Pulmonary Crisis Alert

The Puerto Rico Public Health Trust (PRPHT) sent an alert through its website and social networks about lung diseases allegedly caused by vaping.

September 13, 2019. San Juan, Puerto Rico – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 450 cases of lung disease are investigated on suspicion that they may be caused by vaping. It has been reported that six people have recently died in the United States due to a health crisis related to the use of electronic cigarettes mostly THC and nicotine. The cases have spread to 33 states including Indiana and Minnesota. In the case of Michigan, it is already the first state to ban the use of so-called e-cigarrettes.

Faced with this crisis in the United States, the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust has sent an alert on its website and through its social networks; and announced that it will be delineating plans and strategies to develop a prevention and education campaign through social media; and conducting talks in schools and universities to inform about how harmful these electronic devices are for the health.

The acting executive director of the PRPHT, Dr. José F. Rodríguez Orengo was emphatic in ensuring that “It is important to send a clear and forceful message that this growing modality of vaping, especially among young people, can result in a growing public health problem In Puerto Rico”. He added that “It is a problem that must be resolved with legislation and by considering the total ban on the use of these electronic cigarettes.” “We cannot risk reporting deaths on the Island related to vaping,” he concluded.

Dr. Robert R. Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in a statement that ” We are saddened to hear of the first death related to the outbreak of severe lung disease in those who use e-cigarette or “vaping” devices. CDC’s investigation is ongoing. We are working with state and local health departments and FDA to learn the cause or causes of this ongoing outbreak. This tragic death in Illinois reinforces the serious risks associated with e-cigarette products. Vaping exposes users to many different substances for which we have little information about related harms – including flavorings, nicotine, cannabinoids, and solvents. CDC has been warning about the identified and potential dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping since these devices first appeared. E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.”, finalized.

For her part, Dr. Arlene Sánchez, of the University of Puerto Rico and a consultant to the PRPHT, points out -upon her return from the National Tobacco and Health Conference- that the arrival of electronic cigarettes has generated a phenomenon where extremely high usage trends are observed in young people. “Young people are unaware that it contains up to 60% nicotine, equivalent to 20 cigarettes. We must work on measures to reduce the use of electronic cigarettes by eliminating flavors, increasing the minimum age to 21 years and in regulatory actions in marketing and promotion.”, explained Sanchez.

The electric cigarette or electronic cigar is an electronic inhaler system originally designed to simulate and replace tobacco consumption but can also be used by people who do not smoke. These devices use a resistor and battery to heat and vaporize a liquid solution. The liquid solution, called vaping liquid, e-Liquid or e-Juice, may or may not contain aromas.

For more information on the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust you can visit: https://prsciencetrust.org/prpht/ .