The Juul e-cigarette lawsuits allege that the manufacturer of Juul devices deceptively marketed the highly concentrated nicotine delivery system to teens and young adults to get them addicted to the company’s products. Through these marketing practices, people who had no prior smoking experience were led to believe that Juul usage provided a safer smoking alternative.
If you or your child became addicted to nicotine as a result of using Juul, an accomplished mass torts attorney could fight to recover damages on your behalf. Call now to see if you have a case.
What Consumers Need to Know about Juul Lawsuits
Electronic cigarettes, also known as vaping products, e-cigs and e-cigarettes, are designed to mimic the appearance of cigarettes, USB flash drivers, written pens, and other commonly used products. These devices contain a liquid featuring high concentrations of nicotine, glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavoring. The heating coils and battery in the Juul device heat the liquid, causing it to become an aerosol that can be inhaled.
Vaping products are officially referred to as electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS. Juul products are the among most common types being utilized by e-cigarette consumers. The Juul delivery system, known as a pod, has an appearance similar to a flash drive and contains dangerously high quantities of nicotine.
In fact, just one Juul pod features the same amount of nicotine as an entire pack of regular cigarettes. Furthermore, because Juul pods contain such a significant concentration of nicotine, the body absorbs the nicotine at a much higher rate than it would through traditional smoking.
Is Juul Harmful?
There are numerous reasons for Juul’s ability to saturate the already flooded e-cigarette market and become a premier brand for e-cigarettes, but among the foremost factor is Juul Labs’ widely successful marketing. Through the company’s advertising efforts, Juul successfully promoted its product as a safe alternative to using traditional cigarettes and an effective method to quit smoking.
However, recent studies have revealed that the additives and chemical agents contained in e-cigarettes could inflict serious damage to the lungs. In addition, the high concentration of nicotine contained in each Juul pod is another concerning issue, and one of the matters at the crux of lawsuits concerning Juul e-cigarettes.
According to the American Lung Association, there’s growing evidence of the health hazards of e-cigarettes on the lungs, including lung disease and irreversible lung damage. The Association has called upon the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on numerous occasions to increase their scrutiny and oversight of e-cigarette products to protect youth.
Signs of Nicotine Poisoning
The FDA has been sent numerous reports regarding users of Juul, mainly young adults and teenagers, who have become addicted to these devices. Some individuals have even suffered convulsions and seizures due to nicotine poisoning and toxicity. Common symptoms of nicotine poisoning include:
- Convulsions
- Blood clots
- Elevated blood pressure
- Embolisms
- Joint Pain
- Heart injuries
- Strokes
- Seizures
Various e-cigarette lawsuits, as well as government agencies, have accused Juul of targeting young and underage consumers through its advertising to promote nicotine addiction in a new generation. When the company first began to market Juul products in 2017 and 2018, ads depicted young people enjoying the products in a range of settings. Juul marketed extensively through social media to its younger audience, touting its flavors such as crème, fruit, and mint.
The e-cigarette lawsuits further claim that Juul intentionally created a sleek, compact device with high nicotine concentration that expedited the delivery of nicotine to the user. The device was so small that it could fit in the palm of someone’s hand, and the nicotine did not product a foul odor, allowing Juul to market these e-cigarettes to a younger generation as being safer than traditional cigarettes.
Juul Injuries and Known Side Effects
Besides the hazards associated with nicotine poisoning and addiction, studies have found numerous other health hazards connected to vaping. The Journal of Pediatrics released a study in 2018 revealing the carcinogenic impact of the flavoring agents used in vape juice to create the fruit flavors. These flavoring chemicals feature toluene, an ingredient featured in commercial adhesives and paint thinners, the embalming fluid formaldehyde, acrolein, which is used to kill algae and plant blooms in water treatment ponds and irrigation canals, and the buttery flavor diacetyl.
These chemicals could lead to the development of a serious, irreversible lung diseases called bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as popcorn lung. Signs of popcorn lung include shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, mimicking the symptoms associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Also, when heated, vaping products could produce heavy metal particles such as nickel, lead, chromium, manganese, and cadmium, which can all become lodged in the lung tissue. Certain vape liquids feature nitrosamines, which have been linked to cancer.
Schedule a No-Obligation Case Consultation to Learn More About Juul E-Cigarette Lawsuits
If you or a loved one suffered due to your use of Juul e-cigarette products, an experienced attorney could evaluate your case and see if you have grounds for a lawsuit. Contact the office today for an initial case review.
