Which is the most dreaded chemical?

In the context of counterfeit vape cartridges, the most dreaded chemical is often vitamin E acetate.

Here's why it's so feared:

Linked to EVALI – Between 2019 and 2020, thousands of people in the U.S. were hospitalized with severe lung injuries (EVALI - e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury), and over 60 died. The CDC identified vitamin E acetate as the primary culprit, especially in black-market THC cartridges.

Why it's used – Counterfeiters add it to thicken the oil, making cheap, diluted product look like high-quality, thick concentrate. When heated, it can coat the lungs and cause severe inflammation.

Not meant for inhalation – Vitamin E acetate is safe in pills or skin creams, but it is dangerous when vaporized and inhaled.

Other dangerous contaminants found in fake carts include:

Heavy metals (lead, nickel) from cheap hardware

Pesticides (like myclobutanil, which can turn into hydrogen cyanide when heated)

Synthetic cannabinoids (spice/K2) instead of real THC

Microbial contaminants from unsanitary production

But if you ask which single chemical has caused the most widespread, severe lung injuries in the vaping world, vitamin E acetate is the one most dreaded.