An illegal, disposable e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, can pose greater risks than traditional cigarettes, according to a study by the University of California (UC) Davis.
This study, published in the Journal ACS Central Science, found high hazardous levels of some toxic heavy metals in illegal steam. Cancer risk.
Researchers have tested puffs from three popular intake brands, Elf Bar, Flum Pebble and Esco, which are not permitted by the FDA for use in the US, but are widely sold by retailers.
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Three heavy metals (lead, nickel and antimony) were detected in all heavy, lightly flavored devices tested.
These metals are classified as carcinogens and can lead to many types of cancer, including the skin, lungs and kidneys, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
All steam exceeded the cancer risk limit for nickel. Cardiovascular diseaseasthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and respiratory cancer around NIH.
Brett Poulin, senior research author and assistant professor at UC Davis Environmental Toxicology, told Fox News Digital that he was shocked by the level of toxic metals.
“When I analyzed the first sample, the lead concentration was so high that I really thought the instrument was broken,” he said. “The levels were far beyond anything in historical data and even published literature.”
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One of the tested brands exposes users to similar leads As smoking 19 packs of cigarettes, researchers discovered.
Furthermore, it was found that most of the disposable e-cigarettes tested in this study contain greater levels of metals and metals than older refillable steam.
At one point he physically opened the device and discovered that he was using lead copper alloys, a metal made of copper, mainly with a small amount of lead.
“These materials leached into the e-liquid levels of lead that could be dangerous even when the device was not used,” Poulin told Fox News Digital.
“It remains unclear whether this is a deliberate design choice, cost reduction measures or manufacturing oversight.”
According to Poulin, there is no known safe levels of lead exposure.
“This neurotoxin poses a particularly serious health risk Children and young peopleespecially vulnerable. ”
Daniel Sterman, MD, director of the lung tumor program at the NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, told Fox News Digital that the study “clearly” demonstrates high metal concentrations.
“There are several health risks of vaping listed in patients and their families. [such as] Various risks Lung diseaseincluding asthma, COPD and lung cancer,” said Starman, who was not involved in the study.
The doctor said it is difficult to establish a direct link between disposable steam and cancer, but he is watching. Cancer patients People who use the device.
“Disposable steam should be highly regulated by local, state and federal agencies and restricted to individuals over the age of 21,” recommended Starman.
The doctor also sought disposable steam packaging to clearly outline many health risks. “Especially for teenagers and young adults.”
One of the main limitations of this study is that only hundreds of disposable e-cigarette brands currently on the market were tested.
There is a clear difference between metal leaching and profiles across all three brands shared by Poulin.
“We know very little about the metal content of most disposable e-cigarette products that have not been tested,” he said. “This knowledge gap is important Public Health Concern, especially given the popularity of these devices. ”
Elf Bar, a spokesman for the China-based brand, told Fox News Digital that he was rebutting the findings of the study, claiming it had stopped shipping in May 2023.
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The company says that the ongoing trademark litigation will prevent them from selling or selling products in the United States.
“This market gap has led to a surge in counterfeiting, imitation and illegal variations that misuse our brand names,” the spokesman said. “So there are all reasons to believe that the devices tested in this study are not authentic and not manufactured by elf bars.”
The spokesman acknowledged that smoking remains a leading cause of preventable deaths and illnesses around the world, saying recent research “continues to undermine public understanding.” no smoking. ”
The other two brands tested in this study did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarette use among adults has increased from 4.5% in 2019 to 6.5% in 2023.
Men are more likely to smoke than women, and 15.5% of young adults aged 21 to 24 report using e-cigarettes, the source above said.
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The UC Davis study was supported by the University of California Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Program Grant and the California Agricultural Experimental Station.
