Disposable Vape Might Be Full of Lead, New Study Warns

A new study from the University of California, Davis, has revealed alarmingly high levels of toxic heavy metals, including lead and nickel, in the aerosol of popular disposable vape brands. The research, published in ACS Central Science, analyzed three widely used disposable vapes: ELFBAR, Esco Bar, and Flum Pebble, raising serious concerns about the safety of these unregulated products.

After simulating up to 1,500 puffs per device, scientists discovered a “murderers’ row” of toxic metals, including nickel, chromium, antimony, and lead. The lead levels were so high in some tests that one researcher, Mark Salazar, initially assumed their scientific equipment was broken. The findings were real, however. In a particularly stark comparison, researchers found that just 200 puffs from two Esco Bar devices contained enough lead to exceed the amount delivered by twenty packs of traditional cigarettes.

The study’s authors suggest these metals could be originating from two sources: either the e-liquid is pre-contaminated, or it is leaching metal toxins from the device’s internal hardware components, such as the heating coil and wiring, like a sponge. This contaminated aerosol is then inhaled directly into the user’s lungs.

Researchers warned that some of the tested devices contained enough nickel and antimony to potentially increase cancer risk, while others crossed the threshold for causing neurological damage and respiratory disease. These findings from just three brands highlight the potential dangers lurking in the hundreds of other, often unregulated, imported disposable vapes circulating in the market, particularly among teens. The study adds to a growing body of evidence challenging the perception that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking.