A “breakthrough” in the investigation of vaping illness and death, EVALI, has been announced by Federal health officials and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).
MedScape reported that Anne Schuchat, MD, CDC principal deputy director, said, “These findings provide direct evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury within the lung,” Schuchat reported. The lung findings are consistent with product testing that found vitamin E acetate in product samples used by EVALI patients.
Vitamin E acetate usually does not cause harm when swallowed as a vitamin supplement or applied topically to the skin, but previous research has suggested that it may interfere with normal lung function when inhaled, Schuchat said.
2,051 cases of vaping illness, EVALI, have been reported in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and US Virgin Islands. 39 people have died.
