Vaping-related illnesses cases linked to inhaling Vitamin E and THC
REDDING, Calif. — There are questions being raised in connection to vaping related illnesses and deaths across the country, but is it vaping in general, or the substance being inhaled?
According to the CDC, there have been around 380 cases of lung illnesses reported in 36 states including California, with all reported cases having a history of e-cigarette usage.
However, local vape store owners said the substances related to lung illnesses are not being sold in vape stores; and that vaping products containing vitamin E and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are causing the illnesses.
According to the FDA, "Many of the samples tested by states or by the FDA as part of this ongoing investigation, have been identified as vaping products containing THC, and further, most of those samples with THC tested, also contained significant amounts of vitamin E acetate."
"It's horrible that these things are happening but it has absolutely nothing to do with flavors or vaping in general. It has to do with illicit use of illegal drugs in vaping products and not electronic cigarettes and that e-liquid as we use them; to help save lives that is 95% less harmful than the deadly combustible cigarette, according to the Royal College of Physician of London in the UK," Jeff Hess, co-owner of Nor Cal Vape said.
The FDA said it does not have enough data to conclude vitamin E is causing the lung illnesses in these cases, but advises to avoid inhaling the substance.
Local health experts said in general, people should not inhale any substances like vitamin E.
"Ingesting vitamin E is good, but not smoking it. It's an oil based, right? So oil can't be good for the lungs at all. It depends on particle size because you're basically, you know, you're lungs scrub out three microns by the time it gets into your air sacks, so if it's at that size or lower , you're damaging your air sacks that are super delicate," said David Koenig, Respiratory Director at Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding.
The Center of Disease Control said patients in the cases have a history of e-cigarette product use and there's not consistent evidence of an infectious cause, however the suspected cause is chemical exposure.