THE SERIOUS LUNG CONDITION known as EVALI is not caused by vaping nicotine as falsely claimed by vaping opponents, according to a new study published today in Drug and Alcohol Review.
EVALI (E-cigarette, or Vaping, product use-Associated Lung Injury) causes breathing difficulty, shortness of breath and chest pain.
In the US outbreak, it led to 2,807 hospitalisations and 68 deaths by February 2020.
It soon became clear that EVALI was caused by vaping black market THC (cannabis) oils contaminated with vitamin E acetate (VEA).
However vaping opponents, including the Australian government and state health departments have continued to maintain fear and doubt that vaping nicotine also causes EVALI
VEA is not soluble in nicotine e-liquids and has never been detected in nicotine e-liquids. No chemicals in nicotine vapes have been identified which could cause EVALI.
Unfounded claims that nicotine vaping caused EVALI have been used to justify restrictive policies to reduce the uptake of vaping and this has been harmful to public health.
Colin Mendelsohn and Alex Wodak – Drug and Alcohol Review – 2022-08-24.