Common Illnesses Associated with Vaping

Vaping began to rise in popularity in the Summer of 2019, especially among teenagers and young adults. However, by February 2020, the CDC reported nearly 3,000 injuries requiring hospitalization associated with vaping.[1] Over 1/3 of the individuals hospitalized with vaping injuries are between 18 and 24 years old.[2] The vaping injury epidemic for America’s youth is worsening as the long-term health effects of vaping are surfacing in young adults. Some of the common illnesses associated with vaping are:

• Popcorn lung: Popcorn lung is the colloquial name for bronchiolitis obliterans, or the scarring of the tiny air sacs in the lungs which causes the airways to narrow and thicken.[3] Popcorn lung is caused by the inhalation of diacetyl, a toxic ingredient found in cigarette vapor.[4] Diacetyl is used by e-cigarette companies in flavoring e-cigarette pods like vanilla, maple, and coconut.[5] The food and Drug Administration’s requirement that e-cigarette companies submit their products for FDA review does not kick in until 2022, meaning e-cigarette pods with diacetyl will still be on the market until then.[6] Popcorn Lung is characterized by coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.[7] It is a serious and life-threatening condition.
• EVALI: E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) is an inflammatory response in the lungs triggered by inhaling various, and often toxic, substances.[8] EVALI can evolve into various other conditions, including pneumonia, damage to lung alveoli, or fibrinous pneumonitis.[9] EVALI is strongly linked to e-cigarette products with THC, Vitamin E Acetate (an oil derivative used in vaping products, like JUUL products from South Korea, to thicken the product), triglycerides, plant oils, petroleum distillates and diluent terpenes which are all present in various e-cigarette products.[10] Humectants, flavoring products, heating ingredients, and heavy metals found in the heating coils of refillable cartridges are also linked to EVALI.[11]
• Birth Defects: Vaping nicotine products while pregnant is harmful to unborn babies and increases the risk of miscarriage, complications during pregnancy, premature birth, low birthweight, abnormal brain development, abnormal lung function, lower respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome.[12]
• Increased Cancer Risk: Since vaping dependence is still a fairly new phenomenon, research on the link between vaping and cancer is still developing. However, vaping is linked to an increased risk of lung, oral, and bladder cancer.[13] Nicotine from e-cigarette vapor has shown to damage DNA, limit DNA repair, and enhance cell mutation in early studies conducted on animals.[14] The last effects of vaping on cancer risks may take years to develop.[15]

If you used vaping or e-cigarette products and experienced one or more of the aforementioned illnesses, a vaping company may be liable for your injuries. If you were injured from the use of vaping or e-cigarette products, please contact Michael P. Bonner, Esq. at mbonner@bonner-law.com or call us at 305-676-8800 for a free consultation. Mr. Bonner is an attorney has over 30 years of experience in personal injury litigation.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html

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‍[3] https://www.lung.org/blog/popcorn-lung-risk-ecigs

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‍[8] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/evali-new-information-on-vaping-induced-lung-injury-2020040319359

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‍[12] https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/prenatal/Pages/E-Cigarette-Use-During-Pregnancy-Breastfeeding.aspx

‍[13] https://www.healthline.com/health/can-vaping-cause-cancer#nicotine-vs-non-nicotine

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