The seizure of vaping products containing illegal substances from Canberra businesses highlights the dangers of the unregulated vaping industry and reinforces Lung Foundation Australia’s call for a nationwide ban on over-the-counter sales of e-cigarettes and vapes.
The joint operation by ACT Health and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) found that all seized products contained nicotine, despite two thirds not labelled as such, and two thirds of products contained at least one illegal ingredient known to pose health risks, including irreversible lung damage.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said a nationwide ban on the use of e-cigarettes, and flavoured e-liquids was vital to protect Australians, especially young people, from the known and unknown risks of vaping.
“Along with the concerning risks to lung health and the inclusion of nicotine, the ingredients within many of these flavoured e-liquids include those that are commonly used in household disinfectant, petroleum, cosmetics, paint and even eugenol which is commonly used to euthanise fish. Importantly, these chemicals haven’t been tested or determined to be safe as an inhalant and many have known risks,” Mr Brooke said.
“The damage caused by the continual use of these products could be costing a generation their freedom to healthy lungs and have our hospital respiratory units facing patients with respiratory issues and even lung disease or cancer.”
The news reaffirms the results of a ground-breaking study conducted by Curtin University into the toxicity of e-liquids which raised serious health concerns about the safety of these products and the risks to the respiratory health of young people. The study was funded by Lung Foundation Australia, Minderoo Foundation and the Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation WA.
Results from the study revealed 100% of the e-liquids were inaccurately labelled, 100% contained chemicals with unknown effects on respiratory health, 62% contained chemicals likely to be toxic if vaped repeatedly and most concerningly, 21% contained nicotine despite this being illegal in Australia.
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For media enquiries please contact:
Amber Preiksa, Communications specialist
07 3251 3669
amberp@lungfoundation.com.au