According to new research from Mayo Clinic, the cause of severe respiratory illness related to vaping, which has been linked to 16 deaths so far, is inhaling “toxic chemical fumes,” and not oils.
Researchers said the ongoing vaping epidemic in the United States is due to inhalation of toxic fumes that are similar to fumes that are inhaled by workers from a chemical spill.
The experts investigated lung biopsies of 17 patients who were suspected to have vaping-related lung injury that has affected more than 805 people.
Upon examination, the researchers previously suspected that it resembled a rare type of pneumonia that is caused by the deposition of lipids or fats. However, later, they found that the 17 lung biopsies had macrophages – phagocytes found in stationary form as white blood cells that are prone to eat toxic contaminants. They did not find lipid or fatty depositions.
Surgical Pathologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona Dr. Brandon Larsen said, “It seems to be some kind of direct chemical injury, similar to what one might see with exposures to toxic chemical fumes, poisonous gases and toxic agents.”
The study was published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vaping epidemic, which started in April, now includes more than 805 severe respiratory illnesses and 12 deaths.
Mayo Clinic researchers said they have contacted the CDC to determine whether their lung biopsy findings would help update the diagnostic definition of lung injuries caused by vaping.
Dr. Larsen explained that their findings do not justify any specific chemical, including vitamin E and the oils or other substances used in making the vaping juice.
“Everything is still on the table,” said Dr. Larsen. “I am skeptical that vitamin E is the sole culprit, if even the culprit at all. Maybe it’s important, but I think we can’t stop looking.”
The researchers also mentioned that their findings do not blame vaping illegal marijuana or its psychoactive compound called THC rather than legal e-cigs containing nicotine. According to their report, 12 of the cases inhaled marijuana products and two were killed.
Dr. Larsen said, “It’s probably a more complex problem. It goes beyond one bad batch.”
“The theory that oils or lipids caused these injuries has persisted because biopsies aren’t commonly ordered for these lung injury cases,” added Dr. Larsen. “It also takes a review of multiple biopsies to detect a pattern.”
A type of pneumonia caused by the accumulation of lipids or fats is very rare, which is reported among entertainers who accidentally swallow kerosene while performing fire-breathing.
Dr. Larsen continued, “Like they’ll put a bunch of Vaseline in their noses and then they’ll lie down to sleep and the Vaseline will gurgle into their lungs.”
Mayo Clinic has been continuing to collect lung biopsies from people who involved in using vaping products. The surgical pathologist said, “What should we be looking for? What should we be focusing our efforts on? This data says we should be looking for toxic chemical constituents in these materials.”
