IDENTIFIED EXACTLY WHAT IN E-CIGARETTES IS MAKING PEOPLE SO
SICK.
SICK. AND NOW PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS TO
TAKE ACTION.
TAKE ACTION. THIS MORNING, A BREAKTHROUGH.
RESEARCHERS WITH THE CDC TESTED
29 PATIENTS WITH VAPING
ILLNESSES FROM 10 DIFFERENT
STATES.
STATES. ALL HAD VITAMIN EACETATE IN
THEIR FLUIDS.
THEIR FLUIDS. IT’S FOUND IN COSMETICS AND SOME
VAPING PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY THC
OFF OF THE STREET.
>> VITAMIN E ACETATE, THAT CAN
TRIGGER INFLAMMATION IN THE
LUNG, WHICH IS LIKE A FIRE
STARTING IN THE LUNG THAT’S
DIFFICULT TO EXTINGUISH.
>> Reporter: 22-YEAR-OLD ELIJAH
McCLURE SPENT 12 DAYS ON A
VENTILATOR FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE
AND IS NOW SHARING THE PRODUCTS
HE USED.
HE USED. >> I WAS USING TWO FORMS OF
VAPING.
VAPING. THEY’RE NOT HARD TO FIND IF
YOU’RE LOOKING FOR ONE.
>> Reporter: HE STARTED WITH
NICOTINE AT AGE 15 AND ALSO USED
OFF-MARKET CARTRIDGES WITH CHT.
THC THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN
CANNABIS.
CANNABIS. >> IF I CAN HELP PEOPLE NOT TO
GET TO THAT STATE, I WILL SPEAK
EVERY DAY, EVERY MINUTE I CAN.
>> Reporter: THE MOST POPULAR E
HF-
HF- E-CIG FLAVORS WITH TEENS, MINT
AND MENTHOL.
AND MENTHOL. ON FRIDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP VOWED
ACTION.
ACTION. >> WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR
KIDS, MOST IMPORTANTLY.
WE’RE GOING TO HAVE AN AGE LIMIT
OF 21 OR SO.
>> Reporter: NOW, NEW EVIDENCE
THIS WEEK SHOWS THE NUMBER OF
TEENAGERS WHO VAPE HAS DOUBLED
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SUPPORT
THAT 21-YEAR-OLD AGE LIMIT AND
BANNING FLAVORS MINT AND
MENTHOL.
MENTHOL. BUT THE PRESIDENT IS UNDER
PRESSURE FROM THE VAPING
INDUSTRY, SAYING THAT KIND OF
BAN WILL COST JOBS.
>>> NATALIE AZAR IS A MEDICAL
CONTRIBUTOR.
CONTRIBUTOR. GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
HOW BIG A BREAKTHROUGH IS THIS?
>> PRETTY BIG.
SINCE SEPTEMBER, WE HEARD FROM
NEW YORK STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS.
THEY AT THAT POINT LINKED THIS
VITAMIN E ACETATE, AND SEVERE
LUNG DISEASE.
LUNG DISEASE. THAT WAS IN THE PRODUCT.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE
HEALTH OFFICIALS, THE CDC, HAS
DEMONSTRATED THE VITAMIN E
ACETATE IN THE FLUID OF THE
LUNGS OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED
THIS INJURY.
THIS INJURY. >> YOU KNOW, INTERESTING BECAUSE
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER
THIS WILL MAKE VAPING ANY SAFER.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> BUT THE REALITY IS, YOU HAVE
COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS, TOO.
PEOPLE ARE WONDERING, IS IT THAT
OR ALL PRODUCTS?
>> THIS BUILDS ON AN
ACCUMULATING BODY OF EVIDENCE
THAT THE CONCERN IS MOST LIKELY
RELATED TO THC-CONTAINING
PRODUCTS.
PRODUCTS. PARTICULARLY THE ONES THAT ARE
FOUND, WHAT WE CALL, INFORMALLY.
ON THE BLACK MARKET, ONLINE,
THROUGH FRIENDS, ET CETERA.
>> THAT’S HOW SO MANY PEOPLE GET
IT, IN REALITY.
>> IT IS.
>> IT IS. AS OPPOSED TO A THC DISPENSARY
OR A VAPING SHOP.
IN A PARALLEL REPORT YESTERDAY,
THEY FOUND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO
SUSTAINED THE SEVEREST LUNG
INJURY WERE EIGHT-TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO HAVE OBTAINED THC FROM
A COUNTERFEIT SOURCE.
THE CDC SAYS, WE RECOMMEND NOT
SMOKING ANY VAPING PRODUCT THAT
CONTAIN THC.
CONTAIN THC. IT’S WORTHWHILE OR WORTH NOTING
TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO USE EXTREME
CAUTION IN VAPING A THC PRODUCT
THAT IS PURCHASED ONLINE, VIA --
YOU KNOW, JUST A CASUAL FRIEND
OR ACQUAINTANCE, AS OPPOSED TO A
LICENSED FACILITY.
LICENSED FACILITY. >> LOOKING AT THE MAP.
39 DEATHS.
39 DEATHS. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> IT’S UNBELIEVABLE AT THIS
POINT.
POINT. >> BY THE WAY, IT’S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT WHILE THIS IS
CERTAINLY, THIS VITAMIN E
ACETATE, IS A COMPELLING
EXPLANATION OR CULPRIT, THE CDC
CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE THE
AEROSOL.
AEROSOL. THEY ARE NOT RULING OUT OTHER