GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – State health leaders are investigating hospitalizations suspected to be caused by vaping.
Now local experts like Dr. Manar Alshahouri are speaking out on the issue.
“One of great concern but I can’t say of surprise,” he said.
Alshahouri is a pulmonologist or lung doctor.
He’s seen teens coming in, needing treatment for lung problems.
“It’s extremely alarming,” he said. “We’ve seen this sporadically in the past year or so, so it’s something that’s not terribly surprising.”
Vaping is the simple act of inhaling and exhaling vapor from an electronic cigarette or similar device, like a JUUL.
When it comes to e-cigarettes the amount of nicotine in a cartridge depends on the manufacturer.
“A full cartridge has about 100 milligrams,” Alsahouri said. “So let me put that in perspective, 10 milligrams would kill a child.”
He says while he has seen vaping advertised as a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, that kind of advertising is misleading.
“To me, the way I think about it is how close do you want to walk to an edge? Is it safer to walk 12 inches to an edge versus six inches? You’re still taking a risk by taking those substances.”
So do people consider vaping a less risky alternative to smoking regular cigarettes?
One Green Bay woman says she isn’t sure.
“A lot of the times you don’t know what you’re ingesting,” said Tawny Casey.
Both Casey and Dr. Alshahouri agree, there’s not enough research regarding e-cigarettes and vapes.
However, Casey adds there is a difference that needs to be recognized.
“I feel like a lot of my friends are in the same place where it’s just when you’re out with friends or when you’re drinking especially that’s when people tend to do it the most I would say,” she said.
Social situation or not, Alshahouri says it’s a risky habit that should be dropped.
“Why would you want to take a risk?” he asked. “What are you hoping to achieve?”
