VITAMIN E ACETATE: THE HIDDEN DANGER IN VAPING PRODUCTS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Key Takeaways

• Vitamin E acetate has been linked to serious lung injuries when inhaled, especially in illicit or unregulated vaping products.

• It is not used in regulated nicotine e-liquids, but has been found mainly in illegal THC vapes where it is used as a thickening agent.

• Choosing legal, tested vaping products significantly reduces the risk of exposure to harmful additives like vitamin E acetate.

What Is Vitamin E Acetate and Why Was It Used in Electronic Cigarettes?

Vitamin E acetate, also known as tocopheryl acetate, is the acetate ester of vitamin E. It is a stable, synthetic form created by combining vitamin E with acetic acid, and is often preferred in commercial products for its stability and less acidic application. Vitamin E acetate is widely used in skincare, cosmetics, and dietary supplements due to its stability and longer shelf life compared to pure vitamin E. (1)

Vitamin E acetate provides antioxidant protection by neutralising free radicals caused by environmental stressors such as UV radiation and pollution. It also acts as a moisturising agent, helping to maintain the skin barrier and improve moisture retention. However, vitamin E acetate must be converted into free tocopherol by skin enzymes to be effective as an antioxidant, whereas vitamin E (tocopherol) is the active antioxidant that directly combats free radicals and provides immediate protection upon application.

Vitamin E (tocopherol) is less stable and breaks down when exposed to air and light, diminishing its potency over time, while vitamin E acetate is modified with acetic acid to resist degradation from light and air (2). Some studies suggest tocopheryl acetate is poorly absorbed by the upper layers of the skin and may be up to 10 times less potent than free tocopherol for preventing UV-induced damage. Topical application of vitamin E acetate is generally safe but may cause irritation or contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. The compound appears as a thick, viscous oil that’s virtually odourless and colourless, making it an attractive additive for various commercial applications.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vitamin E acetate is commonly added to THC vape liquids as a thickening agent. Unscrupulous manufacturers discovered that this thick oil could dilute expensive cannabis concentrates while maintaining the product’s viscous appearance, allowing them to increase profits by stretching their supply. The identified vitamin, vitamin E acetate, has been linked to vaping-related lung injuries due to its use as a harmful additive in vape liquid. (3)

The problem arose because vitamin E acetate, while safe for topical application and oral consumption, becomes extremely dangerous when heated and inhaled. When vaped at high temperatures, the compound can break down into toxic substances that coat the lungs, leading to severe respiratory complications.

The Economics Behind the Crisis

The use of vitamin E acetate in black market products wasn’t accidental—it was driven by pure economics. Cannabis oil is expensive to produce, and illegal manufacturers faced constant pressure to maximise profits while minimising costs. Vitamin E acetate offered the perfect solution: it was cheap, readily available, and virtually undetectable to consumers until it was too late. Many of these illicit vaping products are obtained from informal sources such as online vendors, friends, or unlicensed sellers, which are less regulated and carry higher risks.

This economic motivation highlights a crucial distinction between legitimate vaping companies and black market operators. Established manufacturers like SMOKO prioritise safety and compliance over short-term profits, investing heavily in quality control and using only approved ingredients in their UK-made products.

The EVALI Outbreak: When Vitamin E Acetate Turned Deadly

The 2019 outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) marked a turning point in vaping safety awareness. Between June 2019 and February 2020, over 2,800 people were hospitalised with severe lung injuries, and 68 deaths were confirmed across the United States. The CDC has confirmed 2,807 cases of EVALI and 68 deaths attributed to that condition as of February 2020. The outbreak initially caused panic among all vapers, regardless of what products they used. Thankfully, EVALI cases in the UK are very limited and associated with homemade, unregulated e-liquids. (4)

Extensive investigation by health authorities revealed that vitamin E acetate was found in all lung fluid samples of EVALI patients examined by the CDC, and the CDC has detected vitamin E acetate in all lung fluid samples from patients with vaping-related illnesses. This finding provided the smoking gun that investigators needed to identify the strong culprit behind the outbreak. The lungs were identified as the primary site where vitamin E acetate and other toxins were detected in EVALI cases. Importantly, the vast majority of cases were linked to black market THC products, not regulated nicotine vaping products. EVALI can occur in anyone using either nicotine or THC-containing vapes, but most hospitalised cases were younger than 35 and used THC-containing vapes from informal sources.

