The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health and safety agencies are investigating a rise in vaping-related illnesses. There have been 153 possible cases a severe lung illness associated with vaping. Illnesses have been reported in 16 states over the past several months and one death in Illinois.
Common symptoms reported by patients include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and/or chest pain before hospitalization. Some have gastrointestinal illnesses that include vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. Symptoms appeared to rapidly worsen over a period of days or weeks before requiring medical care.
The most serious hazard with vaping is an explosion of the vape causing gruesome injuries to the face, teeth and jaw.
Vaping exposes users to substances for which we have little information, including flavorings, nicotine, cannabinoids and solvents. Like many toxic chemicals, we suspect that while individual chemicals may be safe, but when they are combined the resulting mixture can be hazardous because of multiplier effects and in some cases a synergy, i.e. a combined effect many times greater than a simple multiplier effect.
The CDC has been warning about the potential dangers of e-cigs since they first came on the scene. A lack of regulatory oversight of the vaping and e-cig industry has also meant a lack of research of the dangers of vaping, which has largely been used by teenagers who are addicted to the nicotine that comes in “fun flavors.” It is a national disgrace.
State and county health officials are calling on doctors and hospitals to report any vaping and e-cig patients with lung disease to the CDC.
Alexander Law Group, LLP attorneys are always ready to answer questions and share the results of our research and experience with the public. As safety lawyers, our goal is to make a difference for our clients and our community.
