Scientists finds alarming chemicals and isotopes in vapes

ABC NEWS (Australia)

In recent years we've all heard a lot about vaping. Its explosion in popularity; health concerns, and the thriving black market. But one thing you might not know is what's actually in vapes. A team of scientists has found cancer-causing chemicals.

Transcript

00:00 The number of people using vapes has skyrocketed and they're especially popular with teens

00:07 and young adults.

00:08 Scientists in this lab are investigating exactly what's in them.

00:14 If you vape, you might not want to know.

00:17 There's a laundry list of chemical horrors.

00:20 Such elements as arsenic and nickel, which are very, very carcinogenic.

00:26 A carcinogenic substance is something that can cause cancer and it isn't just the vape

00:31 liquid that's a worry.

00:33 Scientists are also studying the vape casing.

00:35 Because we suspect that at the high temperature some metals can be released from the metallic

00:41 part of the device itself.

00:43 Scientist David Pass studies seized vapes to see if they illegally contain nicotine.

00:49 Recently he started testing for other things, finding heavy metals and cooling agents.

00:54 Inhaling anything apart from air is not good for your health.

00:57 In May, the Commonwealth announced a major policy shift.

01:00 It plans to ban the import of non-prescription vapes, meaning they'll be a thing of the past

01:06 in shops across the country.

01:08 Prescription vapes will be sold in pharmaceutical packaging.

01:11 But with no timeline for the crackdown, scientists hope their findings mean anyone tempted to

01:17 pick up a vape will think twice.

01:18 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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