**Breaking** Contaminant found responsible for Vaping Deaths

[hlthe2b]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2019/09/05/contaminant-found-vaping-products-linked-deadly-lung-illnesses-state-federal-labs-show/


Health
Contaminant found in vaping products linked to deadly lung illnesses, state and federal labs show

State and federal health officials investigating mysterious lung illnesses linked to vaping have found the same chemical in samples of marijuana products used by people sickened in different parts of the country and who used different brands of products in recent weeks.

The chemical is an oil derived from vitamin E. Investigators at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found the oil in cannabis products in samples collected from patients who fell ill across the country. FDA officials shared that information with state health officials during a telephone briefing this week, according to several officials who took part in the call.

That same chemical was also found in nearly all cannabis samples from patients who fell ill in New York in recent weeks, a state health department spokeswoman said.

Vitamin E is found naturally in certain foods, such as canola oil, olive oil and almonds. The oil derived from the vitamin, known as vitamin E acetate, is commonly available as a nutritional supplement and is used in topical skin treatments. It is not known to cause harm when ingested as a vitamin supplement or applied to the skin. Its name sounds harmless, experts said, but its molecular structure could make it hazardous when inhaled. Its oil-like properties could be associated with the kinds of respiratory symptoms that many patients have reported: cough, shortness of breath and chest pain, officials said.

“We knew from earlier testing by New York that they had found vitamin E acetate, but to have FDA talk about it from their overall testing plan, that was the most remarkable thing that we heard,” said one official who took part in the briefing who was not authorized to speak publicly.

--more--

[Johnny2X2X]

1. No regulation lead to deaths

This was the wild wild west for the last decade or more. I knew people who ran dozens of the early e-cigarette stores in MI, they bought their ingredients from China on the internet by the barrel and were mixing them with flavoring in their basement. There was zero oversight and now people are dying.

How it got to the point where it was so widespread with no quality controls is criminal. These are chemicals that needed to be tested for purity, instead they went right on the market for people to inhale into their lungs.

[hlthe2b]

2. I agree totally. I'm forever grateful I never smoked cigarettes and thus was never tempted to vape

But, I surely have seen what a temptation it has been for teens and younger adults, having been all but marketed to them.

[marble falls]

3. I got my cancer from other people smoking cigarettes.

[hlthe2b]

4. Sadly, this is the second cruel wave from the "smoking wars" and decades of corporate greed.

I hope you are doing well

[marble falls]

5. Better, but I've had years stolen. I haven't tried vaping because it seems under studied.

[calimary]

41. Glad you're still here with us.

[marble falls]

42. I'm here till the end. I've already gotten someone who will put my name on the memoriam list ...

I will be in good company, indeed.

[hlthe2b]

45. I hope you (and all here) are around for a very long time AFTER we get rid of Trump

I think we deserve to experience a much better time period before it is all over for us all.

to your health

[marble falls]

46. We'll have a beer together after the election. That alone will keep me horizontal into 2021.

[aggiesal]

18. But this is what Republicans want ...

let the market sort itself out.
Who cares how many they kill along the way.
Once word gets out about the bad vapes, people will stop
buying that vape, and the company that makes the vape will
stop producing it, or go out of business.
Simple!

Do I need to add the sarcasm thingee?

[GulfCoast66]

43. Unless I read the article wrong the product causing the problem is illegal in most states.

It is illegal in most places since the problem was THC vape.

But I agree with your overall premise. All this vaping shit needs to be as tightly regulated as any other drug.

[JCMach1]

6. Street THC vape (illegal in most places) cut with Vitamin E Oil

[BootinUp]

7. Interesting and deadly I guess. Glad I stayed away

From that kind of stuff.

[Mariana]

10. It's always a good idea to stay away from street drugs. nt.

[BootinUp]

17. I always think of a line from some movie, oh yes,

Roadhouse. When Swayzie takes over at the double deuce, “we have far too many trusties of modern chemistry...”

[Mariana]

34. Modern chemistry is one thing.

Street dealers cutting their "products" with who knows what is something else altogether.

