VOA慢速英语--Mystery, Deadly Illness Linked to Vaping in 2019

In 2019, U.S. health officials became very concerned about a mysterious illness related to vaping.

Vaping is the act of breathing in vapor¹ through the mouth. It uses a battery-operated electronic device to heat liquid and mix small particles with air.

An illness tied to vaping can make a teenager's lungs look like those of an old person.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC reports, as of December 17, that more than 2,500 people had been hospitalized for injuries connected to vaping.

People in 27 American states have died from the illness. The CDC says additional deaths are under investigation². More than 50 deaths have been blamed on vaping. However, new numbers are expected to be released Tuesday.

Link to marijuana products

Vaping is popular among people who want to avoid smoking tobacco cigarettes. It also has become a way for people to inhale³ marijuana to get high.

Most of the illnesses have occurred in people who vaped THC, the substance in marijuana that produces a high.

In November, American officials reported the discovery of Vitamin E acetate in lung tissue from 29 patients. The substance is believed to be used in illegal vaping products containing marijuana.

The CDC called Vitamin E acetate a "chemical of concern." It recommended that the substance not be added to e-cigarette or vaping products while the investigation is ongoing⁴.

Chemicals are added to e-cigarettes and other products to provide different tastes. They are then inhaled⁵ while vaping. Even when the e-liquids do not contain nicotine⁶, the lungs still take in other chemicals. While many of the flavorings are considered safe in foods, earlier research has suggested that inhaling⁷ vapor from these chemicals may damage the lungs, blood vessels⁸ and heart.

More U.S. teens vaping marijuana in 2019

More than 20 percent of U.S. high school seniors said they vaped THC in 2019, researchers reported in December. The researchers also found that seven percent of students as young as 13 reported vaping THC in the last year.

Richard Miech of the University of Michigan led the study. The findings appeared in the medical publication JAMA. "Whatever teens can vape has increased dramatically in the last few years," he told Reuters.

More harmful effects of e-cigarettes

New information about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes also was released last month. That study showed the use of e-cigarettes increases the risk of developing chronic⁹ lung diseases, but less so than smoking regular tobacco cigarettes.

The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. It looked at 32,000 American adults between 2013 and 2016 who had no signs of lung disease when the study began.

Scientists found that those who used e-cigarettes were 1.3 times more likely to develop chronic lung diseases such as asthma¹⁰, bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

For people who used both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes, the risk was nearly three times higher.

Last month, the World Health Organization called for additional rules on the marketing¹¹ and sales of e-cigarettes, as more information about the possible effects of these products becomes known.

Health officials are increasingly worried about reports of deaths and illnesses linked to vaping. They see the recent death of a young man in Belgium and reports of vaping-related illnesses in the Philippines as a reason to take stronger action.

Words in This Story

vapor – n. a substance that is in the form of a gas or that consists of very small drops or particles mixed with the air

teenager – n. someone who is between 13 and 19 years old

inhale – v. to breathe in

marijuana – n. the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp¹² plant that are smoked as a drug

flavoring – n. a substance that is added to a food or drink to give it a desired taste

dramatically – adj. sudden and extreme

chronic – adj. continuing or occurring again and again for a long time

1 vapor   

n.蒸汽，雾气

参考例句：

• The cold wind condenses vapor into rain.冷风使水蒸气凝结成雨。
• This new machine sometimes transpires a lot of hot vapor.这部机器有时排出大量的热气。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 inhale   

v.吸入(气体等)，吸(烟)

参考例句：

• Don't inhale dust into your lung.别把灰尘吸进肺里。
• They are pleased to not inhale second hand smoke.他们很高兴他们再也不会吸到二手烟了。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 inhaled   

v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. 她合上双眼，深深吸了一口气。
• Janet inhaled sharply when she saw him. 珍妮特看到他时猛地吸了口气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 nicotine   

n.(化)尼古丁，烟碱

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。

7 inhaling   

v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke. 他因吸入烟尘而接受治疗。 来自辞典例句
• The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. 长期吸入被污染空气的影响还无从知晓。 来自互联网

8 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

10 asthma   

n.气喘病，哮喘病

参考例句：

• I think he's having an asthma attack.我想他现在是哮喘病发作了。
• Its presence in allergic asthma is well known.它在过敏性气喘中的存在是大家很熟悉的。

11 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

12 hemp   

n.大麻；纤维

参考例句：

• The early Chinese built suspension bridges of hemp rope.古代的中国人建造过麻绳悬索桥。
• The blanket was woven from hemp and embroidered with wool.毯子是由亚麻编织，羊毛镶边的。