S. Korea finds some liquid e-cigarette products have ingredient linked to lung illness

KT&G

12/12/2019 11:14

By Sangmi Cha
    SEOUL, Dec 12 (Reuters) - South Korean health authorities
have found vitamin E acetate, which may be linked to lung
illnesses, in some liquid e-cigarette products made by Juul Labs
and KT&G, they said on Thursday, but the two companies denied
using the material.
    The results followed an analysis of seven key ingredients in
153 liquid e-cigarettes carried out by the food and drug safety
ministry, after a spate of severe lung injuries tied to the
devices in the United States.
    "With the findings of harmful substances like vitamin E
acetate and flavorings included in liquid e-cigarettes, we once
again advise you to stop using liquid e-cigarettes," the
ministry said in its statement.    
    South Korea's health watchdog said it had identified a small
amount of vitamin E acetate in 13 vapes.
    These included U.S. e-cigarette maker Juul Labs' flavoured
"crisp" and South Korean maker KT&G's  033780.KS  flavoured
"SiiD tobac" for its Lil Vapor device.
    But the watchdog has not found any of the marijuana
ingredient THC, it added.
    The South Korean office of Juul Labs has reiterated that its
products did not contain vitamin E acetate, adding that it was
closely analysing the results and would "actively communicate"
with the relevant ministries.
    KT&G said it had never used the substance as an ingredient
and its own tests had found none of it.
    Last month, U.S. health officials said vitamin E acetate was
found in all lung samples from 29 patients with vaping-related
injuries.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N27O1J1 
    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has called vitamin E acetate a "chemical of concern" and
recommended not adding it to e-cigarettes or vaping products
while the investigation proceeds.      
    In October, South Korea's health ministry advised people to
stop vaping because of growing health concerns, especially after
a case of pneumonia was reported in a 30-year-old e-cigarette
user that month.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N2771NA
    The announcement prompted convenience store chains and duty
free shops to suspend the sale of flavoured liquid e-cigarettes
made by Juul Labs and KT&G.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N27912U         
    South Korea is the world's No.2 market of heat-not-burn
e-cigarettes after Japan, worth $1.7 billion, according to
Euromonitor, but liquid e-cigarettes are less popular.

 (Reporting by Sangmi Cha; Editing by Hyunjoo Jin and Clarence
Fernandez)
 ((Sangmi.Cha@thomsonreuters.com; +82 2 3704 5646; Reuters
Messaging: sangmi.cha.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))