Vaping was proposed as a possible transition strategy to help smokers discontinue smoking, but lately it has been heavily marketed as a smoking alternative. It is an industry that has been completely unregulated as far as additives and nicotine content. Several deaths have been reported related to use of vaping devices. Review the nature of vaping devices, the various potential harmful components, and current knowledge of types and mechanisms. Little is known about the epidemiology to pathophysiology of vaping related lung injury, and there likely remains under-recognition of this entity from the primary care office to the intensive care unit.

Ronald Balkissoon, MD, MSc, DIH, FRCPC; Pulmonologist, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health; Denver CO