CDC Reports More Poisonings from E-Cigarette Liquid Nicotine, Half are Children

Back in September of 2010 there was only one report of poisoning related to an e-cigarette. In February of 2014, that number ballooned to 215 mainly due to the product's "e-juice," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention reported.

More than half of the cases involved children under the age of five swallowing or drinking the e-cigarettes' e-juice. A total of 42% of the cases involved those over the age of 20 who ingested the liquid nicotine or had it absorbed through their skin. The newer and advanced e-cigarettes feature filling up a small canister with plain or flavored nicotine juice, which is the root of the problem.

The advanced battery powered e-cigarettes come in three pieces: a battery, a cartridge, and a mouthpiece. The cartridge is filled with the e-juice and is then attached in between the mouthpiece and the battery. The e-juice contains high concentrations of nicotine, and if ingested improperly - through the mouth, injected intravenously, or absorbed in the skin - it can be deadly, especially for young children.

"Nicotine is probably the most toxic plant chemical ever discovered," said Dr. Richard Clark, medical director for the California Poison Control System and a professor of toxicology, in this ABC News article.

Additionally, an overwhelming number of teens are using e-cigarettes, which is concerning medical experts because of nicotine's effect on the underdeveloped brain. Research has shown that nicotine may have negative permanent effects in regards to attention and memory in which teens are particularly vulnerable. Nicotine has been widely known to change the "reward system" in our brain that manages our desires, pleasure, and emotions. 

Poison centers received 2,405 calls related to e-cigarettes in the past three and a half years. A total of 70% of the cases involved someone improperly ingesting the liquid, 17% were related to inhalation, and the rest were caused by absorption through the skin or the eye.

Once the FDA conducts further studies and figures out more about the dangers of e-cigarettes and the nicotine juice, they will surely be regulated.

To read more about e-cigarettes and the potentially poisonous "e-juice," visit this Live Science article.