E-cigs, vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, mods, tanks and
electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). What do these devices all have in
common? They are all a form of e-cigarettes that people utilize for “vaping” or
“juuling”. When these devices first came out, it was widely speculated that
vaping was safer than smoking a regular cigarette. But as time goes on and more
reports on vaping come to light, utilizing vaping devices for smoking could
potentially be incredibly dangerous.
E-cigarettes can contain harmful substances that can
include nicotine, heavy metals such as lead, volatile organic compounds, and
cancer-causing substances. Some of these e-cigarette products are also used to
deliver illicit or illegal substances such as THC or cannabinoid compounds.
Furthermore, data has also shown many THC based vaping products are created
illegally and there is no way for officials to regulate the products or know
what ingredients are included. This makes it even harder to identify what is the
ultimate culprit in these vaping products that is causing potentially
life-threatening pulmonary illnesses.
As of September 6, 2019, the CDC has reported 450
possible cases from 33 different states including five deaths regarding
pulmonary illnesses that have been linked to vaped nicotine or cannabis-related
products. Many of these cases involving patients falling ill used
cannabis-derived vaping products. A few reported using nicotine-based only.
Symptoms reported include:
·
Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
·
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
·
Fatigue, fever, or weight loss
Some patients stated that symptoms came about within a
few days, while others have reported that their symptoms developed over several
weeks. The CDC stated that no infectious causes have been identified at this
time, but they believe it has to do with some type of chemical exposure. To
view the preliminary research by the CDC so far, please click on this link.
Health officials are urging people to stop using vaping products until more
data is available.
If you or someone you know is having any of these
symptoms or have any concerns about this issue, please call the Texas Poison Center Network for
assistance and/or information at 1-800-222-1222.
They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your concerns.
To view PSAs created by the Upstate New York Poison Center, click on the links below.
