Could Cyanide Be Responsible for Vape Deaths?
According to the most recent CDC reports, nearly 2300 injuries and 47 deaths have been linked to vaping. Authorities are still trying to pinpoint why so many people are falling ill, but some investigations are pointing toward cyanide in the vapor. If that’s not scary enough, theories on its source may open up a whole new realm of possible ways vape users could be poisoning themselves.
More people are falling victim to vaping-related illness and death, and authorities have been searching rigorously for answers behind the cause. In some cases, cyanide could be to blame. This appears to be due to the presence of a fungicide in the plant extracts, which releases hydrogen cyanide when heated. Parts of the vape pens themselves could also be emitting toxic metal vapors. Get the details on these sobering discoveries in the article below.
Black-Market Cartridges and Fungicides
Most people vape because they’ve been led to believe it’s safer than smoking, so no one expects to be bathing their lungs in poisons each time they hit their vape pen. In truth, we don’t know the long-term effects of vaping, even when the cartridge hasn’t been contaminated with dangerous chemicals. According to an NBC report, contamination is a serious concern, especially among black-market THC cartridges.
An independent testing lab, CannaSafe, tested numerous cartridges obtained through legal dispensaries and the black market. The legal cartridges all tested negative for dangerous chemicals, but those from the black market didn’t fare so well. Not only did 13 of 15 black-market cartridges contain vitamin E oil, which the CDC warns is likely responsible for some vape-related illnesses, but every sample tested contained a fungicide called myclobutanil.
Used to control fungal infections, myclobutanil is a common agriculture tool, one that’s considered safe when applied to edible produce like grapes. The problem occurs when the chemical is heated above 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which breaks it down into several poisonous gasses, one of which is hydrogen cyanide. The chemical is currently poorly regulated and remains a problem in marijuana cultivation.
Other Heat-Related Poisons
Vape users may have more than cyanide to worry about each time they take a puff. Leafly reports that labs in California have found lead in some of their cartridges, likely the result of cheap manufacturing practices in China, where many of the components come from. The cheaper the cartridge, the more likely it is to contain lead.
Researchers have found that the actual vaping devices may also be a source of poison. One study showed that the coils used to heat cartridge contents can leech numerous metals — including chromium, nickel, and lead — into the vapor. Further investigation will determine whether heavy metals and other toxins are being emitted by other parts of the devices as well.
The Investigation Continues
The discovery of cyanide forming in some vape cartridges is only the latest piece of bad news. It remains to be seen whether just black-market stock is to blame or all vape juices and devices are potentially hazardous. According to the CDC, no single type of cartridge has been isolated as the culprit, with products containing both THC and nicotine being implicated in the lung injuries.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities have their theories, but they’re still trying to figure out exactly what’s going on and why so many people are getting sick from vaping. It could be that multiple factors are at play, and until all of them can be eliminated, vaping-related deaths are likely to continue. Given this, it’s probably best to play it safe and avoid vaping altogether.
Related Keywords
