MORE than 1.2million illegal vapes have been seized across the UK in the last year, shocking figures show.
Unregulated devices could be packed full of “harmful chemicals” or contain dangerous levels of nicotine, experts warn.
Most dodgy e-cigarettes (431,005) were found in Kent, where 114,727 illicit cigarette packets were also discovered.
“Many of these arrive through the Eurotunnel terminal and the Port of Dover,” according to Vape Superstore, which carried out the research.
This was closely followed by Anglesey in Wales, where 352,704 vapes were seized between January 2023 and February 2024.
In third place was Swansea with 154,737, then Lancashire with 54,985 and Hertfordshire with 16,062.
But 20 of the 73 councils which responded to the freedom of information request reported no vape seizures at all.
Top of the unlawful cigarette list was Carmarthenshire County Council, where police confiscated 160,000 packets.
The locations that made up the rest of the top 10 include Kent (144,727), Hertfordshire (96,823), Gloucestershire (56,845), Swansea (54,797), Warwickshire (46,255), Lancashire (31,779), Devon (31,233), Flintshire (22,032) and Lincolnshire (14,917).
Lancashire County Council had the most businesses stocking black market vapes – a staggering 132 dubious shops in total, according to the data.
This was followed by Kent (85), Hertfordshire (83), Cardiff (79), Warwickshire (58), Derbyshire (55), North Ayrshire (48), Worcestershire (47), Glasgow (46) and Surrey (42).
In the UK, it is illegal to sell vaping products to anyone under the age of 18.
Laws also cover the ingredients, strength of nicotine and capacity of tanks:
- The maximum nicotine strength should 20mg/ml
- E-liquid bottles should be no larger than 10ml
- Vape tanks have a capacity of no more than 2ml
- Products containing nicotine must carry health warnings
- There must be a leak-proof refilling mechanism
- Manufacturers must provide testing and toxicological data
- Advertising must comply with restrictions
Some of the seized products had a liquid capacity of 14ml – seven times the legal limit.
Previous studies have found illegal devices to contain high levels of toxic substances such as lead, nickel and chromium.
Exposure to all three has been linked to damage to the lungs, liver, heart, immune system and brain – as well as cancer.
Some units also contained harmful chemicals like those in cigarettes, also known to have significant negative health impacts.
Scientists have also found compounds called carbonyls at 10 times the level in legal vapes.
These break down into chemicals like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde when the e-liquid warms.
Some devices, gathered at a college in Kidderminster, even had higher levels than cigarettes, despite being advertised as a safer-than-smoking alternative.
Smoking vs. vaping
VAPING has been touted as an effective tool to help people quit smoking.
Though vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, the habit isn’t completely harmless and comes with its own set of risks.
The NHS only recommends it for adult smokers, to support quitting smoking.
GP and author Dr Philippa Kaye told The Sun that the difference between vaping and smoking – and whether one is better than the other – is “complicated”.
“In a nutshell, vaping is better than smoking, but breathing air is better than vaping at all,” she said.
Vaping exposes users to far fewer toxins – and at lower levels – than smoking cigarettes.
Switching to vaping significantly reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease, and diseases of the heart and circulation like heart attack and stroke.
These diseases are not caused by nicotine, which is relatively harmless to health.
But research has still linked vaping to a higher risk of failure and lung disease.
Health risks of cigarettes
- Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer
- Smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels
- Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs
- Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body
- It affects overall health too, such as your mouth, eyes, immune system and fertility
Health risks of vaping
- Vaping can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick
- It could lead to tooth decay
- It could damage heart health
- It could cause lung disease
- It could slow brain development
Read more on how vaping can affect your health here.
Sources: NHS, CDC
John Britton, an epidemiology professor at the University of Nottingham who sits on the Royal College of Physicians Tobacco Group, said: “Lead is a neurotoxin and impairs brain development, chrome and nickel are allergens and metal particles in general in the bloodstream can trigger blood clotting and can exacerbate cardiovascular disease.
“The carbonyls are mildly carcinogenic and so with sustained use will increase the risk of cancer – but in legal products, the levels of all of these things is extremely low so the lifetime risk to the individual is extremely small.”
Kate Pike, lead officer at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, added: “There is a significant number of illegal products on the market, which does not help when we are trying to support public health response which is to ensure the products are much safer than tobacco for smokers looking to quit.
“The main concern is that young people are getting their hands on these products.
“We do not want children or adults getting addicted to something at all like this.
“We know that legal compliant vapes pose a fraction of the risk of smoking but we do not know what the risk is from illegal vapes.”
E-cigarettes allow you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke.
They do not burn tobacco or produce tar or carbon monoxide – two of the most dangerous elements of traditional smoking.
Thousands of people in the UK have quit smoking with the help of vapes, but the effects of their long-term use is not widely understood – especially for children.
Experts fear thousands of young people are taking up the habit early, drawn in by colourful packaging, fruity flavours and cheap prices, and potentially exposing themselves to knock-off devices.
An estimated one third of vapes sold in the UK are believed to be non-compliant with regulations.
David Phillips, from Vape Superstore, said: “Vaping can be an effective way to quit smoking, but the influx of illegal vapes into the market has created a dangerous black market that consumers aren’t always aware of.
“Our study shows that the illegal vape black market is a big concern across the UK, but particularly in areas like Kent, Lancashire, Anglesey and Swansea – to name a few.
“With raised awareness about the dangers of these products, we believe that consumers will be able to make better informed purchasing decisions in the future.”
How to make sure you’re buying legal vapes
- Check for authenticity
- Look for well-known brands
- Be wary of unusually low prices
- Ask the retailer to provide proof of Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) compliance
- Stay informed with the latest regulations and safety guidelines
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