Question - What chemical was identified in 100% of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens in a recent study of patients suffering from vaping associated lung injury?
Answer - The cited reference notes “Vitamin E acetate was detected in all 29 patient BAL samples. Among 23 patients for whom self-reported THC use information was available, 20 reported using THC-containing products. THC or its metabolites were detected in 23 of 28 patient BAL samples, including in those of three patients who said they did not use THC products. Nicotine metabolites were detected in 16 of 26 patient BAL specimens. Results for plant oils, MCT oil, petroleum distillates, and diluent terpenes were all below analyte-specific levels of detection (typically in the low ng/mL range).” (Blount BC et al Evaluation of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid from Patients in an Outbreak of E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–Associated Lung Injury — 10 States, August–October 2019, MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. epub: 8 November 2019. DOI: http//dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6845e2)