Mystery Vaping Illness?

Nationwide, a mysterious respiratory illness has descended among e-cigarette users, claiming at least 215 victims so far, most in their late teens to twenties. Some have already died while other patients’ conditions have deteriorated to the point where they need to be put on a ventilator in order to survive. Investigators are now scrambling to find a cause to this mystery scourge, have vaping products been contaminated, or is the illness a consequence of heavy vaping? Researcher Thomas Eissenburg believes that oil additives getting into the lungs is the main cause for the respiratory issues that have become common as of late.

The illness has been a PR nightmare for both the e-cigarette and legal marijuana industry. Both industries are now trying to protect their products’ reputation and blame unregulated vape products as the culprit for this disease. These bootleg vape products are particularly dangerous because of their widespread availability and lack of government oversight. Organizations like the CDC have put out warnings against using them. Many of these products contain dangerous contaminants such as vegetable oil which harms the lungs when inhaled. More government involvement and regulation are needed to ensure the safety of vape products. However, the best way to protect yourself from this illness is to not vape in the first place.