Teenagers Who Vape Frequently Could Be More Exposed to Uranium, Lead, and Other Toxic Heavy Metals, Study Reveals

According to a new study, teenagers who frequently vape could be more exposed to heavy toxic metals.

Vaping and Heavy Metal Exposure

The new study "Biomarkers of metal exposure in adolescent e-cigarette users: correlations with vaping frequency and flavouring" discovered that regular vapers, with ages 13 to 17, and who reportedly use e-cigarettes at least eight times in a day, have 30% higher lead and double as much uranium present in their urine. This is in comparison to their peers, who engage in vaping just occasionally.

Uranium biomarkers were also found to be quite high among teens who preferred sweet flavors of vaping. This is in comparison to menthol or mint-flavored ones.

Though the study did not have a control group of teenagers who did not engage in vaping entirely, the pattern that was seen is quite concerning. For public health's sake, the scientists argue that the possible toxicity of e-cigarettes needs to be further investigated.

The findings do not imply that vaping causes the accumulation of toxic metals within the body. However, earlier analyses have discovered toxic metal signs in samples of e-cigarette samples and in vapers' bodily fluids. At times, the urine and blood samples of vapers could even rival those of cigarette smokers.

The study findings are quite concerning, as compounds such as uranium and lead are known to be detrimental to human development.

Vapes, E-Cigarettes

Though e-cigarettes are typically sold as devices that could help individuals quit nicotine, it appears that an entire generation of non-smokers is bringing the habit into young adulthood. A 2023 US National Youth Tobacco survey discovered that 10% of high school students were current e-cigarette users. Nearly 40% of those reported to vape for at least 20 days in the past months. Among e-cigarette users, 90% said that they used products that were flavored.

While vapor may sound harmless, the liquid of e-cigarettes, though they are free of nicotine, contains several chemicals. At times, they include toxic metals such as uranium,. lead, nickel, chromium, and arsenic.

There is only minimal research that looks into metal exposure potential from vaping or how certain flavors could yield certain effects. Because of this, the chronic outcomes of vaping remain quite a mystery.

At present, experts still do not have a comprehensive picture of what the vapor of e-cigarettes consist of. For instance, previous lab research has discovered that mint or tobacco flavors have higher toxic metal content compared to sweet ones.

The study authors warn that the increased biomarkers of uranium found in the sweet-flavored ones are quite concerning, as a significant proportion of teenage vapers opt for candy-flavored products. Moreover, the sweet taste could also end up suppressing nicotine's harsh effects and boosting reinforcement. This leads to heightened cue-reactivity in the brain.

The study has several unanswered questions, though it is an addition to the wave of concern regarding the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents. While no amount of vaping is considered safe regardless of age, it could be particularly risky for young people.

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