US officials identify 'strong culprit' in vaping illnesses
US health officials announced a breakthrough Friday into the cause of
a mysterious outbreak of vaping illnesses, reporting they have a “very
strong culprit.”
The same chemical compound
was found in fluid taken from the lungs of 29 patients across the
country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The
compound - vitamin E acetate - was previously found in liquid from
electronic cigarettes and other vaping devices used by many of those who
got sick.
This is the first time they’ve found a common suspect in the damaged lungs of patients, officials said.
“We are in a better place in terms of having one very strong culprit,” said the CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat.
But
agency officials cautioned they cannot rule out all other toxic
substances, and it may take animal studies to clearly show vitamin E
acetate causes the lung damage that’s been seen.
More than 2,000 Americans who vape have gotten sick since March,
many of them teen and young adults, and at least 40 people have died.
The bulk of the cases occurred in August and September but new cases are
still being reported.
Vitamin E acetate
has only recently been used as a thickener in vaping fluid, particularly
in black market vape cartridges. While vitamin E is safe as a vitamin
pill or to use on the skin, inhaling oily droplets of it can be harmful.
It’s sticky and stays in the lungs - the CDC’s Dr. Jim Pirkle likened
it to honey.
Many who got sick said they
had vaped liquids that contain THC, the high-inducing part of marijuana,
with many saying they got them from friends or bought them on the black
market.
E-cigarettes and other vaping
devices heat a liquid into an inhalable vapor. For years, most products
contained nicotine, but THC vaping has been growing more common.
Symptoms
of the vaping illness include trouble breathing, chest pain, fatigue
and vomiting. Imaging tests show lung injuries and doctors can’t find
infections or other causes.
No comments:
Post a Comment