Are Vapes More Toxic than Cigarettes?

In June, 2025 researchers at the University of California, Davis published a paper about toxic emissions from vapes. The emissions come from the vape coils which leach toxic metals into the juice. The study looked at chemicals present in both flavored and clear [three brand names] – along with non-nicotine controls.

The study authors wrote, “orders of magnitude higher in concentration than traditional cigarettes and other e-cigarettes. Heating coil elements (chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni)) likely leached into e-liquids and aerosols from coil degradation during use, increasing up to 1000-fold in concentration over the device life.”

So, don’t drain your vape – the study showed that toxicity increased as the vape aged and more puffs were taken. Some vape coils started emitting toxic elements after 100 puffs while others were OK until 300 or 500 puffs. If you like science and details, you’ll find them in the section called “Elements Emitted in Aerosols” in the paper.

Know the Risks

Toxic elements (e.g., lead, antimony, nickel) in smoke of disposable e-cigarettes exceed acceptable non-cancer and cancer risk thresholds due to leaching from coils and internal metallic components.

— For adult vapers, the authors write, “Respiratory exposure to these elements at sufficient doses can increase the risk of potential serious health effects such as neurotoxicity, (22−24) cardiovascular disease, (25) renal disease, (23) respiratory disease, (26) and lung cancer, (27) …”

— Risks to kids: don’t vape around your kids or let them have access to your vape – children exposed to lead can experience brain damage and central nervous system problems causing coma, convulsions and even death.*

Quitting and reducing reduce your (and your family’s) risk of exposure to toxic elements in your vape!

Credit: this is copied from the HabitHalo website

*Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Lead; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service: Atlanta, GA, 2020.