A study has found that the toxic metal content released by disposable e-cigarettes on the market is higher than other types of e-cigarettes, and in some cases even exceeds that of traditional cigarettes.
Disposable e-cigarettes, popular among adolescents and young adults, come with health risks that are still being further researched.
A study released by the University of California, Davis on June 25 revealed that the most popular three brands of disposable e-cigarettes on the market – Esco Bar, Flum, and ELF Bar – release toxic metal content not only higher than other types of e-cigarettes but in some cases even surpass traditional cigarettes.
According to the report, “hazardous levels” of lead, nickel, and antimony were found in the e-cigarette vapor, with emissions from some devices exceeding the risk thresholds for cancer and other diseases such as neurological damage and respiratory system diseases. The lead content released by one e-cigarette per day is equivalent to inhaling lead generated by nearly 20 packs of cigarettes.
Researcher Mark Salazar mentioned that when he first saw the concentration of lead, it was so high that he thought their instruments were malfunctioning. These preliminary results prompted him and other researchers to further investigate what users are inhaling.
Disposable e-cigarettes heat e-liquid through battery-operated heating coils to produce inhalable vapor.
In the experiments, researchers used instruments to generate 500 to 1,500 puffs of vapor for each device. The results showed that compared to refillable e-cigarettes, most of the tested disposable e-cigarettes released vapor with “significantly higher” levels of metals. The study also indicated that the more frequently they are used, the higher the release of dangerous metals.
Researchers dismantled these e-cigarettes to identify the sources of metals in the vapor. They found that antimony was originally present in the e-liquid, while parts of some devices leach nickel and lead into the e-liquid, and the heating coils themselves release nickel.
Senior author Brett Poulin stated in the report that this study reveals the hidden risks of these new and popular disposable e-cigarettes containing harmful concentrations of neurotoxic lead, carcinogenic nickel, and antimony, emphasizing the urgency of law enforcement.
E-cigarettes are often promoted as a safer alternative to cigarettes. An article by Yale University pointed out that advertisements targeting young people often package e-cigarettes as products with “trendy appearance, vibrant colors, and various flavors.” According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarettes were the most widely used tobacco product among middle and high school students in the United States in 2024. 7.8% of high school students and 3.5% of middle school students reported using e-cigarettes, with 55.6% using disposable e-cigarettes.
The use of e-cigarettes among adolescents has shown a declining trend in recent years. The CDC found that in 2024, the number of adolescents self-reporting the use of e-cigarettes was 500,000 fewer than in 2023, reaching the lowest level in the past decade.
California has banned the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes, since 2022. However, California adolescents can still buy flavored e-cigarettes online. A study from the University of California, San Diego in 2024 found that many online retailers ignore the prohibition against selling e-cigarettes to minors and do not enforce age verification requirements.
The report from UC Davis concludes that this study highlights the need for stronger enforcement of e-cigarette-related laws and continued research on the impact of these products on public health. ◇