A recent article out of the Times Record News highlights the dangers of smoking e-cigarettes, and that the Wichita Falls- Wichita County Public Health District wants residents to be aware of emerging research regarding the connection between a common chemical used in e-liquid for vaping and e-cigarettes and an incurable disease known as “Popcorn Lung.” For years, e-cigarettes have been touted as a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes or as a safe cessation device. Unfortunately, a 2015 study out of the Harvard School of Public Health found that e-cigarettes are actually a lot more dangerous than we’ve been led to believe.
Diacetyl and “Popcorn Lung”
In the early 2000s, the term “Popcorn Lung” was made famous after a worker from a popcorn factory developed an incurable lung disease called Bronchiolitis Obliterans due to inhaled exposure of the chemical diacetyl. Diacetyl, one of the chemicals responsible for that delicious buttery flavor that we love on microwave popcorn, is actually extremely dangerous when inhaled. This degenerative lung disease, which initially starts with a shortness of breath and coughing, progresses until the lungs no longer function due to scarring.
Diacetyl and e-Cigs
What many e-cig users may not know is that diacetyl has been found in about 75 percent of e-cigarette liquids. This extremely harmful carcinogenic chemical, that is dangerous when inhaled, is used as a flavor additive in about three-quarters of all e-cigs, and at this time, e-cigarettes are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Getting The Word Out in Wichita Falls
Officials in Wichita Falls and at other small public health agencies in Texas and across the nation aren’t waiting on the FDA to do the right thing. The general public has been led to believe that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, when in reality, that’s just not the case. Public health officials in Wichita Falls are actively working to get the word out about the dangers of vaping and e-cigs. They’re also offering a variety of free resources, including information on how to get a free two-week’s allotment of nicotine patches and how to enroll in a Fresh Start class to help you successfully quite smoking or vaping.
If you or somebody you love has developed Bronchiolitis Obliterans (Popcorn Lung) due to vaping e-cigarettes, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney about your case.