The symptoms of EVALI were severe and often required immediate medical attention. Patients experienced shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, fever, chills, and gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Many required mechanical ventilation to survive, and some suffered permanent lung damage (5). These vaping related illnesses can result in serious lung conditions, such as lipoid pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and other forms of lung injury associated with exposure to chemicals like vitamin E acetate.

How Vitamin E Acetate Damages the Lungs

When vitamin E acetate is heated and inhaled, it undergoes a process called thermal decomposition. This breaks down the compound into harmful substances and chemicals, including toxic substances like ketene gas, which is highly reactive and can cause severe chemical burns to lung tissue. Additionally, the thick, oily nature of vitamin E acetate means it can coat the tiny air sacs in the lungs, interfering with gas exchange and potentially causing lipoid pneumonia.

Research published in medical journals showed that vitamin E acetate acts like a foreign oil in the lungs, triggering an inflammatory response that can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This condition is often fatal and requires intensive medical intervention, and can result in permanent scarring of lung tissue.

Identifying and Avoiding Vitamin E Acetate in Vaping Products

The EVALI crisis taught consumers and the industry valuable lessons about product safety and the importance of purchasing from reputable sources. Vitamin E acetate has been found in a variety of vaping devices, including vape pens, raising concerns for vape users about the risks associated with different device types. Here’s how to protect yourself from vitamin E acetate and other dangerous additives in vaping products.

Choose Regulated Products from Licensed Manufacturers

The most effective way to avoid vitamin E acetate is to purchase vaping products only from licensed, regulated manufacturers. In the UK, companies like SMOKO operate under strict regulatory oversight that prohibits the use of dangerous additives like vitamin E acetate. All vaping products for sale in the UK must be notified to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with detailed information, including a full listing of all ingredients (6). These companies must comply with rigorous testing and quality control standards that black market operators ignore.

Look for products that display clear ingredient lists and batch numbers. Legitimate manufacturers are transparent about their ingredients and manufacturing processes. They also provide certificates of analysis and third-party lab testing results to verify product safety and quality.

Red Flags of Unsafe Products

Several warning signs can help you identify potentially dangerous vaping products that may contain vitamin E acetate or other harmful additives:

• Unusually low prices that seem too good to be true

• Products sold without proper packaging or labelling

• Vague or missing ingredient lists

• Products purchased from unlicensed retailers or street dealers

• THC products from states where cannabis isn’t legally regulated

• Products that claim to contain high concentrations of active ingredients at suspiciously low prices

• Nicotine content exceeding the legal limit of 20mg/ml (in the UK) is a red flag, as such products are likely illegal or unsafe

Understanding Product Testing and Certification

Reputable manufacturers invest heavily in product testing to ensure safety and compliance. This includes testing for residual solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, and dangerous additives like vitamin E acetate. Reputable brands also test for other chemicals that may pose health risks, as E-Cigarettes can contain a variety of chemicals beyond nicotine and flavourings. 

The Regulatory Response: How the Industry Changed After EVALI

The EVALI outbreak prompted swift action from regulators worldwide, leading to enhanced safety standards and stricter oversight of vaping products. Understanding these changes helps consumers make more informed decisions about the products they choose.

Enhanced Testing Requirements

Following the outbreak, regulatory bodies implemented more comprehensive testing requirements for vaping products. These now include specific tests for vitamin E acetate and other oil-based additives that could pose inhalation risks. Manufacturers must demonstrate that their products are free from these dangerous compounds before they can be legally sold.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration strengthened its oversight of vaping products, requiring premarket authorisation for all new products (7). This process includes rigorous safety evaluations that would prevent products containing vitamin E acetate from reaching consumers.

Industry Self-Regulation and Best Practices

Beyond regulatory requirements, the legitimate vaping industry implemented additional self-regulatory measures to restore consumer confidence. Many manufacturers now voluntarily conduct more extensive testing than legally required and have adopted stricter quality control procedures.

Trade associations developed new safety standards and best practice guidelines that specifically address the use of oil-based additives. These industry-led initiatives complement government regulations and provide an additional layer of consumer protection.

