According to foreign reports, earlier this week, e-cigarette maker Juul reached a $438 million settlement agreement with 33 states, including Ohio.

The settlement came after an investigation into Juul's marketing practices, which investigators said targeted minors.

Dr. Loren Wold of The Ohio State University has been researching Juuls and its impact on young people, and explained why the company was being investigated.

“Juul uses marketing tactics to really appeal to young people,” says Wald, “using social media influencers, using attractive models to promote their products, and not talking about any potential health hazards at all.”

Dr Wald said the marketing was reminiscent of how cigarette companies used to market their products.

"I think it's unfortunate that these companies have reverted to the strategy of using traditional cigarettes," he said.

He and his team have been using mice to study the effects of e-cigarettes on teens.

"We've shown that if you start exposure to animals at the human equivalent of 12 to 15 years old, if you evaluate them in adulthood, they develop persistent cardiac dysfunction," says Wald.

After announcing the Juul settlement, he hopes it will stop other vaping companies from marketing to minors.

“It’s really getting companies to notice that the penalties for bad behavior are severe, especially in terms of marketing, product placement, etc.,” he said.

Dr. Wald hopes to help reduce the number of children involved in vaping by educating them about the health effects vaping may have on their bodies.