[BootinUp]

50. I guess you had to see the scene to get it. Nt

[Blue_true]

56. That has been a historical problem with street dealers.

It is about maximizing the money to them, so they have no concern with cutting something that isn't in itself hazardous with cheaper potentially dangerous additives.

[eShirl]

8. that's the general idea: some are cutting it with cheap thickening agents

https://www.leafly.com/news/health/vape-pen-lung-disease-thc-oil-additive-investigation

-snip-

New ‘Thick’ Cutting Agents Under Scrutiny

Industry insiders who track the legal and illegal vape cart markets closely tell Leafly that a new type of additive started showing up in late 2018, and has since become widely used in underground markets. It’s a novel class of odorless, tasteless thickening agents. These liquids come in different proprietary formulations manufactured by both legal, above-board companies and by shadowy underground operations.

This new additive may or may not play a role in the current health crisis. But it is one of the major new ingredients in illegal vape cart oil in widespread use this summer.

-snip-

[Qutzupalotl]

24. Thanks for this. Unfortunately, there has been one death in Oregon

“believed” to be related to vaping legal cannabis.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/person-us-dies-lung-disease-linked-vaping/story?id=65405350

Here is the Oregon Health Authority statement:

"We don’t yet know the exact cause of these illnesses — whether they’re caused by contaminants, ingredients in the liquid or something else, such as the device itself," said Ann Thomas, M.D., public health physician at OHA’s Public Health Division.

more:
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/State-Investigating-Death-Severe-Lung-Illness-Link-Vaping.aspx

[tymorial]

51. It's not just street level. Numerous reports have highlighted contaminants

And counterfeit products even in licensed stores. Vaping is basically taking it on faith that the product sold wont poison/kill you. That doesnt even address the lack of regulation and standards on pens and other vaping devices.

[underpants]

52. I know someone who does that now

Long time everyday pot smoke. Switched to vape not too long ago. I was quite surprised. He's been married to his bong for 30 years.

[Blue_true]

54. All plants, including Pot naturally contain Vitamin E. Maybe more was added? nt

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Dozens of people here yesterday saw little problem with its safety

Last edited Thu Sep 5, 2019, 05:38 PM - Edit history (1)

Regulation was the problem.

Nice to know they are finding what is causing these people to be sick.

People have been hospitalized with lung infections due to vaping, but it's totally safe!

Must have been using a Sharpie.

[Mariana]

11. Link to that thread, please? nt.

[bucolic_frolic]

19. With pleasure

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2363455

[Mariana]

28. Are you sure that's the right thread

in which, you say, "Dozens of people here yesterday said it was totally safe"?

No one said that on that thread. The word "safe" appears nowhere, nor do any of its synonyms. And there weren't dozens of people posting on that thread in the first place.

[OilemFirchen]

16. Who?

Where?

[bucolic_frolic]

21. On this post about the initial executive order from Michigan's Governor

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2363455

[OilemFirchen]

22. I'm quite familiar with that OP. I wrote it.

Where are the "dozens of people here yesterday (who) said it was totally safe"? Where is even one?

You should be ashamed.

[bucolic_frolic]

26. Read the posts.

"This is done out of ignorance" ... "From my cold dead hands" ... "virtue signaling of the first order" ... "nanny state" ... "Part II" ... "Of course 13 year olds never smoke cigarettes"

Okay so they implied it was safe and that regulation was the problem. But still. No one was convincing them there could be risks.

[OilemFirchen]

29. ...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2363498

I don't have the link

But those cases of lipid pneumonia are associated with THC type vaping and not traditional vaping. But honestly, if this was their concern they would ban vaping altogether, and not just flavors. The tobacco industry benefits from flavor bans.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2363517

The recent rise in acute vaping-related disease

Appears to be related to additives containing THC (often sold illegally and manufactured by drug dealers) and not by companies selling the OTC vaping chemicals.

[Mariana]

27. No one said that. It's a lie. nt.

[OilemFirchen]

30. Goes without saying.

I was just wondering if the interlocutor was going to double-down on it.

Not shocked by the layering of lies, TBH.

[Mariana]

33. Speaking of which, the headline of this OP

doesn't match the one for the article linked.

