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You might want to think twice before reaching for that flavored vape. It could be exposing you to more cancer-causing toxins than a pack of cigarettes.
That’s the alarming takeaway from a new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, who found that some of the most popular disposable e-cigarettes on the market release dangerously high levels of toxic metals, including lead, nickel, and antimony, when used.
In fact, one device emitted more lead in a single day than you’d get from smoking nearly 20 cigarettes.
The research team tested seven flavored vapes from top-selling brands like ELF Bar, Flum Pebble, and Esco Bar. Using a machine to simulate 500 to 1,500 puffs, roughly a few days’ worth of vaping, they discovered levels of metal vapors that shocked even them.
“We thought our equipment was broken,” said Mark Salazar, the study’s lead author and a PhD candidate at UC Davis. “The readings were off the charts.”
The metals, which are used in the coils that heat e-liquids into vapors, appear to leach into the vapor that users inhale. Some Esco Bar models released up to 13 times more lead in just 200 puffs than a pack of traditional cigarettes.
Four of the devices tested had lead and nickel levels linked to serious lung problems like asthma and lung scarring. All three metals are considered carcinogenic, with established links to lung, brain, kidney, and even sinus cancers.
“These risks aren’t just higher than what we see in other e-cigarettes; in some cases, they’re worse than old-school cigarettes,” said Dr. Brett Poulin, senior author and assistant professor of environmental toxicology at UC Davis.
Despite being banned, flavored vapes remain widely available in the U.S., often sold under the radar at convenience stores or online. The CDC named ELF Bar the most popular vape brand among teens in 2023 and 2024, and Esco Bar pulled in $82 million in sales in 2022 alone.
An estimated 17 million U.S. adults vape, along with a significant percentage of teens. Many view e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking, but this new research challenges that perception.
Adding to the concern: a New Jersey man recently died of what doctors believe may be the first confirmed case of lung cancer caused by vaping.
*Source: Daily Mail UK
