E-cigarettes have become immensely popular among adults and even adolescents in the United States. Many people are drawn to e-cigarettes offered by JUUL and various other companies due to the flavored e-cigarettes offered that can range from mango to mint. Some have even been led to believe that vaping is a viable way to quit smoking. However, the truth is that people around the country are developing serious injuries due to these devices. If you or a family member became ill due to extensive use of JUULs and similar products, you should contact an experienced Philadelphia vaping injury lawyer. The Reiff Law Firm is dedicated to fighting for residents of Philadelphia that were a victim of this e-cigarette epidemic. Our firm is here to explain whether using JUULs can make you sick.
Illnesses that May be Linked to JUULing
JUUL is an e-cigarette company that sells smoking apparatuses that resemble flash drives. E-cigarettes made by JUUL are designed to deliver inhalable vapor to a user that can even be manufactured to taste like fruit, cucumber, menthol, and various other flavors. Currently, JUUL can be credited for about 50% of the market sales for e-cigarettes.
To use a JUUL e-cigarette, consumers must purchase a JUUL pod. JUUL pods contain e-fluid that is heated to a certain temperature to convert the e-fluid to a vapor to be inhaled and exhaled without leaving a lingering smell. However, many consumers are not aware that they could be inhaling toxic vapor that may contain a number of chemicals that can trigger hazardous health effects after prolonged use.
The following is a list of illnesses that have been linked to excessive use of JUUL devices.
Popcorn Lung
Diacetyl is one dangerous chemical that is used to flavor various types of JUUL pods. Diacetyl is a chemical that was previously used to flavor butter popcorn, caramel, and a host of other products. However, after several workers were overexposed to the chemical in the workplace, they developed an irreversible lung illness known as popcorn lung.
What is Popcorn Lung?
Bronchiolitis obliterans, or popcorn lung, is a lung disease that occurs when the air sacs of the lung become scarred, which leads to the severe restriction of a person’s airways. Popcorn lung is an illness that could make even the simplest of tasks difficult for a person. An individual could experience extreme fatigue, heavy breathing, bouts of dry cough, and many other symptoms.
Some victims of vaping devices have experienced some of the symptoms mentioned earlier after using a JUUL for only a few weeks. It is important to note that there have been hundreds of other reports of consumers suffering from a variety of lung illnesses that were likely triggered by excessive JUULing.
Cancer
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), JUUL pods were shown to contain some levels of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a colorless and flammable gas that is used to manufacture several products from wood to household items like glue. The gas is typically emitted during combustion like when a stove is ignited, or a cigarette is being smoked.
In some cases, JUULs can also emit formaldehyde to a consumer when in use. Specifically, if the JUUL e-cigarette does not properly heat the e-fluid contained in the JUUL pod, a consumer could take a puff of vapor that contains formaldehyde. This type of serious malfunction could be grounds for a product liability lawsuit or a personal injury lawsuit.
While every person is exposed to formaldehyde in some manner, this form of continued exposure could lead to a consumer developing cancer. Overexposure to formaldehyde has been linked to cases of brain cancer, leukemia, and other forms of cancer.
These are just two possible illnesses that can be linked to long-term use of JUULs. Some users have complained that JUUL had become so addictive that it would be their remedy for anxiety and other overwhelming feelings. While JUUL boasts that their product is a viable alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, there is simply not enough evidence that their products do not carry just as much risk or more risk than those associated with excessive cigarette use.
So far, there have been six reported deaths and over 400 cases of illnesses linked to the usage of JUULs and similar products. If you believe that your JUUL caused you to develop a severe health condition, you should waste no time in speaking with an experienced attorney.
Contact an Experienced Philadelphia E-Cigarette Injury Attorney Today
If you or a family member developed an illness due to using JUULs, you should consult with an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney today. At the Reiff Law Firm, our dedicated injury attorneys possess decades of experience litigating complex injury claims, and we are not fearful of challenging large companies that engage in deceptive practices. To schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your injuries, contact the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940, or contact us online.