[OilemFirchen]

35. It's not LBN.

The WP headline is quite lengthy (a pet peeve of mine). I think this one is a good summation.

Most importantly, the story confirms what many have been surmising since this story cropped up some time ago (including myself) - that the illnesses were not related to vaping, but, rather, to the street juice being vaped.

[Mariana]

36. "Linked to" does not mean the same thing as "responsible for".

So, it is misleading. This contaminant they've discovered *may* have caused the illnesses, but they don't seem to be making that assertion as yet.

[OilemFirchen]

38. Okay. I see.

You are correct.

[yaesu]

32. its all new, they have been saying for years that we don't know how vaping will effect us

like vitamin E becoming a toxin when heated and inhaled.

[LuckyCharms]

40. Vitamin E oil is normally not use as the liquid base for normal vaping.

The two agents that are used are either Propylene Glycol or Vegetable Glycerin.

Vitamin E oil is apparently contained in vaping items bought off the street.

Anything bought off the street needs to be avoided.

Problem solved.

[oldsoftie]

12. I'll never understand the desire to inhale smoke/vapor/etc. idiocy.

[Skittles]

14. smoking is an addiction

vaping was supposed to be a tool to aid in quitting nicotine, but it became some kind of fad

I agree, it is ridiculous.....and I say this as someone who smoked for a long time...I quit before the vaping crap started

[JonLP24]

49. It has helped me & others quit smoking cigarettes

These days I'm down to lozenges.

[Skittles]

13. bottom line is

maybe you should only be sucking air into your lungs

[Codeine]

39. Not a complex concept

and yet one which seems to baffle many.

[ismnotwasm]

15. Generally, moist and dark and warm spaces

Without natural or other regulation, when foreign substances are introduced lead to bacteria.

I’m very glad they identified this however.

If I was going to use marijuana again, I’d use an edible first. Vaping would be the very last. I used to get bronchitis from smoking anything, so that’s would be out for me personally.

[yellowwoodII]

20. Let's Face It

Any form of tobacco is addicting, and, at best, it isn't healthy. It shouldn't be advertised, and it shouldn't be marketed to young people. If it helps some addicted smoker, good for him. But we don't need more sick people.

[OilemFirchen]

25. There is no tobacco in vaping juice.

Other than these clusters of individuals who vaped street drugs, where is there evidence that vaping causes "more sick people"?

[Callmecrazy]

23. I knew there had to be something wrong with the juice...

For all those people to get sick at once from vaping, it had to be in the juice. Not in the act of vaping itself.
I quit smoking 5 years ago and picked up vaping shortly after and I've never had any kind of medical problem that was caused by vaping. I only buy the commercial juice that is made in USA.

[Mariana]

31. The article a couple of weeks ago described a sick man

who bought his vape illegally on the street. It could have had literally anything in it.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212377814

[Hekate]

37. Who could possibly have imagined that the purveyors of nicotine in a new form...

...would only want you to be addicted and not care if you died?

[Mariana]

47. All of the sick people were vaping THC, not nicotine.

Some or perhaps all of them bought their vapes illegally. Nicotine and its purveyors had nothing to do with these cases.

[hlthe2b]

44. So much news today, I'm not sure this was even covered by the network nightly news programs...

Seems an important story though, so perhaps tomorrow?

[Mariana]

48. I imagine that when they determine

what caused the illnesses and deaths, it will be more widely reported. In the meantime, according to the article:

While this is the first common element found in samples from across the country, health officials said it is too early to know whether this is causing the injuries.

[Blue_true]

53. All plant oils contain Vitamin E naturally.

It is extracted from some plants because of it's relative abundance. So if vapers have oil in them, they have Vitamin E ( the same can be said for tobacco, if you dry tobacco and compress it, you will get an oil yield, that oil contains some vitamin E ). I don't know how vapers work, so I have no idea of why the vitamin E becomes dangerous, vitamin E is in oils that are regularly used in vapor inhalers, but those oils come with a water vapor stream.

[hlthe2b]

55. They can differentiate naturally occuring vitamin e from synthetic via chemical fingerprint

These are not yet final determinative causal findings, but the labs being used are excellent to differentiate a contaminant from plant material.