Certain Disposable Vapes May Emit More Toxic Metals Than Traditional Cigarettes

Brightly colored, cost-effective, and disposable electronic cigarettes and vaping devices continue to surge in popularity. These gadgets heat flavored nicotine liquids into a vapor that users inhale, often for hundreds or thousands of puffs, in a practice known as vaping.

Recent research published in ACS Central Science reveals that some disposable vaping devices, after a few hundred puffs, can release significantly higher levels of toxic metals and metalloids compared to older refillable e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. This elevation in metal emissions raises concerns about potential health risks for users.

Lead researcher Brett Poulin from the University of California, Davis, explained, "Our findings highlight the hidden dangers of these popular disposable e-cigarettes, which contain hazardous amounts of neurotoxic lead and carcinogenic nickel and antimony. This underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement and regulation."

Historically, studies on early-generation refillable e-cigarettes showed that their heating elements could leach metals like chromium and nickel into the vapor inhaled by users. Inhalation of such metals is associated with increased risks of cancer, respiratory illness, and nerve damage.

Despite most disposable e-cigarettes not being authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they remain widely accessible and popular, especially among youth and young adults. As sales of disposable e-cigarettes have surpassed those of traditional refillable devices, research into their composition and potential health hazards has lagged.

In the study, researchers analyzed the elemental composition of vapors from seven different disposable devices across three brands at different stages of use. Initial liquids contained low metal levels, but some devices exhibited surprisingly high concentrations of lead and antimony. Lead likely leached from copper alloys used in device components, while the source of antimony remained unclear.

When activated, these devices heated the liquid to generate puffs — between 500 and 1,500 each — with vapor analysis revealing that metal levels increased with usage. Notably, some devices emitted more lead during typical daily use than nearly 20 packs of traditional cigarettes.

Health risk assessments showed that vapors from some devices delivered metal concentrations exceeding safety thresholds. For instance, vapors contained carcinogenic forms of nickel and antimony, and emissions of nickel and lead surpassed thresholds linked to diseases beyond cancer.

The findings raise significant concerns given the popularity of disposable e-cigarettes, particularly among adolescents, emphasizing the need for regulatory oversight and further research into their health impacts.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-disposable-vapes-higher-amounts-toxic.html