FDA Moves to Restrict Vaping Products Amidst Growing Health Concerns

On November 9, 2018 the FDA announced it will begin restricting the sales of flavored, cartridge-based vaping products such as Juul to only tobacco shops and vape shops in an attempt to keep them out of the hands of children and teenagers. But does using cartridge-based vaping products cause cancer? The short answer is, it’s too early to tell.

A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics examined teens who use e-cigarettes and analyzed urine samples to find out what chemicals enter the body. The researchers found that e-cigarette users were exposed to volatile organic compounds such as propylene oxide and acrylamide, which are carcinogenic. Another study found that e-cigarette aerosol causes DNA damage in mice. Ultimately, the long-term health effects of vaping remain unknown and are ripe for further study.