High Lead and Nickel Found in Illegal Vapes

On May 23rd, BBC reported that Inter Scientific laboratory in Liverpool analyzed 18 types of electronic cigarettes and found that the lead content in these e-cigarettes was more than twice the safe limit, while the nickel content was nine times the safe limit.

According to the article, these e-cigarettes were confiscated from students at the Bacchus Marsh College. Most of them are illegal products that have not undergone any type of testing before being sold in the UK.

David Lawson, co-founder of Inter Scientific Laboratory, stated that in 15 years of testing, he has never found any traces of lead in the tested equipment.

These should not appear on the market as they violate all regulations regarding permissible metal content.

In a type of electronic cigarette called "highlighter vapes", laboratory tests have detected the presence of metals.

Lead, at 12 micrograms per gram, is 2.4 times the regulated safe exposure level; nickel is 9.6 times the safe level; and chromium is 6.6 times the safe level. Laboratory testing has shown these metals present in e-cigarette oil. Additionally, the testing revealed the presence of carbonyl compounds, which break down into chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde when the oil is heated, reaching levels up to 10 times higher than that of legal e-cigarettes.

According to UK regulations, all e-cigarettes and e-liquid products that are sold must be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and manufacturers must comply with guidelines related to ingredients, packaging, and marketing. However, the agency does not have the authority to investigate unregistered products.

Craig Copland, the head of the MHRA's e-cigarette project, stated that they will review the findings in order to evaluate whether electronic cigarettes pose a health risk.

The discovery has shocked Mat Carpenter, the dean of Buxton College. He installed sensors in the school's restrooms in an effort to reduce students' use of e-cigarettes. John Britton, an epidemiology professor at the University of Nottingham, has stated that inhaling metal substances is highly dangerous.

He explained the dangers of metal substances entering the human body.

Lead is a neurotoxin that can damage brain development, while chromium and nickel are allergens. Metal particles in the bloodstream commonly trigger blood clots and exacerbate cardiovascular disease.

David Rosen, co-founder of Inter Scientific laboratory, stated that there has been a significant increase in the quantity of illegal products sold recently.

He said:

Some of these products are difficult to distinguish which ones may be legitimate.

References:

Illegal vaping products found to contain high amounts of lead and nickel