The New York State Department of Health said Thursday that lab test results showed “very high levels” of vitamin E acetate in almost all cannabis-containing vaping product samples. It was not found in nicotine products that were tested.
Full Answer
Is there vitamin E acetate in THC vape cartridges?
New York State — where health officials were first to signal concern about vitamin E acetate — found vitamin E acetate in many of the THC vaping cartridges used by patients suffering respiratory illness.
Is vitamin E acetate the cause of vaping deaths?
The FDA has announced they suspect Vitamin E Acetate may be the cause of vaping-related deaths. The CDC is urging Americans to only purchase vape products from trusted sources, and to consider cessation of vaping altogether.
What is the role of vitamin E acetate in evali?
Vitamin E acetate has been identified as a chemical of concern among people with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI). THC is present in most of the samples tested by FDA to date, and most patients report a history of using THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
What is the “vitamin E acetate virus”?
Vitamin E acetate is a condensing agent in vaping products, and all injured lung fluid samples appear to harbor this agent. The mysterious outbreak is identified in individuals vaping within the 90 days, ranging over a few days to developing over several weeks.
Why is vitamin E added to Vapes?
The vitamin has been found as an additive in vaping products, especially those containing THC, either as a thickening agent or dilution to make the oil in cartridges go further.
What vitamins are in Vapes?
Companies such as HealthVape and Inhale Health purport to deliver your daily dose of vitamin B12, vitamin C, melatonin, and essential oils after a few puffs from a vape. But touting health and wellness claims from vitamin vaping runs afoul of regulations, the FDA points out.
What ingredients are found in vape?
The "e-juice" that fills the cartridges usually contains nicotine (which is extracted from tobacco), propylene glycol, flavorings and other chemicals. Studies have found that even e-cigarettes claiming to be nicotine-free contain trace amounts of nicotine.
Is there vitamin E in Juuls?
According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials, vitamin E acetate, an additive sometimes used in THC and other vaping products, may be to blame for a national outbreak of e-cigarette-related lung injuries that's linked to dozens of deaths.
What is the healthiest vape?
The PAX 3 is consistently ranked one of the healthiest vapes, and it's an incredibly customizable conduction vaporizer suitable for dry herb and wax. Heated through thermal conduction, the PAX 3 doesn't sear your material.
Is there such thing as a healthy vape?
“A lot of these cartridges are actually marketed as health products,” Winickoff explained. “They have 'healthy' flavors, things like mango and berry that are associated with high antioxidants. But they're just flavors. There are no actual health benefits.”
What's worse smoking or vaping?
1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.
What are 5 dangers of vaping?
Vaping has been linked to lung injury.Rapid onset of coughing.Breathing difficulties.Weight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.
What are the 3 ingredients in vape juice?
E-Liquid Ingredients: You May Not Know What You're Vaping E-Liquid is made up of four basic ingredients; water, nicotine, flavorings, and a propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin base (or sometimes a mixture of PG and VG). Nicotine – The addictive ingredient found in e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes.
Do Vapes still have vitamin E acetate?
CDC has detected vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern among people with the lung injury. Vitamin E acetate is a condensing agent in vaping products, and all injured lung fluid samples appear to harbor this agent.
Is there vitamin E in vape juice?
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.
Is vitamin E acetate still used in Vapes?
Vitamin E acetate is used as an additive in e-cigarettes and vaping products because it resembles THC oil.
Can you get vitamins from vaping?
So-called wellness vapes are growing in popularity. Unlike regular vapes (e-cigarettes) that contain nicotine, these products contain vitamins, hormones or essential oils.
Is vitamin B12 vape good for you?
2021, stating that “the use of your 'B12 VITAMINVAPE' product raises safety concerns for the agency because the ingredients or the impurities in oral inhalation products may trigger laryngospasm or bronchospasm, may be toxic to the tissues in the upper or lower airways, or may be absorbed and exert undesirable systemic ...
Can you inhale B12?
The science page of its website states that vitamin B12 is immediately absorbed when it is inhaled and is "many times more efficient than pill absorption, and comparable only to injections (though injections are still the most efficient)."
Is it better to vape or smoke?
Research generally accepts that while vaping can harm the lungs and other bodily systems, its impact is much less than tobacco smoking. However, a 2019 study into the long-term health effects of vaping found that people using e-cigarettes had a higher risk of respiratory disease than people who never smoked.
