South
Korea finds some liquid e-cigarette products have ingredient linked to
lung illness
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[December 12, 2019]
By Sangmi Cha
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean health
authorities have found vitamin E acetate, which may be linked to lung
illnesses, in some liquid e-cigarette products made by Juul Labs and
KT&G, they said on Thursday, but the two companies denied using the
material.
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The results followed an analysis of seven key ingredients in 153
liquid e-cigarettes carried out by the food and drug safety
ministry, after a spate of severe lung injuries tied to the devices
in the United States.
"With the findings of harmful substances like vitamin E acetate and
flavorings included in liquid e-cigarettes, we once again advise you
to stop using liquid e-cigarettes," the ministry said in its
statement.
South Korea's health watchdog said it had identified a small amount
of vitamin E acetate in 13 vapes.
These included U.S. e-cigarette maker Juul Labs' flavored "crisp"
and South Korean maker KT&G's flavored "SiiD tobac" for its Lil
Vapor device.
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But the watchdog has not found any of the marijuana ingredient THC,
it added.
The South Korean office of Juul Labs has reiterated that its
products did not contain vitamin E acetate, adding that it was
closely analyzing the results and would "actively communicate" with
the relevant ministries.
KT&G said it had never used the substance as an ingredient and its
own tests had found none of it.
Last month, U.S. health officials said vitamin E acetate was found
in all lung samples from 29 patients with vaping-related injuries.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called
vitamin E acetate a "chemical of concern" and recommended not adding
it to e-cigarettes or vaping products while the investigation
proceeds.
In October, South Korea's health ministry advised people to stop
vaping because of growing health concerns, especially after a case
of pneumonia was reported in a 30-year-old e-cigarette user that
month.
The announcement prompted convenience store chains and duty free
shops to suspend the sale of flavored liquid e-cigarettes made by
Juul Labs and KT&G.
South Korea is the world's No.2 market of heat-not-burn e-cigarettes
after Japan, worth $1.7 billion, according to Euromonitor, but
liquid e-cigarettes are less popular.
(Reporting by Sangmi Cha; Editing by Hyunjoo Jin and Clarence
Fernandez)
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