E-cigarettes simulate smoking (called vaping) without burning any tobacco. A battery powered device heats liquid into an aerosol which is inhaled into the lungs.
The liquid inside the e-cigarette contains a complex mix of chemicals including nicotine and toxic chemicals including, but not limited to, nickel, tin, benzene, arsenic, chlorine and lead.
E-cigarettes are often mislabelled as being ‘non-nicotine’ but one vape can contain the equivalent nicotine as in 50 tobacco cigarettes.
The full health impacts of e-cigarettes are not yet known, however potential dangers include faulty parts, potentially flammable lithium batteries, nicotine addiction and overdose.
E-liquids and e-cigarettes are particularly dangerous to young children and can lead to poisoning and even death.
E-cigarettes cannot be used in areas where smoking is banned, cannot be displayed at retail outlets and cannot be sold to people under 18 years of age.
In Victoria, it is generally illegal to sell, possess or use e-cigarettes outside of those prescribed by a doctor.
The Australian Government recently introduced legislation which bans the importation of all non-prescription vaping products as well as single use vapes. The Australian Government is also working with the states and territories to only permit the sale of e-cigarettes in pharmacies.
A number of resources are available to help people quit vaping and smoking.
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vapes) simulate the act of smoking, but you don’t burn tobacco when you use them. Instead, the e-cigarette is a battery-powered device that works by heating liquid into an aerosol, which you then inhale into your lungs.
That aerosol is often called ‘vapour’ and inhaling it from an e-cigarette is known as ‘vaping’. When smoking an e-cigarette, the user inhales and exhales the vapour, which can look similar to cigarette smoke.
E-cigarette use is not approved by the TGA
While some people have reported that using e-cigarettes has helped them quit smoking, there are other proven, safe and effective options that should be explored first.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has not approved any e-cigarette products as a medicine to help people quit smoking. This is because the quality and safety of e-cigarettes has not yet been thoroughly tested, and it is not clear whether they are actually helpful for people trying to quit.
Research now shows that young people who initially use e-cigarettes, who have never smoked before, are 3 times more likely to take up tobacco smoking.
Health impacts of e-cigarette use
Potential harmful impacts on health of e-cigarette use include:
nicotine poisoning, addiction and overdose
lung injuries
trauma and burns from faulty parts
nicotine addiction and overdose
uptake of smoking, particularly by young people and non-smokers.
The products available in Australia are often made up of many parts, from all over the world, which makes it difficult to assess the safety of the overall product. Most e-cigarettes available in retail stores have not been tested or approved by the TGA, which means their safety cannot be guaranteed.
Health experts are concerned about the various chemical ingredients within e-cigarettes. Even though it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes and e-liquids containing nicotine in Victoria, there is no guarantee that products purchased will not contain nicotine. Incorrect labelling of these products is very common in Australia.
E-cigarettes can be mislabelled as being non-nicotine. But one vape can contain the equivalent of 50 cigarettes of nicotine in the one product. They also contain a complex combination of chemicals including nicotine, nickel, tin, arsenic, chlorine and lead. These substances can be harmful to the body, with different flavourings helping to mask these poisons when they are taken into the body.
Nicotine is a poison which is particularly dangerous if ingested (swallowed or inhaled) by young children which has led to poisoning and even death when swallowed by infants. It is also highly addictive and use by teenagers can have a long-term effect on the development of the brain, which continues until the age of 25 years. Nicotine use can have an impact on learning, memory and attention and increase the likelihood of addiction to other drugs in the future.
The particle matter (PM) that is emitted by e-cigarettes is also potentially dangerous to those who inhale it, just as passive smoking is harmful to those who share a contained space with regular smokers. Inhaling PM can lead to asthma attacks and heart disease.
People who use e-cigarettes should make sure they do not vape around children and ensure they always store e-cigarettes and e-liquids out of reach of children when not in use.
Legislation applying to e-cigarettes
The Australia Government has recently tightened the regulation of e-cigarette products. This includes banning the sale of all non-prescription e-cigarettes and prohibiting the sale of any disposable or single-use e-cigarettes.
In Victoria, the Tobacco Act 1987 regulates the use of e-cigarettes in the same way as tobacco products.
This means that e-cigarettes cannot be used in areas where smoking is banned.
Retailers are not permitted to sell e-cigarettes in retail outlets to anyone. Instances of non-compliance should be reported to the local council where the premises is located.
Where to get help
If you or someone you know would like help to quit vaping and stop using e-cigarettes, you can check out the following resources:
