Avancée majeure dans l'enquête sur l’éclosion d’une mystérieuse maladie pulmonaire aux Etats-Unis

Introduction


The CDC, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many other U.S. health organizations recently informed the public that a serious new and mysterious lung disease was due to the use of e-cigarettes. The press seized this information to publish scary headlines. However, with the first analysis results just in, the truth is out, and everything starts to make sense.

Illegal THC liquids incriminated


On Thursday, September 5, 2019 Dr. Siegel, Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, published the first analyses results from liquids that were vaped by patients with this mysterious disease.

Illicit THC bottles from several of these patients have been tested in different federal or state laboratories. They tested positive for vitamin E acetate. An oil that started being used late last year, as a thickening agent in THC vaping liquids.

In the state of New York, this substance was found in at least one of the bottles used by each patient. Almost simultaneously, tests conducted by the FDA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, revealed the presence of vitamin E acetate in 10 of the 18 samples tested. More importantly, the FDA indicated that they found no contamination with the nicotine e-liquids tested.

As a reminder, THC is tetrahydrocannabinol, the most abundant and present cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, and with psychoactive properties.

Avancée majeure dans l'enquête sur l’éclosion d’une mystérieuse maladie pulmonaire aux Etats-Unis



We’re still waiting on the results of analysis from other states.
However, we already known that in California, New Mexico and Wisconsin 54 of the 57 cases reported till last week, confirmed they had consumed THC oil in their e-cigarettes.

Drug trafficking involved


Although there are still many unknown factors, the pieces of the puzzle are slowly beginning to fall into place. Nicotine e-liquids have been on the market for many years and used by millions of vapers, with no problems reported up to now.

However, at the end of last year, an important change happened in the drug trafficking industry concerning the illegal trading of THC e-liquids. It appears that a new thickening agent is now being used and, apparently, this new agent would be vitamin E acetate.

This acetate, also known as tocopherol, is a thickening agent commonly used in cosmetics, including skin cleansers. But, according to Dr. Siegel, late last year, it apparently began to be used to thicken THC oil. An initial hypothesis would be that this thickener was probably used to hide the fact that the mixture had been heavily diluted. Reducing the amount of actual THC in the purchased product.

The presence of tocopherol acetate would help explain why the examined lung diseases are so severe, and why patients' lungs no longer function as a result.

The facts


As explained in the Washington Post: "Vitamin E acetate is basically grease, said Michelle Francl, a chemistry professor at Bryn Mawr College. Its molecular structure means that “you have to heat it up pretty hot” for it to vaporize.

Its boiling point is 363 degrees Fahrenheit (184°C), which is well above the 212 degree F (100°C) boiling point for water, and nearly four times higher than normal human body temperature. Once the oil is heated hot enough to vaporize, it can potentially decompose and “now you’re breathing in who-knows-what. When that vapor cools down in the lungs, it returns to its original state at that temperature and pressure, which means “it has now coated the inside of your lungs with that oil”.



It is not difficult to imagine why the lungs would stop working if they became coated with grease or oil.

The situation is serious and health authorities are not warning the public in clear and precise terms. Instead of demonizing electronic cigarettes and vaping, which is still a great tool to quit smoking, these authorities would do better to wage a war on illegal cannabis and liquids for non-regulated e-cigarettes.

Once again, this shows the importance of not putting anything and everything in your e-cigarettes. As well as providing yourself with certified e-liquids and taking advice from professionals.

Avancée majeure dans l'enquête sur l’éclosion d’une mystérieuse maladie pulmonaire aux Etats-Unis

Conclusion


The recent outbreak of lung disease in the United States that alarmed the international press has been the bearer of a frightening message towards e-cigarettes. But after getting the first test results, it turns out that the patients in question vaped vitamin E acetate, an oil used as a thickening agent in illegal THC liquids. So, no, e-cigarettes will not kill you when used correctly.

What we put in it, on the other hand, has to be closely monitored and requires the utmost vigilance and respect for safety instructions... We’ll never say it enough : think about yourself first, and never hesitate to be advised by professionals from the industry. It's your health.

Thank you for reading,

The Sweetch Team

Dr Siegel is a Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health. He has 32 years of experience in the field of tobacco control. He previously spent two years working at the Office on Smoking and Health at CDC, where he conducted research on secondhand smoke and cigarette advertising. He has published nearly 70 papers related to tobacco. He testified in the landmark Engle lawsuit against the tobacco companies, which resulted in an unprecedented $145 billion verdict against the industry. He teaches social and behavioral sciences, mass communication and public health, and public health advocacy in the Masters of Public Health program.

Full article by Dr. Siegel : http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/