Can You Get Chemical Pneumonia From Vaping?
Contrary to some representations from the companies that make e-cigarettes and related products, vaping is not an entirely risk-free alternative to tobacco smoking. Although the research is not complete or definitive, chemical pneumonia appears to be one of the many risks associated with vaping.
Chaffin Luhana is currently investigating claims of e-cigarette users who relied on allegedly misleading representations from vaping companies that their products do not cause significant health risks.
We understand the complex physiological interactions between chemical substances and lung tissue, and how those substances can cause lung inflammation. If you have been diagnosed with chemical pneumonia after you used any vaping products, we will fight to get you the largest available compensation for your illness from the companies that are responsible for it.
What is Chemical Pneumonia?
The term “pneumonia” generally refers to a lung infection that can lead to high fevers, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. Most forms of pneumonia are caused by bacterial or viral infections and are treated with antibiotics or corticosteroids.
Chemical pneumonia is a more unusual form of the illness that is caused by inhalation of noxious chemical substances that inflame lung tissue. Given the broad range of atmospheric chemical contaminants and pollutants, physicians often have a difficult time determining which specific substances caused a patient’s chemical pneumonia.
Is There a Link Between Vaping and Chemical Pneumonia?
The flavor pods that are made for e-cigarettes include many different chemical substances that a user will inhale when using a vape pen. Some of those substances, such as diacetyl, have already been shown to cause scarring that leads to a condition known as “popcorn lung.”
Researchers have not yet fully connected chemical pneumonia with any specific vape substance, but anecdotal evidence suggests a causal connection. For example, in 2019, at least sixteen otherwise healthy individuals were hospitalized in Milwaukee after being diagnosed with chemical pneumonia. All sixteen of those individuals used some form of vape pen before contracting the illness.
Anyone diagnosed with chemical pneumonia after using a vape pen should retain all records of what vape products they used.
What Damages Might Be Available for Chemical Pneumonia That Was Caused by Vaping?
Every claim that a defective product caused an injury or illness must be supported by some factual proof of that causal link. A person who used or who lives with someone who uses a vaping pen and who is later diagnosed with chemical pneumonia will need to show the chemical composition of the vaping pods that were used and how the substances in those pods might be linked to the illness.
Once that connection is made, an injured vape pen user might be able to recover damages for their:
- Present and anticipated future medical expenses
- Rehabilitative and occupational therapy
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent loss of lung function
Retain a Defective Vape Product Lawyer with Knowledge and Experience
The vape pen injury attorneys at Chaffin Luhana have years of experience in representing clients that have suffered illnesses and injuries as a result of using unsafe products. There have been hundreds of reports of illnesses from vape pen users, and we now believe that the manufacturers and distributors of those products should bear the costs and expenses that those users have incurred to treat their illnesses.
Please call us today if you have used any form of e-cigarette or vape pen before being diagnosed with chemical pneumonia or any other pulmonary illness. We will review the facts of your case and provide an honest assessment of your opportunity to recover maximum damages from the companies that produced the vape pods that caused your illness.
Speak with us today about filing a JUUL lawsuit or claims for damages against other vape product manufacturers. All initial consultations are free, and we never charge a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.