| category | factcheck |
| score | Hearsay Expertise πΏπΏπΏπΏπΏ |
| claim | "95% of zero popcorn lung cases from vaping being deadly" |
| url | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11011221/Up-95-people-develop-severe-popcorn-lung-result-vaping-DIE.html |
| author | DailyMail / Mansur Shaheen |
| tags | ['third-party-fact-check', 'popcorn-news', 'undisclosed-coi'] |
DailyMail still being the epicenter of popcorn news
Article claims that vaping would cause popcorn lung,
despite diacetyl being banned in the UK/EU. Rationale for still peddling
this FUD was some unvalidated estimate from the Johns Hopkins phrasing
bank.
And you know, at some point you have to recognize that a hypothetical worry
becomes a fictional one. After zero cases over 15 years, for instance.
What's interesting is the "95%" deadliness after 5 years claim from pulmonologist Dr Panagis Galiatsatos. It's not clear where this came from, raised my suspiscion about being an ALA spokesperson. Edit: Later clarified that he was certainly quoted out of context, and neither pleased about it: https://twitter.com/panagis21/status/1547624678830665729 And in a more detailed discussion on LBC clarified that while there's a chemical feasibility, the likelihood and case numbers aren't there. (Good points on recognizing branding and marketing as main concerns to avert non-smoker uptake. The very thing CTFK only uses for lobbying, but doesn't want addressed.)
Still leaves the question if the article tries to piggyback or linguistically undermine a more established 95% estimate. The "safer" spin (rather than "less harmful than continued smoking") is a common indicator for disinfo sourcing.
references
- https://twitter.com/cjsnowdon/status/1547545559552200704
- https://twitter.com/MarshallKeith2/status/1548358498915741698
phrase check
E-cigarette and vape manufacturers have often marketed their products as safer alternatives |
π§ | Actually from PHE. Vendors aren't usually allowed to make such claims. |
e-cigarette devices are more dangerous |
π§ | Author himself suffers from perception woes |
Many users will eventually develop 'popcorn lung' |
π₯ | Article premise is bunk. |
under scrutiny from regulators in recent years as part of a larger effort to curb teen smoking |
πͺ | Observably more to reverse the decline in teen smoking. |
experts warn that users can develop the devastating condition 'popcorn lung' |
π₯ | Popcorn lung people aren't widely considered experts. |
tells DailyMail.com |
π¨ | Hadn't actually told this. |
Juul products from shelves, before allowing the company temporary reprieve |
π§ | Forced by courts, not by courtesy. |
Diacetyl is also used as a flavoring agent in many electronic nicotine products. |
π₯ | Not in the UK. |
verdict
Normally wouldn't spend time on this. But this appears to be tagged as "@type":"NewsArticle" no less.
Lots of topical conflation, and quite aligned with prevalent propaganda,
or sports-style reporting the author is more accustomed to.
It now spread to LADbible. (Bit of a joke or tittytainment news site, and their credence/reach has likely peaked.)