Preliminary MDHHS Study Finds Contaminants in Vaping Products
More damning evidence that vaping can be harmful to a person's health; The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says preliminary study results show varying levels of contaminants.
In a study of five patients who had lung injuries due to vaping,
- Two patients’ products contained only nicotine.
- One patient’s products contained only tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
- One patient’s products contained both THC and nicotine.
- One patient’s products contained THC and vitamin E acetate. One product, a Dank Vape Birthday Cake THC cartridge, contained 23 percent vitamin E acetate.
MDHHS says the FDA lab results received are the first confirmation that a Michigan lung injury patient was exposed to vitamin E acetate.
Although the cause of the lung injuries is not yet known, the majority of lung injury patients report using products with THC. One hypothesis being investigated is that contaminants in THC vapes, including vitamin E acetate, may be related to the outbreak. Other states are also finding vitamin E acetate in their testing. The New York State Department of Health found high levels of vitamin E acetate in nearly all cannabis-containing samples analyzed as part of its own investigation of lung injury patients. Product sample testing at the Utah Public Health Laboratory showed evidence of vitamin E acetate in 89 percent of THC-containing cartridges provided by six lung injury patients.