The Science Behind Safe Vaping: What Makes Products Safe

Understanding the science behind safe vaping products helps consumers make informed choices and avoid potentially dangerous products. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which involve burning tobacco to deliver nicotine, producing tobacco smoke that contains harmful chemicals such as tar and carbon monoxide, vaping does not involve burning tobacco. As a result, vaping does not produce tobacco smoke or carbon monoxide, and exposes users to fewer harmful chemicals and harmful substances than smoking. The key lies in the ingredients used and how they behave when heated and inhaled.

Safe vs. Unsafe Vaping Ingredients

Legitimate vaping products use a carefully selected list of ingredients that have been deemed safe for inhalation when properly heated. The primary e-liquid components include:

• Propylene Glycol (PG): A thin, odourless liquid that carries flavour and provides throat hit

• Vegetable Glycerine (VG): A thicker, sweet liquid that produces vapor clouds

• Food-grade flavourings: Specially selected compounds that are safe for inhalation

• Nicotine: When used, it's pharmaceutical-grade nicotine in controlled concentrations

These ingredients have been extensively studied and used in approved medical inhalers and other respiratory devices for decades. Importantly, none of these compounds form dangerous oils that can coat lung tissue when heated.

Why Oil-Based Additives Are Dangerous in E Liquid

The fundamental problem with vitamin E acetate and similar compounds is that they’re oil-based. Vaping exposes users to risks when oil-based additives are present, as these substances can accumulate in the lungs and cause harm. When inhaled, oils don’t evaporate like water-based substances. Instead, they can accumulate in lung tissue, leading to lipoid pneumonia and other serious respiratory conditions.

This is why reputable manufacturers avoid all oil-based additives in their vaping products. The lesson from the EVALI outbreak is clear: if a substance wouldn’t be safe to inhale as an oil, it shouldn’t be in vaping products, regardless of its safety for other applications.

Is Popcorn Lung Linked To Vitamin E Acetate?

Popcorn lung, also known as bronchiolitis obliterans, is damage from a different chemical called diacetyl. Diacetyl was used to add buttery flavour to popcorn in large popcorn factories, but it was inhaled in large quantities by factory workers. This exposure caused popcorn lung disease, a severe issue of scarring in the small airways leading to coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Sadly, it is incurable.

In the UK, diacetyl is banned as an ingredient in vape liquids, and there are no confirmed cases of popcorn lung linked to vaping despite the presence of diacetyl in less well-regulated vape markets.

Moving Forward: Ensuring Your Safety With E Cigarettes in 2026 and Beyond

As we move through 2026, the vaping industry continues to evolve with enhanced safety standards and better consumer education. Vaping is now recommended as a stop smoking aid by the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and is considered less harmful than smoking. Almost two-thirds of people who use a vape along with support from their local Stop Smoking Service successfully quit smoking.

A major systematic review found that people using nicotine-containing vapes are almost twice as likely to successfully quit smoking as those using other nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gum. More evidence shows that nicotine vapes are more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies, and people who regularly used e-cigarettes had a greater reduction in the average number of cigarettes smoked per day compared to those who did not use e-cigarettes.

The top two reasons people give for vaping are to help them quit smoking and to prevent relapse to smoking. The lessons learned from the vitamin E acetate crisis have made the industry safer, but consumers still play a crucial role in protecting themselves and making informed choices for smoking cessation.

Current Safety Standards and Future Developments

Today’s regulatory framework is significantly more robust than it was before the EVALI outbreak. Manufacturers now operate under comprehensive safety standards that specifically address the risks highlighted by the vitamin E acetate crisis. These include mandatory testing for oil-based additives, stricter manufacturing controls, and enhanced product labelling requirements. While vaping is not risk free, current evidence shows that in the short and medium term, vaping a regulated product poses significantly lower health risks than smoking. Scientific reviews indicate that vaping poses only a small fraction of the risks associated with smoking during these periods (8), though some health impacts remain unknown.

Looking ahead, we can expect continued improvements in safety standards and testing capabilities. New analytical methods are being developed to detect even trace amounts of dangerous compounds, and regulatory bodies are expanding their oversight capabilities.

