Are vapes more harmful than traditional cigarettes?

A new study from the University of California, Davis, has found that some illegal disposable e-cigarettes may be even more harmful than traditional cigarettes—exposing users to toxic heavy metals, including lead, at dangerously high levels.

Once promoted as a safer alternative to smoking, vaping is now under increased scrutiny as evidence mounts about its potential health risks. The UC Davis study focused on three popular but unauthorized vape brands—ELF Bar, Esco, and Flum Pebble—all of which are widely available despite lacking FDA approval.

Researchers discovered significant concentrations of three heavy metals—lead, nickel, and antimony—in both heavily and lightly flavored vape products. All three metals are recognized by the National Institutes of Health as carcinogenic.

“I thought the equipment was malfunctioning,” said Brett Poulin, senior author of the study and assistant professor at UC Davis’ Department of Environmental Toxicology. “The lead levels we detected were far beyond anything we've seen before.”

In one case, a single vape device was found to expose users to lead levels equivalent to smoking 19 packs of cigarettes. Upon inspection, the device was found to contain leaded copper alloys, which leached toxic levels of lead into the e-liquid—even without being used.

“It’s unclear whether this was a deliberate design choice, a cost-saving tactic, or a manufacturing error,” Poulin added.

Last year, Dr. Robin Armstrong called youth vaping a “public health crisis” in an op-ed for The Dallas Express, warning that flavored e-cigarettes continue to attract young users despite regulatory efforts.

This new research raises fresh concerns about the hidden dangers of unregulated vaping products and underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement and public awareness.