The increasing popularity of vaping among young people has raised significant public health concerns. Electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes or e-cigarettes, produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that typically contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. These devices introduce various substances into the body, leading to a range of potential health issues. Understanding the consequences, including fatalities, and other health risks associated with vaping is important.
Confirmed Teen Vaping Fatalities
As of February 18, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 2,807 hospitalized cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), including 68 confirmed deaths across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories. These figures encompass individuals of all ages, with the youngest confirmed fatalities being teenagers.
One of the earliest reported teen deaths was a 17-year-old from the Bronx, New York City. Another case involved a 15-year-old in Texas, marking the youngest vaping-related fatality reported by the CDC in the outbreak that began in June 2019. Tracking these numbers can be challenging as public health agencies continuously update their data, and cases may involve underlying health conditions that complicate attribution.
The Main Cause: EVALI
The primary medical condition linked to severe lung injuries and deaths from vaping is E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI). This inflammatory condition damages the lungs and can develop suddenly or gradually over weeks. Symptoms of EVALI often include chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, and an accelerated heartbeat. Some individuals also experience gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, along with general symptoms such as fever, chills, and unexplained weight loss.
Investigations by the CDC have strongly linked vitamin E acetate to the EVALI outbreak. This synthetic form of vitamin E is sometimes added to e-liquids, particularly those containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. While vitamin E acetate is generally safe when ingested or applied to the skin, inhaling it when heated in vaping products can interfere with normal lung function and cause significant damage. Lung fluid samples from EVALI patients have consistently shown the presence of vitamin E acetate, which was not found in healthy individuals.
Beyond Fatalities: Other Serious Health Concerns from Vaping
Beyond immediate and sometimes fatal acute lung injuries like EVALI, vaping presents a range of other serious health concerns, especially for teenagers whose bodies are still developing. Nicotine, present in most e-cigarettes, is highly addictive, and adolescent brains are particularly susceptible to its effects. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm brain development, which continues until approximately age 25, potentially affecting areas that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Young people can develop nicotine addiction quickly, sometimes even before consistent daily use.
Vaping also carries risks for long-term lung damage distinct from EVALI. E-cigarette aerosols contain ultrafine particles, heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead, and volatile organic compounds that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs. Some flavorings, such as diacetyl, have been linked to serious lung diseases like bronchiolitis obliterans, often called “popcorn lung,” which causes permanent scarring in the lungs. While scientists continue to study the full long-term impact, chronic exposure to these chemicals can lead to respiratory issues, including wheezing, bronchitic symptoms, and shortness of breath.
Cardiovascular health is another area of concern, as vaping can affect the heart and blood vessels. Nicotine can raise blood pressure and narrow arteries. Studies using mouse models suggest that vaping at a young age may increase the risk of heart disease later in life, particularly in men. Long-term daily exposure to certain vape products has been shown to increase circulating lipid levels and contribute to plaque buildup in the heart and blood vessels, a process known as atherosclerosis.