What are the ingredients in vape?
The ingredients of vape that are suspected of contributing to the development of vaping-related illnesses are THC and vitamin E acetate. THC is an ingredient used in many vape products, and many patients experiencing vape-related complications have admitted to using THC-containing products in the past, leading the FDA to believe that THC may play a role in the vape-related illness outbreak. The FDA has issued a public warning to stop using THC-containing vape products, as the compound may be contributing to lung illnesses related to vaping. 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. A vape-related injury concerning a teenage boy in Canada has recently gained the media’s attention as well. The 17-year-old boy vaped “intensively,” adding THC to his devices. He initially showed symptoms aligning with bronchiolitis (lung condition normally caused by a bacterial or viral infection), but many patients that have vape-related illnesses in the United States have experienced damage to the alveoli; this type of injury was not found. Instead, his case aligned more with an injury called “popcorn lung,” an ailment most commonly seen in factory workers of microwave popcorn plants nearly 20 years ago. This new vape-related case calls for further exploration into the toxicity of vape liquid, as the patient’s condition could have been caused by the THC added to the vaping devices, or the chemical that affected factory workers in the past - diacetyl. Diacetyl is present in many e-cigarette flavors [14]. The American Lung Association has called for the FDA to require that diacetyl and other hazardous chemicals be removed from e-cigarette cartridges.
What is the purpose of vaping?
Vaping was initially marketed as a smoking cessation aid to help with cessation of cigarette smoking. E-cigarettes first took public attention in the mass media for unexpectedly blowing up, causing burns and severe facial damage [6]. In the past decade, a number of alternative vaping products have rapidly gained consumer demand, especially in, adolescents, due to the belief that they are much safer (lower nicotine content) than traditional cigarettes, choice of advertisements different flavors and ease of access to electronic nicotine delivery systems (such as e-cigarettes and vape pens). Except for menthol, the use of flavor additives has been banned from traditional cigarettes, whereas e-cigarettes are marketed in over 7,000 different flavors. Many of those flavors are found in candy and popular soft drinks and, because adolescents are familiar with such flavors, e-cigarettes are appealing to them. Tobacco smoking is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction in a causative and dose-dependent manner [7]. Data from 5,400 smokers and 2,025 former smokers have found that the average number of cigarettes smoked per day by people who regularly used e-cigarettes fell by 4.4 over about two years, compared with only 2.7 for those who did not use e-cigarettes. Sixty-seven percent more e-cigarette users than non-users quit smoking altogether. However, there were 70% more relapses among former smokers who used e-cigarettes than among those who did not use the devices [8].
How many deaths from vaping in 2019?
As of November 13, 2019, there were 2,172 confirmed and probable lung injury cases "associated with the use of e-cigarette or vaping, products as reported by 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as reported by the CDC. 42 deaths have been confirmed in 24 states and the District of Columbia: Alabama, California (4), Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia (3), Illinois (4), Indiana (4), Kansas (2), Massachusetts (2), Michigan, Minnesota (3), Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon (2), Pennsylvania, Tennessee (2), Texas, Utah, and Virginia" [21]. Vaping, may also have harmful psychological effects with a strong association between vaping, major depression and suicidal behavior as reported in a large new study [22]. The likely contributing culprit, nicotine. Prevalence of lung disease attributable to vaping is likely under reported as cases brought to the CDC are some of the most severe. For now EVALI remains a diagnosis that is made after exclusion of other conditions and needs to be reported to the CDC.
When were electronic cigarettes invented?
Electronic cigarettes were first developed in China in the early 2000s and introduced to the US market in 2007 [5]. In the US, the product experienced explosive growth, with the number of electronic cigarette users doubling every year between 2008 and 2012. While traditional cigarettes are smoked through combustion, e-cigarettes are "vaped," and the resultant aerosols potentially contain a reduced number of potentially toxic chemicals, such as nicotine and flavorings such as diacetyl and cinnamaldehyde, as well as byproducts such as formaldehyde and acrolein caused by the potential overheating of propylene glycol, and glycerin.
Does vaping affect the lungs?
