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Breakthrough In Mysterious Lung Illnesses and Deaths Linked to Vaping

This Monday, Nov. 4, 2019 photo shows a vitamin E acetate sample during a tour of the Medical Marijuana Laboratory of Organic and Analytical Chemistry at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, N.Y. On Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said fluid extracted from 29 lung injury patients who vaped contained the chemical compound in all of them. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

There’s been a significant discovery in the outbreak of lung illnesses and deaths linked to e-cigarettes. Vitamin E acetate has been found in all of the samples of fluids from the lungs of those who have gotten sick. No other potential toxins were detected in the testing so far.

Of 28 lung tissue samples tested, all contained the additive and 23 contained THC. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's, Dr. Anne Schuchat says, "these new findings are significant."

The additive, vitamin E acetate, is sometimes used as a diluent of THC oil, particularly by street dealers. THC is the compound in marijuana that produces a “high."

"For the first time we have detected a potential toxin of concern, vitamin E acetate, in biologic samples from patients with lung injuries associated with the use of e-cigarette or vaping products," says Schuchat.

The outbreak has sickened 2,051 people and resulted in 39 confirmed deaths. The CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat said Friday that the "trend in cases appears to be downward, but some states are still being hit hard."

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