TULSA — A Tulsa County resident is the first in the state of Oklahoma to have a lung injury related to vaping. The Oklahoma State Department of Health confirms it is someone under the age of 18.
Dr. Phil Barton with the Children's Hospital at St. Francis says vaping is leading to a massive amount of inflammation released in the lungs. He said lungs are getting bogged down with fluid and can’t stay open when someone is vaping. It can lead to chest pain, fever and a lack of oxygen in the lungs. Dr. Barton also said, while we don’t know exactly what is causing the lung injury, it is related to the chemicals found in vaping fluid.
“It can be compounds such as diacetyl, it even has formaldehyde, mustard gas, sulphur dioxide, heavy metal, there are various compounds," he said.
Dr. Barton also said lung injuries from vaping are still very rare. He hopes the medical field will learn more about it in the next 3-5 years.
The Tulsa Health Department is also working to stop vaping in teens. It said 3.6 million youths used e-cigarettes last year. It said they are working with school districts to promote anti-tobacco policies. There is also an Oklahoma Tobacco Help line you can call. That number is 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
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