Eight States are currently investigating and reporting severe breathing problems among a number of young citizens and claiming possible JUUL lung damage is to blame.

According to NBC News on Aug. 15, 2019, several cases involving teenagers and young adults presenting to emergency rooms across the country with complaints of chest pain, progressive fatigue, coughing, and difficulty breathing have turned up a common denominator—recent vaping of nicotine or marijuana-based substances.

While no one particular brand of vaping device or ingredient has truly been implicated in these instances, JUUL is one of the most popular among young people.

The company has come under fire for allegedly purposefully marketing its products to youth and sparking an epidemic of vaping and nicotine use in this demographic. Because of this popularity and the seriousness of these cases, many of them have been—perhaps unfairly so—identified as stemming from JUUL lung damage.

Health officials have reported alleged JUUL lung damage cases in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. According to a more recent August 19, 2019, CNET.com article, more instances have popped up in an additional six other unidentified states for a total of 14 in recent days.

Some of the allegedly vaping-induced lung trauma appeared to mock respiratory infections with its symptomology. In addition to the chest pain, coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath reported, many of the young patients had fevers, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Once infection was ruled out, however, all patients—close to 100 to date—self report use of vaping devices and ‘juices’ prior to the adverse event.

Serious Events Abound

Among the nearly 100 cases that have drawn the attention of state health officials and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), several have required the use of ventilators and lengthy intensive care unit stays to save the life of the patient involved. There have been reports of at least one individual—an otherwise healthy 18-year-old male—experiencing a collapsed lung. Another required a medically-induced coma to be used to aid in his recovery.

A Lack of Regulation

According to the CNET report, e-cigarettes which include JUUL and all precursory products have been available for about a decade in the U.S. The e-cigarette industry, however, has yet to be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and this is a significant problem. It leads to a lack of consistency among the products on the market and the generally mistaken belief that–because the FDA hasn’t weighed in—all is well. But the FDA keeps receiving reports of vaping injuries.

While there appears to be fewer toxic chemicals in vaping ‘juice’ than in traditional tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars, the presence of acetaldehyde, acrolein, diacetyl, and formaldehyde are very likely and all of these have been connected in some way to lung disease, according to CNET. JUUL pods also contain highly addictive nicotine.

Add this to the fact that young, immature lungs are being exposed and you have no long term studies to determine how this will add up over time. In short, you have a recipe for trouble.

If you or your child have suffered lung or heart injury from vaping, a specialized lawyer may be able to help you pursue a case against the manufacturer.