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JUUL Users Inhaling Chemicals Not Listed: Yale Study

People who use some e-cigarettes are consuming more than the ingredients listed, according to a new study from Yale University.

People who use some e-cigarettes are consuming more than the ingredients listed, according to a new study from Yale University.

Chemical reactions in flavored liquids of the popular JUUL e-cigarettes created unexpected chemicals that can irritate users' airways, researchers said.

Despite the popularity of JUUL, little is known about the vapor that's created, researchers added.

The study caught the attention of Melissa Washington.

“The difference with a cigarette is it just smells off hand really bad but because they make all these other e-cigarettes like JUUL’s that smell like bubble gum or strawberry, the kids think it’s better,” said Washington.

Mackenzie Gerard is Washington’s Niece and says the dangers outweigh the benefits of smoking.

“People take e-cigarettes thinking that it’s better than e-cigarettes but it’s actually not,” said Gerard.

NBC Connecticut reached out to JUUL for comment about the study.

In a statement, a spokesperson said in part that the analysis "failed to take into account real world conditions, including realistic human exposure to vapor products like JUUL."

Dr. Alyssa Bennett is the director of adolescent medicine for Connecticut Children’s.

“The design of e-cigarettes, the flavoring, the branding, the marketing, was very much, very appealing to youth.”

Researchers recommend that future e-cigarette regulations address the formation of new and potentially toxic compounds through the act of vaping, and the possible health effects of flavors in e-cigarettes.

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