Over the course of this past year, the FDA and other health officials have been investigating the various culprits that may be linked to the multitude of vaping-related illnesses that have surged all over the nation. Since 2017, according to the FDA, there has been an extreme influx in the so called ‘vaping epidemic’, product use ranging from middle schoolers to adults in their later years. Despite significant attempts to dwindle the marketing campaigns of these corporations, the FDA has not succeeded in the popular usage amongst teenagers and young adults.

Earlier this year, the FDA suggested the culprit of this ‘vaping epidemic’ was due to the substance known as vitamin E acetate. The chemical is used as a sort of thickening agent in an assortment of vaping products, and was discovered in the lung fluid collected from a sample of 29 patients that had been diagnosed with such vaping-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vitamin E acetate is known to be used in a variety of products, such as dermal skin creams and supplements, however does not appear to cause harm when used as a topical product or swallowed. With recent findings however, it has been found to cause significant disfunction in the lungs when inhaled.

This recent development, which was hinted at earlier in the year, has been associated with the many cases in the outbreak that has occurred nationally over the past year.  As of December 3, 2019, a total of 2,291 cases involving e-cigarette and vaping products has been reported to the CDC from across the nation.e

Initially, both the CDC and FDA had been linking the disease to e-cigarettes and other nicotine related products, however they are now confirming that the vitamin E acetate had been discovered in many products containing THC, or the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that gives users a high.

Labs have found the chemical in 28 of 29 samples taken, and 16 of 26 in vaping related products. Most laboratories found that the chemical tested positive in many cannabinoids versus nicotine products.  The presence of this chemical in these products is believed to be added as a thickener and or filler to dilute the product in order to compensate for the mass production of these items.

Health officials are continually urging the public to abandon the use of all e-cigarette and vaping related products, as well as to stay away from using such THC products that come from an unregulated source.