The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday they had established a breakthrough in determining Vitamin E Acetate could be a cause of illness in many patients who have gotten sick from using e-cigarettes, including patients in Michigan.

The CDC did not say the acetate was the only cause of illness that has struck more than 2,000 people nationwide (and caused 39 deaths) as it continues to search for all possible causes. But the acetate has been found in the lung fluids of at least 29 patients that have been tested.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services officials said that as of Thursday there had been 46 patients in Michigan with vaping related illnesses, 26 confirmed and 20 suspected cases. The state has also had one patient die of vaping related causes.

Last month, the state said at least one sample it had submitted for testing found Vitamin E Acetate. The substance is suspected in several other samples supplied by state patients who fell ill from vaping.

There are three bills in the House, HB 5159, HB 5160 and HB 5161, that ban the use of the acetate in e-cigarette or vaping products. The bills, introduced last month, have been referred to the House Regulatory Reform Committee and have not yet had a hearing.

However, HB 5019, which would end a ban on vaping – instituted by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and for the time period stayed through a lawsuit U.S. District Court – and prohibit any other such ban has been heard in the committee.

The CDC considered its findings significant because it marked the first time it was able to tie a substance from a product to clinical samples taken from patients.

Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for DHHS, said the department is continuing to urge people not to vape at all to be safe, or at least not vape any products that contain THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, or that have Vitamin E Acetate.

This story was published by Gongwer News Service.