CDC has
identified vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern
among people with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury
(EVALI). Recent CDC laboratory testing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid
samples (fluid samples collected from the lungs) from 29 patients with EVALI submitted
to CDC from 10 states found vitamin E acetate in all of the samples.
Vitamin E acetate might be used as an additive in the production of
e-cigarette, or vaping, products, most notably as a thickening agent in
THC-containing products.
This is the first time that we have detected a potential chemical of
concern in biologic samples from patients with EVALI.
CDC continues to
recommend that people should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that
contain THC, particularly from informal sources like friends, or family, or
in-person or online dealers. Until the relationship of vitamin E acetate and
lung health is better characterized, it is important that vitamin E acetate
not be added to e-cigarette, or vaping, products. CDC will continue to update
guidance, as appropriate, as new data become available from this outbreak
investigation.
While it appears that vitamin E acetate is associated
with EVALI, evidence is not yet sufficient to rule out contribution of other
chemicals of concern to EVALI. Many different substances and product sources
are still under investigation, and it may be that there is more than one
cause of this outbreak.
Since many
different substances and product sources are still under investigation, the
only way to assure that you are not at risk while the investigation continues
is to consider refraining from use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
