Vaping (e-cigarettes)

What are vapes

Vapes work by heating liquid into a fine spray of chemicals (vapour) that’s inhaled into the lungs. Using a vape and inhaling its vapour is known as vaping.

Most vapes include a battery, a heating element, and a cartridge or refillable tank containing liquid (vape juice). Disposable vapes have a set number of puffs, and some rechargeable devices can be refilled with vape liquid.

What's in vapes

It’s difficult to know what you’re inhaling when you vape. There’s no quality or safety standards for vapes or their liquids, so they’re not regulated or checked, and the labels are often incorrect.

Most vapes have been found to have nicotine in them, even when labelled as ‘nicotine free’.

They also have harmful ingredients, such as:

• lead, arsenic and nickel – heavy metals that can cause serious health issues, including cancer
• formaldehyde – a toxic chemical used in cleaning products that can damage your lungs
• propylene glycol – a solvent used in fog or smoke machines that may trigger asthma
• vegetable glycerin – a liquid derived from vegetable fat that’s safe to eat, but not safe to inhale
• antifreeze – used in the car coolant
• plastic (polyester) compounds
• volatile organic compounds – found in paint and heavy duty cleaning products
• flavouring that’s safe to eat but not safe to inhale.

Are vapes harmful

Vapes contain chemicals that can harm your health, and we’re still learning about their long term effects. Below are some of the ways vaping could harm you and the people around you.

Vapes negatively impact your health

Vaping is linked to a range of health issues, including:

• coughing, respiratory problems and permanent lung damage
• nausea and vomiting
• gum disease and tooth loss
• nicotine dependence (addiction)
• burns or injury caused by a vape getting too hot, or exploding
• poisoning or seizure from inhaling too much nicotine or swallowing vape liquid.

The safest choice is not to vape at all.

Vapes give unreliable doses of nicotine

The amount of nicotine in vapes depends on:

• the type and size of the device
• the strength of the liquid (nicotine concentration)
• how you inhale or puff.

Vapes labelled ‘nicotine free’ may still have nicotine in them, making it easy to get addicted without realising.

Vapes may encourage smoking

Vaping may increase your chances of nicotine addiction and using tobacco. It can make smoking seem more normal.

People who vape but have never smoked cigarettes are about 3 times more likely to start smoking cigarettes than those who don’t vape.

Second-hand vapour

There’s evidence that vaping indoors increases the amount of tiny chemical particles in the air. This means other people, such as children in the home, can breathe in these chemicals.

Improper labelling and unsafe packaging

Vapes:

• may leak their liquid
• don’t have child resistant packaging
• often have incomplete or incorrect ingredient labels
• often don’t say if nicotine is in them, or how much there is.

Poisoning risk

Vapes are a serious poisoning risk if too much nicotine is inhaled or ingested.

Vapes are particularly dangerous to young children who might be attracted by the colourful packaging or flavouring. Even very small amounts of liquid nicotine can be fatal to children.

Signs of poisoning may include:

• agitation
• nausea and vomiting
• a racing heart
• difficulty breathing
• seizures.

In severe cases, healthy adults have died from nicotine poisoning.

What to do if you think a child or someone may have been poisoned

Vapes as a quit smoking tool

Vapes aren’t approved as quit smoking aids in Australia. There are safer ways to quit smoking, supported by decades of research.

Learn more about quitting methods

Is vaping legal in Queensland

In Queensland, vapes are only legal if you have prescription and get them from a pharmacy, or through Therapeutic Goods Administration processes.

Vaping is subject to the same laws as smoking. You can’t use vapes in smoke free places, sell them to people under 18, advertise them in shops, or sell them through vending machines.

Learn more about smoking and vaping laws

Ready to quit vaping?

Quitting is possible with the right support.

Whether you vape, smoke, or do both, we have all the support you need to quit. Get ready to quit with the tools and information right here at Quit HQ.

You can call Quitline on 13 78 48, or request a call back at another time. Quitline counsellors can provide tailored advice and genuine support on your journey to quit vaping.

Get support from Quitline