By Amber Roman
May 4, 2024, 12:00 PM EDT
Vaping among teens, an increasingly worrying trend, could be associated with an increased risk of exposure to toxic metals such as lead and uraniumaccording to new research published in the journal Tobacco Control.
These findings raise serious concerns about the impact of vaping on young people’s brain and organ development, and underscore the urgent need to implement stricter regulations and prevention programs specifically targeting adolescents.
The study, conducted by researchers who analyzed data from the Community Tobacco Youth Study (PATH) from 2018 to 2019, revealed that Vaping is widespread among American teenagers, with approximately 14% of high school students (about 2.14 million) and more than 3% of high school students (about 380,000) reporting vaping in the previous month.
The researchers focused on 200 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 who vaped exclusively and analyzed samples of their urine for the presence of cadmium, lead and uranium. Vaping frequency was divided into three categories: occasional (1 to 5 days per month), intermittent (6 to 19 days), and frequent (more than 20 days).
In addition, different types of flavors of vaping liquids were examined, including menthol or mint, fruit, sweets and others such as tobacco, cloves or spices, and alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.
The results showed that levels of lead and uranium in urine were significantly higher among adolescents who vaped more frequently compared to those who vaped occasionally.
Increased lead levels in the blood
Specifically, Lead levels were 40% higher among intermittent vapers and 30% higher among frequent vapers compared to occasional ones. Similarly, uranium levels in urine were twice as high among frequent vapers compared to occasional vapers.
When it came to vaping flavors, those who preferred sweet flavors were observed to have 90% higher uranium levels compared to those who opted for menthol or mint flavors. These findings are particularly concerning given that candy-flavored e-cigarette products are popular among adolescents and may contribute to increased exposure to toxic metals.
Although the study points to correlations between vaping frequency and flavors with exposure to toxic metals, The researchers caution that this is an observational study and that more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions. Additionally, they point out that the presence of toxic metals in vaporizers can vary depending on the brand and type of device used.
However, researchers stress the importance of addressing these concerns urgently. E-cigarette use during adolescence could have long-term health consequences, especially on brain and organ development.
Therefore, they urge the implementation of stricter regulations on vaping and the implementation of targeted public health interventions to reduce the potential harm of vaping among adolescents.
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