Table 2.

Needed public health and regulatory action to address e-cigarette or vaping product use–associated lung injury

1.A national case registry and biorepository are needed to comprehensively evaluate the overall burden of EVALI-VEA and related disease as well as study the chemical constituents and biological alterations responsible for disease progression and recovery. 2.A dedicated EVALI EMR code, coding systems to collect information on vaping products and e-liquid components, and clinician education about vaping product use–related coding paradigms and assessments are needed to more accurately document EVALI and related disease. 3.FDA regulation of nicotine vaping products and development of product standards are needed to ensure that potentially harmful chemicals, such as VEA, are not unexpectedly added to products available to the public. In addition, state or federal regulatory frameworks are needed to address safety of cannabinoid and other vaping products. A proactive approach of assessing inhaled products for respiratory safety before their availability on the market would additionally protect public health. 4.Continued patient and public education on the risks of vaping product use are needed from researchers and public health officials, especially in regard to harmful vaping product constituents (like VEA) and for youth users.

Definition of abbreviations: EMR = electronic medical record; EVALI = e-cigarette or vaping product use–associated lung injury; FDA = U.S. Food and Drug Administration; VEA = vitamin E acetate.