Health Minister Mark Butler on vaping

The Canberra Times

Health Minister Mark Butler outlines the 200 chemicals in vapes and the unknown health effects as he introduces his anti-vaping bill. Footage: Hansard

Transcript

00:00 The highly addictive nature of nicotine, the sophisticated marketing to vulnerable populations

00:06 and the direct inhalation of substances into the lungs mean that risks to population health

00:12 associated with vaping can be severe.

00:15 Numerous studies highlight concerns about potential adverse effects, including on adolescent

00:21 brain development, worsened pregnancy outcomes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease

00:27 and cancer.

00:29 This is not surprising, as vapes have been found to include over 200 different chemicals,

00:35 including listed poisons, heavy metals such as nickel and chromium, and chemical by-products

00:40 produced during heating such as formaldehyde, nitrosamines, acetone and acrylin.

00:47 Some of these chemicals are used in weed killer, nail polish remover and even to embalm dead

00:52 bodies.

00:53 A range of other health risks are also associated with vape use, including severe burns, poisoning

01:00 and seizures.

01:01 The evidence is clear.

01:04 People who have never smoked and who use vapes are more likely to take up cigarette smoking

01:08 than those who do not.

01:10 Dual use of vaping and tobacco products may result in even worse health outcomes compared

01:16 to smoking alone.

01:18 Perhaps most worryingly, the long-term health risks of vaping are not yet fully known.

01:25 Nicotine vapes may worsen mental health conditions and amplify stress, anxiety and depressive

01:31 symptoms.

01:32 Parents, teachers and doctors are reporting that nicotine dependence is impacting learning

01:37 behaviours and wellbeing in schools.

01:39 In addition, the Australian Dental Association warns that vaping may be setting the next

01:44 generation up for a raft of oral health issues.

01:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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