Disposable e-cigarettes and vape pods are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their convenience. But beneath their cute packaging and fruity scent lies a troubling secret — high levels of lead and other cancer-causing hazardous materials.
A new study, published in ACS Central Science, revealed that disposable e-cigarettes are significantly more toxic than refillable e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes. These new, disposable versions release toxic metals that, when inhaled, can increase the risk of cancer, respiratory disease, and nerve damage.
“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,” said senior author Brett Poulin, an assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Environmental Toxicology, in a press release. “These risks are not just worse than other e-cigarettes but worse in some cases than traditional cigarettes.”
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