The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an outbreak of a severe lung disease related to e-cigarette lung damage has led to a death in Illinois.

“Vaping exposes users to many different substances for which we have little information about related harms – including flavorings, nicotine, cannabinoids, and solvents,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. in a Friday press release.

Redfield went on to say that e-cigarettes are “not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.”

The CDC has now identified 193 reported incidents of a severe lung illness in 22 states, including the one death of a young adult patient in Illinois whose death followed a hospitalization.

In recent months, the new respiratory illness has been seen among people who vape, but the patients have used different products, not the same brands nor the same vaping liquids.

Some users reportedly used THC-containing cannabis liquids. THC is short for tetrahydrocannabinol, the substance responsible for the high feeling associated with traditional marijuana use.

Officials Speak Out on E-Cigarette Health Hazards

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike released a statement, saying, “The severity of illness people are experiencing is alarming and we must get the word out that using e-cigarettes and vaping can be dangerous.”

Symptoms of the newly seen lung illness include shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue.

The CDC is investigating what the cases may have in common.

“Even though cases appear similar, it is not clear if these cases have a common cause or if they are different diseases with similar presentations,” says the CDC in a statement on its website.

Dr. Michael Lynch, medical director of the poison center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, told The New York Times, “Oftentimes people are vaping both nicotine and the THC products, so it’s unclear which may be responsible.”

Dr. Lynch added that there likely have been more cases of these vaping-linked lung illnesses, but no one had realized the association existed. Now that consumers and doctors are aware, more cases will be reported and studied.

E-Cigarette Lung Damage Manifests in Different Ways

In addition to the severe lung illness associated with vaping, e-cigarette users are reporting other signs of lung impairment.

A 31-year-old Utah man who reportedly vaped every day for two years was placed on life support due to lipoid pneumonia two weeks ago. Sean B. of West Valley City, Utah was placed in a medically-induced coma. His wife said she believes the lipoid pneumonia was caused by his inhalation of fat particles found in vaping juices he used.

A Texas teen suffered a collapsed lung after too much vaping. His pediatric pulmonologist said the child’s lungs had already formed scar tissue.

The most popular e-cigarette product on the market today is Juul, which looks much like a USB drive and holds “pods” that contain flavored vape juices, most of which contain nicotine.

Inhaling e-cigarette aerosols and the vaping juices could introduce the lungs to a variety of harmful products, including nicotine, heavy metal particles, cancer-causing chemicals and volatile organic compounds. Secondhand exposure to exhaled vapors also may cause e-cigarette lung damage.