A crackdown on illegal vapes in Western Australia has seen WA Health seize more than 15,000 disposable nicotine vapes from retailers, valued at more than $500,000, in just six weeks.
Targeted operations have been conducted on retailers across the State to help minimise the health risks to the community, including young people who are increasingly using e-cigarettes.
Chemical tests on vapes thought to contain no nicotine, conducted by the ChemCentre in Bentley, have returned positive results for nicotine, a harmful and toxic drug, in two thirds of products tested.
Curtin University professor Ben Mullens has been investigating vaping for seven year and he said the discovery of nicotine was not particularly surprising.
“Our own testing has shown many “nicotine free” e-liquids contain trace or low levels of nicotine,” he said.
“This could be either due to poor hygiene or to avoid restrictions on nicotine.
“We have not tested disposable products ourselves, but have read reports of other tests where significant levels of nicotine were found in disposables that were supposedly nicotine free.”
He was concerned, however, about the sheer number of vapes seized from retailers.
“There is a serious issue around youth vaping.
“Several international studies have shown that significant number of youths in countries like UK and US have commenced with vaping and then later moved on to cigarettes after they have become addicted to nicotine.
“Even if youths were to continue vaping without commencing smoking, it is by no means risk free.
“Many ingredients added to vape liquids are added on the basis that they are approved food additives.
“However, chemicals that are okay to eat as a food flavouring are not necessarily safe to inhale.
“Often, we are finding out by trial and error that particular ingredients induce lung damage or allergic/asthmatic responses.
“It is also more likely that young people who are vaping will incur lifelong lung damage as their lungs are still developing.
In WA, it is illegal to sell e-cigarette devices and nicotine vaping products to anyone regardless of their age, unless they are prescribed by a doctor for smoking cessation purposes and obtained with a prescription from a pharmacy.
The Department of Health has ramped up surveillance on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes amid concerns about increasing use by young people and has put 3,000 retailers on notice, reminding them of the ongoing restrictions regarding the sale of e-cigarette devices and nicotine vaping products under WA’s Tobacco Products Control Act 2006, and Medicines and Poisons Act 2014.
Some of the hazardous substances found in e-cigarette liquids and in the aerosol produced by e-cigarettes are known to cause damage to human cells and DNA, and can cause cancer.
The maximum penalty for a breach of the relevant provisions of the Medicines and Poisons Act 2014 is $45,000, while possession of nicotine without a prescription can fetch penalties of up to $30,000.
Anyone who believes a retailer is selling illegal e-cigarettes or vapes is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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