Researchers at Harvard have found chemicals linked with cases of severe respiratory disease in over 75 percent of flavored e-cigarettes.

Diacetyl, acetoin, and 2,3-pentanedione, flavoring compounds that the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association lists as “high priority,” have been found in 47 of 51 flavors tested. High priority means they may pose a respiratory hazard in the workplace, precisely where the hazards were found in the first place. Diacetyl has been associated with the respiratory disease bronchiolitis obliterans, or popcorn lung, which first appeared in workers inhaling artificial butter flavor in microwave popcorn processing facilities.

“Recognition of the hazards associated with inhaling flavoring chemicals started with ‘popcorn lung’ over a decade ago. However, diacetyl and other related flavoring chemicals are used in many other flavors beyond butter-flavored popcorn, including fruit flavors, alcohol flavors, and, we learned in our study, candy-flavored e-cigarettes,” said lead author Joseph Allen, assistant professor of exposure assessment sciences.

It’s important to know what we’re putting into our bodies, especially something unregulated like e-cigarettes. No one is forcing these companies to tell you what is in there, no one is forcing them to do the research, and there’s a lot more we don’t know about e-cigarettes. Know the risks and stay informed. You can view the study here and follow us on facebook or like Aggressive Comix on youtube.