By Sarah Swain Sep 7, 2021
A health charity is calling for a ban on the over-the-counter sale of vapes, after finding harmful chemicals including disinfectant, petroleum and fish euthanasia drugs inside the electronic smoking devices.
Lung Foundation Australia wants action on the sale of vapes, also known as e-cigarettes, which are largely unregulated but, with colourful packaging and fruity flavours, mostly aimed at young people.
Research by Curtin University and partly funded by the foundation found all of more than 50 vapes bought over the counter contained chemicals with "unknown effects on respiratory health".
Colourful vapes or e-cigarettes can be harmful.
Household disinfectant, petroleum, cosmetics, paint and even eugenol, which is used to euthanise fish, were found inside the vaping liquid - as well as nicotine, which they're not supposed to contain.
"With the unregulated, untested and unknown nature of the vape industry, we knew the research into the chemicals and toxicity of e-liquids would uncover strong findings," Lung Foundation Australia chief executive Mark Brooke said.
"We never expected such alarming results."
More than half of the vapes contained chemicals likely to be toxic if repeatedly inhaled, the study said, and some of the chemicals could even cause lung cancer.
And while flavoured vapes are not supposed to contain nicotine - they're prescription-only in Australia - 20 per cent of those studied did.
"The damage caused by the continual use of these products could be costing a generation their freedom to healthy lungs and have our hospital respiratory units facing patients with respiratory issues and even lung disease or cancer," Mr Brooke said.
Young people under pressure
Melbourne woman Cypher Hayden, 19, was diagnosed with a form of pneumonia after becoming a regular user of flavoured vapes she legally bought from a shop.
Her mother Rebekah said her daughter was told by doctors the vapes were the cause of the illness.
Rebekah Hayden's daughter Cypher became sick from vaping. (Supplied)
"She was in a lot of pain, breathless and coughing," Ms Hayden said.
"I'm really concerned for my daughter but also on a wider level for young people."
While the teen has recovered from her illness, she now sometimes has to use a puffer.
Mr Tanvir, who is involved with the charity campaign, which also includes the launch of an education project, Unveil What You Inhale, said many friends and classmates at the University of Canberra use them.
He said some often wrongly believe they're "healthier" than cigarettes.
He said he knows as part of his health studies, as well as the recent findings, that's not at all true.
