In a Washington Post article, the recent spike in vaping related illness may be tied to contaminates within the product.
The article notes, State and federal health authorities are focusing on the role of contaminants or counterfeit substances as a likely cause of vaping-related lung illnesses — now up to 354 possible cases in 29 states, nearly double the number reported to be under investigation last week.
The possible cause may be narrowed down to adulterants in vaping products purported to have THC, the component in marijuana that makes users high, as well as adulterants in nicotine vaping products.
Federal and state officials are urging the millions of Americans who use e-cigarettes to stop vaping until the cause of the illnesses is identified.
According to the Centers for Disease Control website, the CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping.
Though they don’t yet know the specific chemical exposure(s) causing lung injuries associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping, or which product or substance has been linked to all lung injury cases, they are recommending you consider refraining from using e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly those containing THC.
However, they have reported what they do know:
- There are 805* lung injury cases reported from 46 states and 1 U.S. territory. Twelve deaths have been confirmed in 10 states.
- All reported patients have a history of e-cigarette product use or vaping.
- The latest findings from the investigation into lung injuries associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping, suggest products containing THC play a role in the outbreak.
It is also recommended that people trying to quit smoking by using vaping not return to smoking.
To help any employee in need, we offer a smoking cessation program. Not only can these programs save employers money, but it will also reduce the rate of absenteeism from health-related issues associated with smoking and “smoke breaks.” Also, you may notice a decrease in co-worker complaints from the elimination or minimization of second-hand smoke.
