watch out for a new alert

Among the consequences of early vaping, the presence of lead and uranium in excessive quantities among young people has been noted.

A study warns, once again, of the dangers of electronic cigarettes for adolescents. Géraldine Zamansky, journalist at Health Magazine on France 5, takes stock.

franceinfo: Toxic metals have been found in the urine of very young Americans who vape?

Geraldine Zamansky : Exactly. Above all, significant quantities of lead and uranium were detected in the most vaping adolescents, that is to say those who regularly engage in this practice (from 8 to 27 inhalations per day), compared to occasional use (not even once a day). Result: 30% additional lead and almost 50% uranium. Please note, the rates in question remain low, since the author of this study, Dr. Andrew Kochvar, a young physician researcher at the University of Nebraska, specifies that we do not yet know today whether it is doses toxic to the body. But for him, it is impossible not to worry about this chronic exposure to metals whose dangerousness is, moreover, established.

For lead, the best known risk is lead poisoning, a disease that can impair the growth of children?

Yes, this threat is known today thanks to the lead contained in old paint or in tap water contaminated by old pipes. Young children are then most in danger. But – this is what Dr Kochvar points out – an adolescent’s brain and body also remain in full development! The neurons do not finish organizing themselves for 20 years. We must therefore urgently reduce access to these products for minors, and strengthen both the control of the liquids used and the electronic cigarettes themselves. Because inhaled metals would be directly collected in contact with the different materials of which they are composed, with degradation caused by heat.

Would these risks disappear with the ban on “puffs” passed in France?

Not entirely. Because puffs, so popular with young people because of their often sweet aromas, are in principle single-use. However, there are still refillable cigarettes, those whose reuse and wear are precisely a source of contamination, as explained by Professor Lion Shaham of University College in London. Especially if to save money, the resistance is not changed regularly. But be careful, this smoking cessation specialist would like to point out that if this study should lead to strengthening the protection of young people, the risk measured remains lower than that of a real cigarette. His observation: if you are a smoker, vaping is less dangerous, if you are not, you should not vape.

Details of the study (in English)