At least six people have reportedly died in the United States from a mystery vaping illness, causing media buzz over e-cig liquid health risks.

The sixth person to fall victim to the unexplained vaping-related lung disease was an older woman living in Kansas. The woman was reportedly over 50 and had a history of other health problems. She reportedly became seriously ill only shortly after starting to vape.

“Our sympathies go out to the family of the person who died,” Governor Laura Kelly said in a statement. “Health officials are working hard to determine a cause and share information to prevent additional injuries. As that work continues, I urge Kansans to be careful. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way, and please follow the recommendations of public health officials.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there have been 380 cases of the lung illness linked to vaping across 36 states and one U.S. territory. Apart from the death in Kansas, there have been five other deaths in  California, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Oregon.

All of the cases reported to the authorities have occurred in patients with a history of vaping. Most patients have reportedly used e-cigarette products containing THC, the psychoactive component of the marijuana plant.

The CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say they are not sure whether or not the lung disease instances are related to illicit THC products. Some of the submitted THC products reportedly featured high levels of vitamin E acetate, according to New York health officials. This substance may be linked to the disease. Authorities have not identified a product or brand linking the cases, only the fact that all of the patients have a history of vaping.

While the issue is still being investigated, authorities on the state and federal level have urged people to stop vaping. There are serious e-cig liquid health risks associated with vaping, and these recent reports of lung disease have raised concerns that vaping may not be as harmful as previously thought.

“If you or a loved one is vaping, please stop. The recent deaths across our country, combined with hundreds of reported lung injury cases continue to intensify. I’m extremely alarmed for the health and safety of Kansans who are using vaping products and urge them to stop until we can determine the cause of vaping related lung injuries and death,” Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas health officer and secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said in a statement.

Although vaping, including the use of e-cigarettes and cartridges, like JUUL pods, is likely safer than smoking traditional cigarettes which are loaded with carcinogens, it is not harmless. The e-cig liquid used in vaping contains many chemicals and these liquids have not been studied for safety.

While researchers continue to study vaping, there is no way to know whether or not these products are safe because there has not been enough scientific study on the e-cig liquid health risks. In the future, these products will be regulated by the FDA but the deadline for manufacturers to submit info for review is still months in the future.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.