Health impacts of vaping revealed as Scotland steps up efforts to ban disposable vapes
As Scotland attempts to ban single-use disposable vapes, what are the reasons for increased vape use in the UK and how dangerous can they be for our health?
5 minute readVaping is a controversial topic that’s rarely out of the news. Recently, Scotland’s first minister announced plans to tackle the growing problem of single-use (disposable) vapes, including a possible ban.
Most of us have read the headlines and have some idea what vaping is. We may even have tried vaping, either as a means to quit cigarettes, to follow the current vaping trend, or to see what all the fuss is about.
But what is vaping? What are the long-term effects on our health? Are there any benefits to vaping? And what impact do disposable vapes have on the environment?
What is vaping?
“Vaping” is the use of an electronic device called an E-cigarette or vape, to inhale an aerosol. Vapes can be disposable, refillable, rechargeable, or battery-operated and come in a variety of forms, including electronic cigarettes, pens, pods, and mods. Most vapes work in generally the same way and contain a battery, heating element, liquid container, and mouthpiece.
Vapes were invented in China in 2003 and first became available in the UK in 2005. They were initially marketed as a smoking cessation tool (to help people quit smoking tobacco).
In recent years, however, disposable vapes have become increasingly popular, especially amongst children, teenagers, and young adults. They are available in a range of sweet, fruity flavours that are particularly appealing to this age group. In 2022 there was a 7- fold increase in young people in the UK using disposable vapes, up from 7.7% in 2020 to 52% in 2022.
Is vaping addictive?
Most vapes contain nicotine, a highly addictive chemical. Over time, your body gets used to nicotine, and you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you don’t have it regularly.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms may include:
Feeling irritable, nervous, anxious, or jittery
Feeling sad, or low in mood
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling tired
Feeling hungry
Intense cravings
Is vaping harmful to our health?
The short answer is that we don’t know. Vaping is a new phenomenon and disposable vapes are newer still. They simply haven’t been around long enough us to know the long-term effects on our health.
Are vapes less harmful than cigarettes?
Vapes almost certainly contain fewer dangerous chemicals and are less harmful than cigarettes, but that doesn’t mean they are safe.
What do vapes contain?
Vapes appear to contain fewer toxic chemicals than the 7,000 found in regular cigarettes, but they do contain potentially harmful substances.
In the UK, vapes containing many of these chemicals are banned, or their amounts are limited, but illegal vapes may still contain them.
To reduce the risk, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:
Not using vapes containing the chemical THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
Not buying vapes from informal sources, such as friends, family or online.
Not modifying or adding any substances to a vaping device that are not intended by the manufacturer.
Some harmful substances found in vapes include:
Nicotine - besides being highly addictive, nicotine is a toxic chemical that can affect adolescent brain development. Nicotine is also dangerous during pregnancy and can harm the developing foetus.
Cancer-causing chemicals - chemicals known to cause cancer, such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, have been found in vapes.
Propylene glycol - a thick, colourless substance that is used as a food additive and in the manufacture of substances such as paint solvent and antifreeze. Propylene glycol has been linked to lung inflammation when inhaled.
Acrolein - a biocide primarily used to kill weeds and rodents. It can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and irreversible lung damage.
Diacetyl - may be used in some vapes to add a buttery flavour such as coconut, vanilla, and maple. There may be a link between inhaling diacetyl and a serious lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung), though more research is needed.
Diethylene glycol - a toxic chemical used in antifreeze. It has a sweet taste and may be used as a base in vapes. Inhaling diethylene glycol has been linked to lung disease.
Heavy metals - nickel, tin, and lead have all been found in vapes. Heavy metal toxicity can damage organs, including the lungs, brain, liver, and kidneys.
Cadmium - a toxic metal that increases the risk of breathing problems, such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). It’s also found in traditional cigarettes.
Benzene - a type of volatile organic compound (VOC) found in car exhausts. It can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Long-term exposure to benzene may cause anaemia, leukaemia and changes to the immune system.
Ultrafine particles - are inhaled deep into the lungs, causing lung irritation.
Unknown chemicals in vapes
A 2021 study by John Hopkins University found that vapes contain almost 2000 chemicals not listed by the manufacturers. Most of these chemicals are unknown and may damage our health in ways that aren’t yet clear.
Among the chemicals found were caffeine, industrial chemicals, a pesticide, and flavourings with toxic effects that may cause respiratory inflammation.
Can vaping help you stop smoking?
Vapes may be helpful as a tool to help adult smokers quit smoking. Research suggests smokers are more likely to stop smoking successfully with a nicotine vape than other nicotine replacement methods, such as patches or gum.
The NHS currently only recommends vaping as an aid to stop smoking in adult smokers.
Vapes are not recommended for non-smokers, pregnant women, or people under 18 years of age.
Why are some governments trying to ban disposable vapes?
Though originally intended as a tool to help smokers quit cigarettes, in recent years vapes have developed into a rapidly growing trend among young people, particularly children and teenagers.
Many governments, including the UK, Germany, and France, are moving to impose restrictions on disposable vapes or even ban them completely.
Two of the major concerns for governments are the environment and the health implications of vaping. There is also concern about the way vapes are marketed, with brightly coloured packaging, and sweet or fruity flavours especially appealing to children.
Environmental concerns
Vapes are classified as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and should be disposed of at a household recycling centre or returned to the shop where they were purchased. However, a recent review by the Scottish government found that more than half of the 26 million disposable vapes consumed in Scotland in the last year were disposed of incorrectly.
The review highlighted several environmental impacts of disposable vapes, including:
Littering
Risks associated with the unsafe disposal of lithium batteries and chemicals
Increased greenhouse gas emissions
The amount of water used in manufacturing vapes
Disposing of vapes incorrectly has also resulted in fires in waste facilities, waste collection vehicles, and landfill sites, putting lives at risk.
Health concerns
Concerns over the long-term impact on our health have grown in recent years as vaping soars in popularity, especially among young people.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has called for a ban on disposable vapes on the grounds that they are highly addictive and have the potential to cause serious lung damage. In addition, combined research from the UK and USA found that young people who vape are more likely to smoke tobacco later in life.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen in this article, the long-term health implications of vaping remain largely unknown. While vaping may be beneficial to adult smokers who want to quit cigarettes, disposable vape use among the under 18’s has skyrocketed in recent years.
As more and more countries move to ban the sale of disposable vapes, and research continues into the possible long-term effects on our health, what started as a solution to a problem may end up being a problem in its own right.
