In the US, the authorities have documented other deaths that are most likely related to the consumption of e-cigarettes. 47 people have died so far, said the US Department of Health CDC on Thursday. The victims are therefore from 25 US states and were between 17 and 75 years old. The number of patients increased to 2290 confirmed cases. A week ago, the CDC had reported 42 dead and 2,172 sick.
Of the more than 2,000 cases evaluated so far, 95 percent had to be treated in hospital, 68 percent were male, 77 percent were younger than 35, and 15 percent were even younger than 18 years old.
Possible cause: Vitamin E acetate
For many sufferers, the symptoms start with breathing problems, shortness of breath and chest pain. Within the following days or weeks, they may deteriorate so severely that the sufferers have to be artificially ventilated. In part, gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, diarrhea or fever are added.
According to the CDC, the cause of the lung damage is still not fully understood. One of the possible causes was the discovery of a vitamin E-derived oil.
According to CDC, the substance was detected in the diseased patients whose lung fluid was examined. Nevertheless, it is still possible that more than one substance has caused the disease, the CDC said. Vitamin E acetate is often added to THC-containing liquids to thicken them.
Belgium: One death
In Germany, liquids for e-cigarettes may generally not be added to vitamins, so they do not give the impression of being healthy. The competent Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) had already informed this in September on request.
Mike Segar / REUTERS
E-cigarette liquids in a shop in New York City
Also, no similar increase in lung damage has been reported in Germany and across Europe so far. However, there are isolated reports of exceptional cases.
In Belgium, for example, the authorities reported the death of an 18-year-old, who was attributed to the inhalation of harmful substances with an e-cigarette. The young man had inhaled a legal liquid in Belgium containing the non-psychoactive part of cannabis.
To protect themselves, the authorities in Germany expressly warn against producing liquids themselves. Without adequate knowledge, the risk of self-mixing is that substances such as oils would be used, according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. This could lead to severe respiratory diseases when inhaled.