The evidence on how vitamin E acetate affects the lungs of vape users is notable because vitamin E acetate has been acknowledged as a majorly harmful chemical that may be contributing to vape-related illnesses and deaths. Lung scans have revealed different outlines of lung parenchyma suggesting possible different processes in injury. One pattern points to lipoid pneumonia which can occur with lipid containing ingredients or oils aerosolized into the airways causing inflammation and compromised function [17]. The respiratory epithelium has a complicated network of extracellular membranes essential for breathing and survival. Surfactant membranes form a stable monolayer at the air-liquid interface, reducing the surface tension at the air-liquid interface, therefore stabilizing the lung against collapse and helping lungs expand. Oil in the lung interferes with this ordered/disordered lipid phase coexistence in lung surfactant with alterations in phase coexistence [18]. The American Medical Association has made calls for a ban on vaping products, and Washington state has now banned vape products containing vitamin E acetate, thought to be linked to illness [19-20]. Although the substance is not banned in the United States and has not been officially declared as a deadly substance, many states are making advances to ban the use of the chemical in vape products. States like Massachusetts are considering a ban on flavored tobacco and vape products, and in New York, Manhattan is expected to become the largest city to ban all vaping flavors except tobacco. Other states that have already banned the use of vitamin E acetate in vape products include Colorado and Ohio. Greater public awareness of this deadly condition helps with implementing comprehensive, population-based interventions for this preventable disease.
Is vaping dangerous?
CDC has detected vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern among people with the lung injury. Vitamin E acetate is a condensing agent in vaping products, and all injured lung fluid samples appear to harbor this agent. The mysterious outbreak is identified in individuals vaping within the 90 days, ranging over a few days to developing over several weeks. There is growing evidence that vaping is hazardous to your health including immediate health dangers such as death from respiratory causes, long term health effects, cardiovascular events, depression which increases the risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide. This review article summarizes the growing knowledge of acute respiratory complications associated with vaping.
Does vaping cause lung injury?
The New York Times recently reported an analysis of lung fluid samples from 29 patients with vaping-related illnesses (including two who died), and the analysis suggests that vitamin E acetate is a "very strong culprit" in causing lung injuries. The lung fluid samples were collected from patients across the United States so that these findings may have implications nationwide. Moreover, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, explained, “For the first time, we have detected a potential toxin of concern, vitamin E acetate, from biological samples from patients… The analysis provided evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury in the lungs” [15]. Vitamin E acetate is sticky, giving it the ability to remain in the lungs. THC was also reported to be found in 82% of samples from 28 patients, which was remarkable as THC tends to leave the lungs quickly [16].
Does vaping put you at risk?
Vaping manufacturers knowingly put you at risk
Does the FDA regulate nicotine vapes?
The FDA oversees Vitamin E acetate's usage as a supplement in lotions and regulates tobacco-related products, including nicotine vape products. 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 at the federal level.
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, ...
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.
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 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 ...
How many people died from vaping?
As has been the case for months, the vast majority of patients reported vaping THC. As it stands, there have been more than 2,000 cases of lung illnesses and 39 deaths associated with vaping. The most common factor among those who have fallen ill over the past three months is that they vaped black market THC products, often bought off the street or from friends. Unfortunately, the CDC has been consistently ambiguous on the question of whether or not commercially available e-cigarettes containing nicotine are responsible for the outbreak. It is clear they are not responsible.
Can e-cigarettes cause lung injury?
But the CDC persisted in saying it couldn’t rule out regular e-cigarettes as a cause of the outbreak. As late as Nov. 1, the CDC advised: “because the specific compound or ingredient causing lung injury is not yet known, and while the investigation continues, persons should consider refraining from the use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products.”
What are the ingredients in vape juice?
The main ingredients in vape juice are PG and VG - that’s propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. There is no reason for any manufacture to add any other chemicals to their products unless of course they are an underground company that doesn't care about the well being of the public. According to the study that found Vitamin E Acetate in the lungs of patients, there were no traces of vegetable oils or minerals like the we use in our products found in their lungs. This is most likely because the chemicals have been absorbed properly by the body.
What chemical is responsible for vaping deaths?
Recently, they’ve discovered the chemical they believe to be responsible for the deaths was Vitamin E Acetate.
Is Vitamin E Acetate found in vaping?
Journalists aren’t talking about all vaping products: tests have found that the lung malfunctions are associated with the chemical Vitamin E Acetate. This chemical isn’t found in high-quality vaping products like Hot Juice.
Is vaping bad for your lungs?
