A new study by the University of California, Davis, finds that disposable e-cigarettes emit more toxic metals than traditional cigarettes, posing significant health risks, especially to teens and young adults.
Researchers from the University of California, Davis have discovered that some disposable e-cigarettes emit higher levels of toxic metals compared to traditional cigarettes. This finding is particularly concerning given the popularity of these products among young adults and teenagers.
The study, published June 25 in the journal ACS Central Science, reveals that certain disposable vape pods release more lead in a single day of use than nearly 20 packs of traditional cigarettes.
“Our study highlights the hidden risk of these new and popular disposable electronic cigarettes — with hazardous levels of neurotoxic lead and carcinogenic nickel and antimony — which stresses the need for urgency in enforcement,” senior author Brett Poulin, an assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Environmental Toxicology, said in a news release. “These risks are not just worse than other e-cigarettes but worse in some cases than traditional cigarettes.”
Uncovering the Invisible Danger
The investigation was sparked when first author Mark Salazar, a doctoral candidate in Poulin’s lab, encountered a disposable vape pod during a social visit. His curiosity led him to test the pod in the lab at UC Davis.
“When I first saw the lead concentrations, they were so high I thought our instrument was broken,” Salazar added.
This unexpected result prompted a deeper dive into these products.
The researchers analyzed seven types of disposable vape devices from three popular brands, generating between 500 and 1,500 puffs per device. They found alarmingly high concentrations of various metals, including antimony and lead.
Hidden Toxins in Vapes
By dismantling the devices, the team identified the source of these toxic elements.
They found that some components, such as leaded bronze alloys, were leaching metals like nickel and lead into the e-liquid, which subsequently transferred to the inhaled vapor.
Additionally, antimony was found at high levels in unused e-liquids.
“We found that these disposable devices have toxins already present in the e-liquid, or they’re leaching quite extensively from their components into e-liquids and ultimately transferred to the smoke,” added Salazar.
Health Risks and Regulatory Gaps
The research showed that vapors from some devices had nickel and antimony levels surpassing cancer risk limits, while lead emissions in others exceeded thresholds for neurological damage and respiratory diseases.
Despite the prevalence of these hazardous products, disposable e-cigarettes are primarily illegal in the United States but are still widely available. This poses a heightened risk to teens and young adults, who are particularly susceptible to lead exposure.
The market for disposable e-cigarettes is rapidly growing, outpacing current scientific research. There are nearly 100 brands on the market, but regulatory oversight and consumer awareness are lagging.
Given these alarming findings, the researchers stress the urgent need for regulatory enforcement and further study.
Source: University of California, Davis