Teens who vape stunting growth of their brains and other organs

Teens who vape a lot could be stunting the growth of their brain and other organs, scientists have warned.

Toxic metals such as lead and uranium have been found in e-cigs and are known to cause cognitive impairment, behavioral disturbances, respiratory complications, cancer, and cardiovascular disease in children.

Their absorption during periods of development is known to be particularly harmful and sweet vape flavors were highest in uranium.

Authors of a new study say their findings underscore the need for the implementation of regulations and targeted prevention.

In 2022, an estimated 14 percent of US high school students, around 2.14 million, and more than three percent of middle school students (380,000) reported vaping in the preceding month.

The researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center looked at 200 teenage vapers aged between 13 and 17.

For the study published in the journal Tobacco Control, urine samples were tested for the presence of cadmium, lead, and uranium, and vaping frequency was designated as occasional (1–5 days/month), intermittent (6–19 days), and frequent (20+ days).

Vape flavors were grouped into four mutually exclusive categories: menthol or mint; fruit; sweet, such as chocolate or desserts; and others, such as tobacco, clove or spice, and alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.

Among the 200 exclusive vapers (63 percent female), 65 reported occasional use, 45 intermittent, and 81 frequent use with vaping frequency information missing for nine.

In the preceding 30 days, 33 percent of vapers said they used menthol or mint flavors, half favored fruit flavors, just over 15 percent opted for sweet flavors and two percent used other flavors.

Analysis of the urine samples showed that lead levels were 40 percent higher among intermittent vapers, and 30 percent higher among frequent vapers than they were among occasional vapers.

Urinary uranium levels were also twice as high among frequent vapers than among occasional vapers

A comparison of flavor types indicated 90 percent higher uranium levels among vapers who preferred sweet flavors than among those opting for menthol or mint.

No statistically significant differences were found in urinary cadmium levels between vaping frequency or flavor types.

Study author Dr. Hongying Daisy Dai said: "Vaping in early life could increase the
risk of exposure to metals, potentially harming brain and organ development.

"Regulations on vaping should safeguard the youth population against addiction and
exposure to metals.

"These compounds are known to cause harm in humans."

And commenting on sweet flavors having high levels of uranium, she added:“Candy-flavoured e-cigarette products make up a substantial proportion of adolescent vapers, and sweet taste in e-cigarettes can suppress the harsh effects of nicotine and enhance its reinforcing effects, resulting in heightened brain cue-reactivity.

“E-cigarette use during adolescence may increase the likelihood of metal exposure, which could adversely affect brain and organ development.

“These findings call for further research, vaping regulation, and targeted public health interventions to mitigate the potential harms of e-cigarette use, particularly among adolescents.”

They added that because it was an observational study, no definitive conclusions can be drawn about toxic metal levels and vaping frequency or flavors.

They also said that the levels of toxic metals in vapes will vary by brand and type of vapouriser used.

They also cautioned about uranium levels in the urine samples saying they may be attributable to various sources including environmental exposure from natural deposits, industrial activities, and dietary intake.