Nicotine-Free E-Cigarettes Lying to Customers: Shocking Lab Report

Matthew Ma

• 3 min read
Nicotine-Free E-Cigarettes Lying to Customers: Shocking Lab Report

Vaping has been widely considered a healthier alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, but recent reports suggest that some vape products may not be as harmless as they claim to be. Inter Scientific, a quality control laboratory that ensures consumer goods meet legal requirements, conducted tests on dozens of vape brands sold in England and Wales, only to find that some of the so-called "nicotine-free" e-cigarettes still contain the same amount of addictive substances as full-strength e-cigarettes.

The Alarming Results

Out of the 52 vape products analyzed, Inter Scientific found that eight of the products claiming to be nicotine-free contained some amount of nicotine, meeting the legal limit of 20 milligrams of nicotine per milliliter. One device even contained 50% more nicotine than the UK's regulatory cutoff. Furthermore, data showed that 73% of the study pool exceeded the legal tank capacity of two milliliters of vape liquid, and over 40% contained five milliliters or more. Most oversized and extra-strength vapes were found to be sold illegally, according to the data provided to the Guardian.

David Lawson, the Chief Executive of Inter Scientific and a fellow of the Organization for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs, said, "We have seen a large increase in the number of illegal vape products being seized by trading standards and sent for analysis. Though these products don't pose an immediate health risk, they are circumventing UK regulation."

The Health Risks of Vaping

While the definitive research on the health effects of e-cigarettes remains ongoing, recent studies have suggested that vaping could be a risk factor for lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, mental illness, sexual dysfunction, and even eyesight. Despite this, some experts believe that e-cigarettes could be a powerful tool to help tobacco users quit smoking.

The US policymakers are cracking down on e-cigarette advertising, which they say has unscrupulously marketed potentially unsafe products to kids and teens. In June of last year, the Food and Drug Administration opted to ban the sale of Juul e-cigarettes in the United States, but the motion was put on hold while the FDA reconsiders Juul's appeal.

According to a recent Gallup poll, about 8% of Americans vaped in the past week, competing with cigarette smokers at 11%. However, among the adolescent cohort, the FDA found that e-cigarettes rule the school, with 9.4% of teenage students reporting having used a vape during the past month.

Conclusion

The recent Inter Scientific lab report should raise some concerns among vapers and non-vapers alike. It is essential to buy vape products from reputable sources that meet the legal requirements and standards set by the authorities. Although vaping has been marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, the evidence suggests that it is not without its risks. The bottom line is that nicotine-free e-cigarettes could be lying to their customers.

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FAQs

  1. What is Inter Scientific, and what do they do? Inter Scientific is a quality control laboratory that ensures consumer goods meet legal requirements.
  2. How many vape products were analyzed in the Inter Scientific report? Inter Scientific analyzed 52 vape products sold in England and Wales.
  3. How many of the analyzed vape products claimed to be nicotine-free but contained some nicotine? Eight of the 52 vape products claiming to be nicotine-free contained some nicotine.
  4. Are e-cigarettes a safer alternative to smoking? Although some experts believe that e-cigarettes could help tobacco users quit smoking, recent studies suggest that vaping could be a risk factor for several health conditions.
  5. How many teenage students have used a vape during the past month, according to the FDA? According to the FDA, 9.4% of teenage students have used a vape during the past month.
  6. 6. What should customers do to ensure they are buying safe vape products?Customers should buy vape products from reputable sources that meet the legal requirements and standards set by the authorities.
  7. 7. What is the legal limit of nicotine per milliliter in the UK?The legal limit of nicotine per milliliter in the UK is 20 milligrams.
  8. 8. How much of the study pool exceeded the legal tank capacity for vape liquid?Data showed that 73% of the study pool exceeded the legal tank capacity of two milliliters of vape liquid.
  9. 9. What did US policymakers do to crack down on e-cigarette advertising?US policymakers cracked down on e-cigarette advertising, which they say has unscrupulously marketed potentially unsafe products to kids and teens.
  10. 10. Is vaping banned in the United States?No, vaping is not banned in the United States. However, the sale of Juul e-cigarettes was banned in June of last year, but the motion was put on hold while the FDA reconsiders Juul's appeal.