A new study has confirmed fears that over-the-counter, flavoured e-liquids contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals, sparking renewed calls for tighter regulation of these increasingly popular products.

CEO of Lung Foundation Mark Brooke said that “just because a chemical may be safe to use in a disinfectant or as a food preservative, doesn’t mean it is safe to inhale into your lungs.”

“This study clearly demonstrates that we cannot take safety in consumer products as a given, and governments need to intervene urgently to protect the respiratory health of young Australians.”

The study, supported by Lung Foundation Australia and Minderoo Foundation, is the most comprehensive examination of the composition and toxicity of e-liquids supplied or manufactured in Australia.

E-liquids are commonly available as a consumer product. It is illegal to sell e- liquids that contain nicotine in Australia, but due to importation loopholes, they can be easily purchased online.

Researchers from Curtin University and the Telethon Kids Institute tested the ingredients and toxicity of 52 e-liquids for sale over the counter in Australia, in both their original and vaped (heated) form. They found:

• 100 per cent of e-liquids had between 1 to 18 chemicals which have unknown effects on respiratory health
• None of the brands had a complete accurate ingredient list, which would be noncompliant with European Union labelling regulations
• 21 per cent of e-liquids contained nicotine or nicotyrine (despite it being illegal to sell e-liquids containing nicotine in all Australian states and territories)
• 62 per cent of new e-liquids and 65 per cent of vaped e-liquids contained chemicals likely to be toxic if vaped repeatedly.

“The e-liquids tested in the study contained multiple chemicals not listed on the labels. Inhaling unknown and untested e-liquids and chemicals, with or without nicotine, is harmful to your lung and overall health”, Mr Brooke told HealthTimes.

A separate paper published last year, found that young Australian adults who had never smoked, but were either currently or had previously used e-cigarettes, were significantly more curious about trying a tobacco cigarette and more willing to smoke.

The data also reported that three in five Australian young adults who currently use e-cigarettes are likely to initiate tobacco cigarette smoking within the next six months.

CEO of Minderoo Foundation’s Collaborate Against Cancer initiative Dr Steve Burnell said it was critically important to prevent a new generation of smokers becoming addicted.

“We already know that e-cigarettes can increase the chance of a non-smoker taking up cigarettes and that they are deliberately targeted to appeal to young people,” Dr Burnell said.

“Now we find that e-cigarette users are being exposed to unknown ingredients and chemicals already known to be toxic to human health.”

“We now have clear evidence to assist regulators to reconsider the appropriateness of these products being sold to, or used by, Australians”, Dr Burnell said.

Mr Brooke said that a contributing factor to e-cigarette uptake in Australia is due to how they are marketed to young people.

“E-cigarettes are being targeted to a quite diverse group aged 12 to 25, with factors driving their popularity including a concerted effort by big tobacco companies to target a new market, with misinformation in the community suggesting e-cigarettes are somehow safer.”

“There are some predatory, slick social media campaigns to counter, plus the ongoing issue of peer pressure and “normalisation” of flavoured e-cigarettes. This normalisation leads to a slippery slope towards traditional tobacco.”

A common justification for the use of e-cigarettes is that is safer than smoking tobacco – and Mr Brooke rejected this.

“Globally, the evidence suggests that there is little or no truth to those claims about vaping being up to 95 per cent safer.”

Mr Brooke called for a concerted effort to better inform consumers about the ingredients of e-cigareets, and the short and long-term health impacts.

“At Lung Foundation Australia, we want lung health for all, and a tobacco-free and e-cigarette free community.

“We understand and have empathy for those wishing to quit and be tobacco-free; and we support government measures to improve regulations for vaping and to reduce access.”

“Governments need to intervene urgently to protect the respiratory health of young Australians”, Mr Brooke said.