A shocking new lab report has detailed the deadly chemicals found inside lolly-flavoured vapes, including carcinogenic substances and “staggering” amounts of illegal nicotine.
All vaping samples contained highly toxic substances including arsenic and zinc along with other metals such as lead and mercury.
They also all contained acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, with the latter being classified as a group 1 human carcinogen.
The e-cigarettes were also all found to have what’s known as a “Volatile Organic Compound” which is substances found in the likes of paints, pharmaceuticals and refrigerants.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ordered the lab to run tests amid concerns consumers, including young Queenslanders, were unaware of what the e-cigarettes truly contain.
“I asked the Health and Environment Committee to look at this issue and these results are staggering,” the Premier says.
“There are people who might think vaping is safer than smoking or, indeed, harmless. These test results should make those people think again.”
In terms of nicotine, content ranged from trace levels to 47,000 mg/kg.
Under Queensland law, vaping devices containing nicotine may only be obtained from a pharmacy using a prescription.
The State Government has proposed new laws and regulations to crackdown on the vape market.
There are major concerns regarding how popular the lolly-flavoured vapes are amongst Queensland youth and the marketing of the innocently labelled flavour.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has described the results as extremely confronting.
“We know vapes are becoming more popular, especially with younger people, and these results make it clear that what is inside them is extremely dangerous,” Minister Fentiman says.
“This week, our government passed a bill to strengthen controls on smoking and vaping, including harsher penalties for anyone selling or storing illegal tobacco.”
Key findings from the lab results include:
- All samples tested positive for nicotine.
- The nicotine content ranged from trace levels (less than 200 mg/kg) to 47,000 mg/kg.
- All samples contained at least two carbonyl compounds: formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Formaldehyde is classified as a group 1 human carcinogen.
- All samples contained Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs are typically used in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals and refrigerants.
- All samples contained arsenic and zinc. Other toxic heavy metals included lead, mercury, nickel, chromium, antimony, aluminium, iron, nickel, barium, manganese, copper, strontium and vanadium.
