Laboratory Tests Find High Levels of Lead and Nickel in Illegal E-cigarettes in the UK

Today, on May 24, news from the BBC reports that some e-cigarettes confiscated from students in the UK contain high levels of lead, nickel, and chromium.

Used e-cigarettes collected from Baxter College in Kidderminster were tested in a laboratory.

The results indicate that the amount of lead inhaled by children using them could be more than twice the daily safe limit, and the inhalation of nickel is nine times the safe level.

Some e-cigarettes also contain harmful chemicals, similar to those found in cigarette smoke.

According to the World Health Organization, exposure to high levels of lead can affect the central nervous system and brain development in children.

It is believed that e-cigarettes are widely used among middle school students, and Baxter College is not the only school trying to prevent them from vaping during class.

Inter Scientific laboratory in Liverpool collaborates with e-cigarette manufacturers to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, analyzing 18 types of e-cigarettes.

Most of them are illegal and have not undergone any type of testing before being sold in the UK.

David Lawson, co-founder of the laboratory, stated: "In 15 years of testing, I have never found lead in devices. These should not be on the market—they violate all regulations regarding allowable metal content. This is the worst set of results I have ever seen."

The levels of metals found in "highlighter vapes"—designed with bright colors resembling highlighters—are:

Lead - 12 micrograms per gram, 2.4 times the regulated safe exposure level

Nickel - 9.6 times the safe level

Chromium - 6.6 times the safe level

These metals are believed to come from heating elements—but tests show they are present in the e-liquid itself.

Laboratory tests also found compounds called carbonyls—which break down into chemicals like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde when e-liquids are heated, also present in cigarette smoke—at levels 10 times higher than those in legal e-cigarettes. Some even contain more than just tobacco.

Manufacturers must comply with regulations regarding ingredients, packaging, and marketing—all e-cigarettes and eliquids must be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). However, the agency is not required to check the claims in the documents and has no authority to investigate unregistered products.

Craig COPland, head of e-cigarettes at MHRA, stated that the results will be reviewed to assess whether e-cigarettes pose a health risk.

BBC News showed the findings to Baxter College students Leon and Oscar, whose e-cigarettes had been confiscated. They admitted in a previous interview that they were addicted to nicotine and were struggling to quit vaping.

The boys said it is easy to overlook the risks.

"You don't really care if you're addicted to it—you forget about it," Oscar said.

Leon stated that regulatory and law enforcement agencies should take more action to address the issue.

"They don't seem to be as concerned as they should be," he said.

Principal Matt Carpenter was shocked by the findings. He installed sensors in school bathrooms to try to reduce vaping opportunities.

Mr. Carpenter said: "For a long time, it has been part of youth culture, and we are far behind in influencing children's behavior, which is why we need such strong messaging."

"As a society, we have the ability to convey two messages: one is that if you already smoke, vaping can have a positive impact on your health, but children should not vape."

John Britton, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Nottingham and a member of the Royal College of Physicians Tobacco Group, said inhaling metals could be dangerous.

"Lead is a neurotoxin that can damage brain development, while chromium and nickel are allergens; metal particles in the blood can often trigger blood clotting and exacerbate cardiovascular diseases," he said.

"Carbonyl compounds have slight carcinogenic properties, so continued use increases the risk of cancer—but in legal products, the levels of all these substances are extremely low, so the lifetime risk to individuals is minimal."

However, Mr. Lawson stated that the number of illegal products has significantly increased recently, and some of these products are difficult to distinguish from those that may be legal.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, expressed her shock at these findings.

"Unregulated products need to be removed from our streets and stores, and our young people need to be protected."

"If possible, e-cigarettes are something we should avoid, although they are better than smoking. If you suspect your child is using illegal e-cigarettes, it poses a danger to their health."

The government has allocated £3 million to address the issue of illegal e-cigarette sales in England. It hopes to fund more testing purchases and remove these products from stores, and is calling for evidence to help reduce the number of children exposed to e-cigarettes.

It is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to children under 18. However, a survey conducted by YouGov in March and April for Action on Smoking and Health showed that the proportion of teenagers aged 11 to 17 who tried vaping rose from 7.7% last year to 11.6%.