— Three people are recovering after being hospitalized for vaping, and the North Carolina Department of Health wants to know why.

All three cases are under investigation. The victims are suffering symptoms that are similar to bacterial or viral infections.

We took information about these cases to a vaping store owner in the area. He made it clear he believes the symptoms listed in this release are not from vaping but from people who are buying vaping cartridges off the black market. He said those cartridges may be laced with pesticides or even THC.

Sherwin Mena, who owns Trinity Vapor Lounge in Raleigh, said he's a vapor advocate who stands behind his product.

"Vaping with nicotine, as the FDA said, is a less harmful alternative to cigs," Mena said.

Mena said he's seen the headlines, like when 60 service members from Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune were rushed to the hospital after vaping unknown substances.

"Vaping is not the issue here," Mena said. "Vaping is a less harmful alternative."

So what are the issues? Mena said people are putting their health at risk by purchasing vaping cartridges off the black market.

"Buying things on a corner market ... that's not going to go your way," he said.

Mena advised buying a vapor cartridge from a licensed store and avoiding people who are vaping with unknown or illegal substances.

"Categorizing vaping with THC, it harms the general public because you hear the word vaping associated with something like this," he said.

The N.C. Department of Health made it clear that it is unknown what type of substances were used in the recent cases that required hospitalization. Mena is confident when the findings come back they will not include regulated vaping products.