Yesterday I confirmed the presence of significant quantities of exposed heavy metal solder (>55mg) in the vape hardware used by an individual who developed EVALI (probable case, confirmation is pending by hospital committee) in October. The hardware had the same general characteristics ("inhalation-activated") as the vape pens I deconstructed previously, with rough solder joints at the aperture into the battery compartment....Read More
A heavy metal screen of the patient's urine was performed independently by the hospital where the patient was treated, and revealed lead (Pb) concentrations in excess of 5 mcg/dL. That is the trigger threshold for treatment for lead poisoning. As the patient hasn't been eating paint chips (seriously, I asked), and has no occupational or significant environmental exposure to lead, these results would seem to indicate exposure occurred through inhalation of solder/heavy metal particles from his vape pen.
There's more work to be done, including an expanded heavy metal panel screening for both lead and cadmium in the bloodstream. I'm sending the vape hardware components to the state department of health for confirmation/identification of the solder alloy. I'll update as this unfolds.
This does not conflict with the CDC findings of Vitamin E acetate in patient lung biopsies. It is still not a good idea to smoke Vitamin E acetate, but it may only be a contributing factor, not a causal agent.
A heavy metal screen of the patient's urine was performed independently by the hospital where the patient was treated, and revealed lead (Pb) concentrations in excess of 5 mcg/dL. That is the trigger threshold for treatment for lead poisoning. As the patient hasn't been eating paint chips (seriously, I asked), and has no occupational or significant environmental exposure to lead, these results would seem to indicate exposure occurred through inhalation of solder/heavy metal particles from his vape pen.
There's more work to be done, including an expanded heavy metal panel screening for both lead and cadmium in the bloodstream. I'm sending the vape hardware components to the state department of health for confirmation/identification of the solder alloy. I'll update as this unfolds.
This does not conflict with the CDC findings of Vitamin E acetate in patient lung biopsies. It is still not a good idea to smoke Vitamin E acetate, but it may only be a contributing factor, not a causal agent.