The Minnesota Department of Health released an alert this week about severe lung injury in young people related to vaping. A number of states have now reported similar harm that seems to be caused by e-cigarette inhalation.
Lungs are vital and very reactive to toxins. We know very little about the longer term effect of vaping upon these sensitive organs. We know these products are not harmless. Tragically we seem destined to learn about the extent of the impact of vaping through experimentation by young people, rather than through scientific research.
One would think that systematic testing for health and safety would be done before a potentially harmful product is marketed and widely distributed. Unfortunately with e-cigarettes ‘the horse is already out of the barn’. We should raise our voices to have the FDA issue sensible regulations quickly, and hold the manufacturers responsible for any marketing practices that imply these products are ‘safe’.
Michael V. Burke, Ed.D
Program Director and NDC Counselor/ CTTS