There are countless reports with headlines like: ‘Vaping is Associated with Dangerous Lung Disease’ and other generalisations about the dangers of vaping. It is true that scientists have found chemicals found in certain vape juices inside the lungs of patients. Cited in the New York Times, Dr. Anne Schuchat said: “For the first time, we have detected a potential toxin of concern, vitamin E acetate, from biological samples from patients,” however, delve deeper into the articles and you realise that there are a lot of caveats.
What is the culprit in vaping?
Vitamin E acetate is a key culprit in the vaping illness outbreak. The sticky chemical has been found in samples taken from people who got sick or died from vaping-related illness. By Julia Belluz @juliaoftoronto Nov 11, 2019, 10:30am EST. Share this story.
What is vitamin E acetate used for?
And vitamin E acetate has reportedly been used as a cheap cutting agent by illicit cannabis suppliers.
Is there direct evidence of vitamin E acetate in the lungs?
But Schuchat also emphasized the CDC’s investigation isn’t over: Officials still can’ t say for sure that vitamin E acetate is the source of harm in all cases.
Is it safe to inhale vitamin E?
The chemical is a synthetic form of vitamin E, and it’s used — safely — in nutritional supplements and skin creams. But it isn’t safe to inhale. Sticky and honey-like, it can hang around in the lungs, health officials said, interfering with how they function. Samples taken from 29 patients in 10 states, for a CDC Mortality and Morbidity Weekly report released Friday, found the chemical in all samples, while other potential toxins — such as plant and mineral oils — weren’t. It’s “direct evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury within the lungs,” Schuchat said.
Why do we use terpenes in vape pens?
Instead we use cannabis-derived terpenes in all of our vape pens to reduce the viscosity of cannabis extracts for vaping.
What is the THC in vaping?
On September 6, 2019, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer/health professional MedWatch safety alert titled, “ Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing Vaping Products: Vaping Illnesses .” Also on September 6, the CDC issued an investigation notice regarding a multi-state outbreak of severe pulmonary disease associated with vaping or e-cigarette use. At the time of this first notice, over 450 possible cases of lung illness had been reported, along with 5 confirmed deaths. As of publication, reported cases have increased to 2,051 with a death toll of 39.
How many vaping deaths are there in 2019?
Basics, News, Products. As of November 5, 2019, 2,051 cases of vaping-related lung injury have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thirty-nine deaths have also been confirmed.
Is vitamin E acetate a substance?
Vitamin E acetate is a substance present in topical consumer products or dietary supplements, but data are limited about its effects after inhalation.
Can you inhale vitamin E acetate?
While the FDA does not have enough data presently to conclude that Vitamin E acetate is the cause of the lung injury in these cases, the agency believes it is prudent to avoid inhaling this substance.
Can you use THC oil in vaping?
Because consumers cannot be sure whether any THC vaping products may contain Vitamin E acetate, consumers are urged to avoid buying vaping products from the street, and to refrain from using THC oil or modifying/adding any substances to products purchased in stores.
Does Florida medical marijuana contain vitamin E?
Fortunately, Florida medical marijuana products undergo strict third-party testing procedures, with a majority of dispensaries confirming that their products do not contain vitamin E acetate.
What is an e-cigarette?
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 is vitamin E acetate?
Vitamin E acetate is used as an additive, most notably in THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Vitamin E is a vitamin found in many foods, including vegetable oils, cereals, meat, fruits, and vegetables. It is also available as a dietary supplement and in many cosmetic products, like skin creams.
How to contact CDC about e-cigarettes?
If you have questions about CDC’s investigation into the lung injuries associated with use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, contact CDC-INFO or call 1-800-232-4636.
Is vitamin E acetate linked to the eli outbreak?
Vitamin E acetate is strongly linked to the EVALI outbreak. Vitamin E acetate has been found in product samples tested by FDA and state laboratories and in patient lung fluid samples tested by CDC from geographically diverse states. Vitamin E acetate has not been found in the lung fluid of people that do not have EVALI.
When is the next vaping hospital admission?
Dates of symptom onset and hospital admission for patients with lung injury associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping — United States, March 31, 2019–February 15, 2020. Numbers do not sum to 2,807 due to missing admission dates.
When will vaping peak?
Emergency department (ED) visits related to e-cigarette, or vaping, products continue to decline, after sharply increasing in August 2019 and peaking in September.
Who monitors e-cigarettes?
CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners are continuing to monitor e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
