Dank Vapes Tops List of Vapes Linked to Lung Damage

The CDC released a list of 152 vaping products that were most often implicated in cases of lung injury after vaping. Topping the list is Dank Vapes, a brand used by 56% of the patients who were hospitalized with vape-related lung damage. Dank is an empty cartridge that the seller can fill, making it more susceptible to tampering.  The CDC identified a chemical compound called vitamin E acetate, used as a thickener in vaping products, as the cause of the lung inflammation.

Other products on the CDC list include TKO (15%), Smart Cart (13%), Rove (12%), Dabwood (10%), and Brass Knuckles (10%). While Dank Vapes was most commonly reported in the Northeast and South, patients in the West reported using the TKO and Smart Cart brands most often, while Rove was more popular in the Midwest.

Some of the brands, like TKO, are only sold in states with legalized marijuana. But counterfeits of these brands are available nationwide, making it hard to tell originals from fakes.

To date, 2,291 patients have been hospitalized and 48 people have died from vaping, according to the CDC. About half the patients are young people in their teens or early 20s. The agency recommends not using any electronic cigarettes or marijuana vapes, especially those not purchased from legal dispensaries.