Some people believe electronic cigarettes are a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, but a recent study suggests that’s wildly incorrect.
During their examination of disposable e-cigarettes, researchers from University of California, Davis found that these devices can release more lead than 20 packs of traditional cigarettes. The popular devices also released other chemicals, including nickel, exceeding the acceptable risk level for cancerous substances.
This was due in large part to the chemicals seeping out of coils and other metallic parts inside the disposable e-cigarettes.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have laws prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to people younger than 21.
“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 study author Brett Poulin, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology at UC Davis. “These risks are not just worse than other e-cigarettes, but worse in some cases than traditional cigarettes.”
The study was published in the journal ACS Central Science.
