Urgent vape warning as cheap fakes 'contain dangerous levels of toxic metals linked to brain damage and cancer'

Jan 18, 2024

CHEAP knock-off vapes contain dangerous levels of toxic metals, an investigation has revealed.

Significant traces of lead, nickel and chromium were found in budget e-cigarettes confiscated from schoolkids in Worcestershire.

Exposure to all three has been linked to damage to the lungs, liver, heart, immune system and brain - as well as cancer.

Some units also contained harmful chemicals like those in cigarettes, also known to have significant negative health impacts.

As part of the probe, carried out by the BBC, 18 vapes were analysed at the Inter Scientific laboratory in Liverpool.

Most were illegal and had not gone through any kind of testing before being sold in the UK.

Researchers found the brightly-coloured "highlighter" vapes contained 9.6 times the safe level of nickel, 6.6 times the limit of chromium, and 2.4 times of lead.

Experts initially expected the metals to come from the heating element of the device, but testing showed they were in the e-liquid itself.

It means children could be directly inhaling alarming amounts of the metals, which can affect brain development, according to the World Health Organization.

Lab co-founder David Lawson said: "None of these should be on the market - they break all the rules on permitted levels of metal.

"They are the worst set of results I've ever seen."

Scientists also found compounds called carbonyls at 10 times the level in legal vapes.

These break down into chemicals like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde when the e-liquid warms.

Some devices, gathered at Baxter College in Kidderminster, even had higher levels than cigarettes, despite being advertised as a safer-than-smoking alternative.

John Britton, an epidemiology professor at the University of Nottingham who sits on the Royal College of Physicians Tobacco Group, said: "Lead is a neurotoxin and impairs brain development, chrome and nickel are allergens and metal particles in general in the bloodstream can trigger blood clotting and can exacerbate cardiovascular disease.

"The carbonyls are mildly carcinogenic and so with sustained use will increase the risk of cancer - but in legal products, the levels of all of these things is extremely low so the lifetime risk to the individual is extremely small."

The legal tank size for vapes in Britain is 2ml, which would last around 600 to 800 puffs and equates to a maximum two per cent per cent nicotine strength.

All products must be registered with the Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency - but it doesn't have to check the claims made in the paperwork.

At present, you must be 18 or older to buy and use a vape in the UK.

The government is said to be looking into banning "addictive" fruit flavoured e-cigs to deter young people from taking up the habit.

Although it is generally considered a lot safer than smoking, the long-term effects are not yet known, Cancer Research UK warns.

Markus Lindblad, from vape retailer Northerner UK, said that while breaking these regulations might not seem of huge importance, it can be incredibly risky.

"Any fake products that are currently in circulation have not been regulated by any UK registered standards boards or agencies which means that there is no guarantee how safe or harmful this product is, where it was made, or what's actually inside," he said.

"They could technically contain anything, regardless of what is listed on the packaging.

"Some could contain lead, quicksilver, cadmium, arsenic or anything that could be carcinogenic, or in other ways life threatening.

"The side effects can include anything from headaches and nausea to throat and mouth irritation."

Markus said the best way to spot an illegal device is to check the nicotine strength, which is clearly displayed on all labels, just like a bottle of beer.

"If the product says anything over two per cent, it is illegal and therefore potentially harmful too," he added.

"Also check the size of the vape which should be clearly labelled as 10ml.

"If you’re not confident that either of these two signs are correct, do not purchase."

He also urged puffers to keep a particular eye out for devices advertising themselves as Elux - one of the largest brands of disposable vapes.

Markus said the Elux 3500, if it contains nicotine, is illegal as you cannot get that many puffs from 2ml of e-liquid.

"It is against regulatory standards and could even be a fake," he added.

"Make sure to only buy vapes from well-established, legitimate retailers that have warehouses in the UK where they carry out their own testing and have a customer support system in place to answer your questions."