Vaping stores have seemingly popped up everywhere and the sight of people using e-cigarettes has become commonplace.

But as more and more Americans report illnesses that may have been caused by vaping devices or liquids, the government is taking notice at both the state and federal level, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The specifics of what is causing a nationwide vaping illness is not yet known, but hospitals are seeing patients with serious lung problems and even seizures after using electronic cigarettes.

Healthline reports that some health and safety advocates have argued that the rising number of vaping illness cases may signal a potential e-cigarette epidemic in the United States.

Many in the medical community have pointed the finger at e-cigarette manufacturers as being the culprit of the mysterious vaping illness. And since many e-cigarette users are teenagers, a vaping illness epidemic has stoked fear in parents across the country.

NBC News reports that young men who were vaping THC appear to account for the vast majority of people who have reported vaping illness symptoms. Severe lung injuries related to vaping have been reported in 49 states plus the Virgin Islands and Washington DC.

In total, the CDC has documented more than 1,299 vaping illness cases. State health departments are collecting and sharing information associated with vaping side effects. It is believed that more than 1,650 cases are currently under investigation or have been confirmed to be connected with a vaping illness.

Twenty-nine people in 22 states have died as a result of vaping illness. The median age: 49.

The CDC has begun analyzing data indicating that most of those who died are men under the age of 35.

No single product or substance has currently been linked to all of the cases of vaping-related illnesses, but more than 440 vape product samples taken from patients are being analyzed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Some state health departments have taken more aggressive action to stop the sale of vaping products. Washington state, for example, put a 120-day ban in place to stop the sale of these flavored vaping products.

Research reports produced by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found that there are other challenges associated with vaping behavior, particularly since it can be seen as a gateway to tobacco addiction for teenagers and young adults.

Teens and young adults can also face dangerous side effects associated with brain development. The first major US city to take aggressive action to ban the sale of vaping devices was San Francisco, and a similar plan is currently pending in front of the Los Angeles City Council.

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