Numerous illnesses and deaths related to vaping have been reported across America over the past few months. Unfortunately, Mississippi has not been spared the impact of this growing public health crisis. The state health department says that earlier this year, a vaping-related death claimed the life of a young Mississippi resident.
Many of the people who are being injured and killed in vaping-related incidents across America are young. The person who died from vaping in Mississippi was under thirty years of age, and there are at least four people in Mississippi who are between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four who have suffered severe lung injuries because of vaping. Vaping has been marketed as a smoking cessation method. Still, its safety and effectiveness are being called into question as more and more people who use e-cigarettes are getting sick. E-Cigarette companies are facing lawsuits related to their advertising, which is alleged to promote e-cigarette use by teens.
As of September 19, seven people in six different states were reported to have died as the result of vaping, and another five hundred and thirty reported vaping-related lung injuries. There is a nationwide investigation underway to assess the risk of severe pulmonary disease and lung injury associated with vaping. The risks related to using vaping products that contain THC may be more severe than the risks associated with products that contain only nicotine. It is important to note that all vaping products are likely to produce some degree of risk.
The investigation into vaping-related illnesses and injuries is proving difficult and complicated, as there are so many vaping products available from a wide variety of manufacturers. Adding to the complexity of the situation is the black market for e-cigarette cartridges, which makes it hard for investigators to determine what ingredients are in cartridges that were purchased on the black market. One particular ingredient, diacetyl, has been identified as a possible cause of vaping-related illnesses and deaths. Exposure to diacetyl can cause a potentially fatal disease called bronchiolitis obliterans. The chemical is widely used in the flavoring industry, and some food industry workers who manufacture popcorn and coffee, two foods that are often chemically flavored, have been found to have the disease. Diacetyl is a common ingredient in e-cigarettes, which is why it is being examined as a possible culprit in vaping-related injuries and deaths.
Public health officials are suggesting that people discontinue their use of all kinds of vaping products and get immediate medical attention if they experience any sighs of vaping-related illness or injury. Chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, fever, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea are some of the symptoms that have been reported by people who have suffered vaping-related illnesses. E-cigarette sales have already been banned in at least twenty-eight other countries. Several cities and states are working on legislation that would limit access to e-cigarette products and pull flavored vaping products, which make the products very appealing to teens, off the market.
E-cigarette injury law is an emerging area of personal injury law. Some individuals who have been hurt or killed by e-cigarettes are pursuing litigation against e-cigarette manufacturers. To learn more about how our Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys can support you in pursuing your personal injury claim, please call our office today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule a free initial consultation.