Vaping: Increased risk of uranium and lead poisoning in adolescents

Heavy use of e-cigarettes by young people could increase their risk of exposure to lead and uranium. Chronic exposure to these metals, even at low doses, can result in adverse health effects, including on the brain, kidneys, or fertility.

The authors of this study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, call for stronger regulation and prevention to protect younger generations.[1].

Sharp increase in consumption among adolescents

E-cigarette use has increased significantly in many countries. In the United States, where the study was conducted, 14.11% of high school students reported using this type of product in the past thirty days prior to the survey in 2022. As reported by the New York Times, 91% of young people aged 11 to 15 are e-cigarette users, despite the ban on the sale of these products to minors. In France, the latest results of the ENCLASS survey show that 24.1% of high school students are also occasional consumers of electronic cigarettes, i.e. six points more than in 2018[2]. Again, a recent survey by the National Committee Against Smoking showed that approximately 40% tobacconists agree to sell disposable e-cigarettes to minors under 17, despite the illegal nature of such practices.

Uranium levels twice as high in frequent users

The survey included a nationally representative sample of 200 young U.S. e-cigarette users, with a median age of approximately 16 years. These adolescents were categorized according to the intensity of their use: occasional (less than six days of use out of 30), intermittent (six to 19 days), and frequent (20 or more days per month). The study results show that both intermittent and frequent e-cigarette use by these youth were associated with higher levels of lead and uranium in their urine. For example, urine lead levels in intermittent and frequent vapers were 30% to 40% higher in this group, compared with occasional users. Among frequent users, urine uranium levels were twice as high as in the group of youth reporting occasional use.

Increased health risk for adolescents who consume sweet flavors

The authors of the study emphasize that the amount of metals detected could vary considerably depending on the brand of e-cigarette and the type of device used. However, the study recalls that exposure to these metals has been shown to be dangerous for health. In particular, chronic exposure to lead, including at low levels, can have repercussions on cardiovascular and renal health, but also on psychological development, or even on fertility, for both men and women. Exposure to uranium can affect cellular biology (cytotoxicity) and renal health. The researchers also show that higher levels of uranium have been detected among consumers of sweet flavors, which are enjoying undeniable commercial success with adolescents. Based on these results, the authors of the study call for stronger regulations and the implementation of targeted prevention policies to protect younger generations from a new public health risk.

©Generation Without Tobacco

FT

[1] Kochvar A, Hao G, Dai HD, Biomarkers of metal exposure in adolescent e-cigarette users: correlations with vaping frequency and flavoring, Tobacco Control Published Online First: 29 April 2024. doi: 10.1136/tc-2023-058554

[2] Use of psychoactive substances among middle and high school students – EnCLASS 2022 Results, OFDT, published on January 25, 2024, (accessed on 04/30/2024)