The rise in popularity of brightly colored, inexpensive disposable electronic cigarettes and vapes has raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with these devices. A recent study published in ACS Central Science highlights the dangers posed by disposable e-cigarettes, revealing that after a few hundred puffs, these devices release higher amounts of toxic metals and metalloids compared to older refillable e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes.
Lead, nickel, and antimony were found to be present in hazardous levels in some disposable vaping devices, increasing the risk of health problems such as cancer, respiratory disease, and nerve damage. The study, led by Brett Poulin from the University of California, Davis, emphasizes the urgent need for enforcement to regulate the marketing and availability of disposable e-cigarettes.
Previous research on refillable e-cigarettes has shown that heating components can release metals like chromium and nickel ions into the vapor, which users inhale. However, the elemental composition of vapors from disposable e-cigarettes had not been extensively studied until now. Poulin and his team evaluated popular disposable e-cigarette brands to assess the potential health risks they pose to users.
The researchers analyzed seven disposable devices from three brands, comparing liquids with light and heavy levels of flavoring. They found that while the original unused liquids had low levels of ionic metals and metalloids, some devices had unexpectedly high levels of lead and antimony. The source of lead was traced back to leaded copper alloys used in non-heating components, while the origin of antimony remains unknown.
Upon activating the disposable e-cigarettes and creating between 500 and 1,500 puffs for each device, the researchers observed an increase in the levels of ionic metals and metalloids in the vapors. Compared to older refillable vapes, most of the tested disposable e-cigarettes released higher amounts of toxic elements into the vapors. In fact, one disposable e-cigarette released more lead in a day’s use than nearly 20 packs of traditional cigarettes.
The study also assessed the health risks faced by daily users of these devices, revealing that some disposable vapes emitted levels of nickel and antimony that exceeded cancer risk limits. Additionally, vapors from four of the devices had nickel and lead emissions that surpassed health risk thresholds for diseases other than cancer. These findings are particularly concerning given the widespread popularity of disposable e-cigarette products, especially among adolescents and young adults.
In conclusion, the research highlights the need for stricter regulations and enforcement to protect consumers from the potential health hazards posed by disposable e-cigarettes. The study, titled “Elevated Toxic Element Emissions from Popular Disposable E‑Cigarettes: Sources, Life Cycle, and Health Risks,” underscores the importance of further research and monitoring of these devices to ensure the safety of users.
