Health warning issued over danger of fake 'THC' or 'cannabis oil' vapes which may produce a highly toxic gas due to the presence of vitamin E acetate.
Vape liquid is sold in small plastic bottles. The vitamin E acetate is an oily chemical which can be added to the liquid to thicken or dilute it to make it go further.
Laboratory testing has shown some of the products collected in Greater Manchester have contained high levels of vitamin E acetate.
When inhaled the vitamin E acetate can produce a toxic gas and cause lung injuries. Between 2019 and 2020 there were nearly 3,000 hospital admissions and 68 deaths associated with vitamin E acetate in THC vape pens in the USA.
There is no way of knowing if your THC vape liquid contains vitamin E acetate, so advice is to not use illegally sold THC vape liquid or pens.
Sarah Price, chief officer for population health and inequalities for NHS Greater Manchester, said: “It’s important that the public, particularly young people, understand the dangers using these illegal vaping products can have on their health. I would also encourage parents and carers of young people to discuss the risks of vaping with them.
“We know that many people use vapes as an aid to help them stop smoking cigarettes however, THC vapes are illegal and so their contents go unregulated. Therefore, it is impossible to know if what you are inhaling is safe, so the safest thing you can do it not to take them. You can find information on using vapes to help you stop smoking on the Make Smoking History website.
“If you have used a THC vape pen or THC vape liquid, monitor yourself for symptoms including a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain and promptly seek medical attention if you have concerns about your health using 111 Online or dialling 999 in an emergency.”