BAL fluid samples tested,” says the report.
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As of this writing, there have been 39 deaths associated with EVALI. Although new substances and elements could continue to be linked with the disease, it’s believed that the biggest risk users face is consuming THC from vape devices that have been acquired illegally. No matter the legal status of marijuana in your state, right now is not the time to explore new methods of vaping weed.