Consumer Education and Awareness

Perhaps the most important outcome of the EVALI crisis is increased consumer awareness about vaping safety. Today’s consumers are more knowledgeable about the importance of purchasing from reputable sources and understanding product ingredients. Educational initiatives are especially important for young people, E Cigarette users, and smokers, who may be at higher risk of misinformation or health issues related to vaping.

Educational initiatives by health organisations have helped consumers recognise the difference between legitimate products and potentially dangerous alternatives. This knowledge is crucial for maintaining the progress made in vaping safety.

According to research from Wikipedia’s comprehensive overview of electronic cigarettes, the technology and safety standards continue to evolve, with manufacturers investing heavily in research and development to create safer products.

Conclusion: Your Health Depends on Making Informed Choices

The vitamin E acetate crisis serves as a sobering reminder that not all vaping products are created equal. While the outbreak was devastating, it ultimately led to significant improvements in product safety, regulatory oversight, and consumer awareness. Today's legitimate vaping products, manufactured by companies like SMOKO under strict UK regulations, are far safer than the black market products that caused the EVALI outbreak.

The key to safe vaping lies in making informed choices. Always purchase products from licensed, regulated manufacturers who provide transparent ingredient lists and third-party testing results. Avoid products sold through unlicensed channels or those with suspicious pricing that seems too good to be true.

At SMOKO, we've spent over 12 years building a reputation for safety and quality, helping our customers avoid over 850 million cigarettes while saving them more than £510 million. Our commitment to UK manufacturing and regulatory compliance ensures that our products meet the highest safety standards, free from dangerous additives like vitamin E acetate.

If you're considering making the switch from traditional cigarettes to vaping, or if you're currently using products from questionable sources, now is the time to prioritise your health and choose products from reputable manufacturers. Check out the SMOKO E-Cigarette and Vape Starter Kit Deals and make the switch today - your lungs will thank you!

FAQ: Vitamin E Acetate and Vaping

What is vitamin E acetate? Vitamin E acetate is a synthetic form of vitamin E commonly used in skincare and supplements. While safe to ingest or apply to the skin, it is not safe to inhale.

Why is vitamin E acetate dangerous in vapes? When heated and inhaled, vitamin E acetate can interfere with normal lung function and has been linked to serious lung injuries, including EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury).

Is vitamin E acetate found in nicotine vapes? It is not used in regulated nicotine e-liquids. Most cases of exposure have been linked to illegal or unregulated THC vaping products.

How can I avoid vitamin E acetate in vaping products? Stick to legal, regulated vaping products that comply with safety standards and ingredient testing, and avoid unverified or illicit products.

What is the American Medical Association's stance on vitamin E acetate? The American Medical Association has called for bans on harmful chemicals like vitamin E acetate in vaping products and advocates for regulations to protect public health from vaping-related illnesses.

Are there nicotine free e-liquids and how do they help with quitting? Yes, nicotine free e-liquids are available and can be used as part of the smoking cessation process. Gradually reducing nicotine levels and eventually switching to nicotine free options can help users achieve a nicotine-free status.

Is nicotine addictive and what happens when you quit? Nicotine is highly addictive and can cause dependence. When quitting, withdrawal symptoms such as cravings and irritability can occur. Using the correct nicotine strength in e-liquids can help manage withdrawal symptoms and make the quitting process easier.

References

(1) Tocopheryl Acetate: Does It Really Work?

(2) D-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate vs. Tocopherol: Key differences

(3) CDC: Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

(4) UKVIA: Does vaping cause EVALI?

(5) Cleveland Clinic: EVALI

(6) Register a Vape Product in the UK

(7) E-Cigarettes, “Vapes” and Other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Authorized by the FDA

(8) Public Health England insists e-cigarettes are 95% safer than smoking

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Written by Dan Overgage

Dan Overgage is a former smoker of 10 years until he became a client of SMOKO E-Cigarettes.  Dan started working with SMOKO 6 years ago after successfully quitting using our e-cigarettes and works across our Customer Service and heads up our content creation and research with a strong focus on all things quitting smoking.  During his tenure with SMOKO, Dan has written countless blogs and consults with countless clients every day to help them to stay smoke-free.

Last updated 19/01/2026