EVALI and the Pulmonary Toxicity of Electronic Cigarettes: A Review

Electronic cigarettes are a novel and emerging product increasingly used by the general public. However, despite their popularity, they remain poorly studied and with likely serious health risks. EVALI, or “electronic cigarette or vaping product use–associated lung injury,” is a recently described entity at the forefront of current investigations. Though EVALI has been linked to vitamin E acetate, a constituent of THC vaping products, electronic cigarettes likely pose a host of other pulmonary toxicities. The presentation, diagnostic work-up, treatment, and pathophysiology of EVALI are herein described, as well as the general pulmonary toxicity profile of electronic cigarettes.