Popular Disposable Vapes Are Leaking Dangerous Heavy Metals
New research reveals toxic exposures far exceeding cigarettes and older e-cigarettes
Ever wonder what's really in those sleek disposable vapes flooding the market? While many people assume e-cigarettes are the "safer" smoking alternative, new research suggests some popular disposable devices might be delivering a toxic cocktail of heavy metals that makes traditional cigarettes look tame by comparison. I think that ideally people don't smoke at all, but if someone's going to use nicotine products, they deserve to know what they're actually inhaling—and this study reveals some genuinely alarming findings about what's lurking in those colorful disposable devices.
"Esco Bar devices delivered up to 13 times more lead than a pack of traditional cigarettes in just the first 200 puffs—equivalent to smoking as many as 19 packs of cigarettes in a single day."
What's the Big Idea?
Researchers at UC Davis analyzed three of the most popular disposable e-cigarette brands among teens and young adults—ELF Bar, Flum Pebble, and Esco Bar—and discovered they emit staggering amounts of toxic metals like lead, nickel, chromium, and antimony. The concentrations were orders of magnitude higher than traditional cigarettes and older e-cigarette models.
The most shocking finding? Esco Bar devices contained leaded bronze components that shouldn't be anywhere near something people inhale. These devices delivered up to 13 times more lead than a pack of traditional cigarettes in just the first 200 puffs. Meanwhile, heating coils in all devices gradually degraded over their lifespan, releasing increasing amounts of nickel and chromium—with concentrations rising up to 1,000-fold by the time devices were spent.
The study also revealed that 33% of the antimony in Flum Pebble aerosols existed in its carcinogenic form, while chromium appeared exclusively as the less toxic trivalent form. What makes this particularly concerning is that nearly all these popular disposable brands currently operate without FDA authorization.
Why Should You Care?
These aren't just abstract chemistry numbers—they translate to real health risks. The researchers' risk assessments showed that daily use of these devices could exceed cancer risk thresholds for nickel and antimony exposure, while non-cancer toxicity risks from lead and nickel surpassed safety limits by up to nine-fold.
What's especially troubling is that these are the exact brands dominating youth vaping markets. ELF Bar was the most popular e-cigarette among American teens in both 2023 and 2024, while Esco Bar ranked second in 2023. We're talking about developing brains and respiratory systems getting hit with metal exposures that could have lasting consequences.
The metals aren't just sitting passively in the devices—they're actively leaching into the e-liquid and getting worse with use. Lead exposure is particularly dangerous for young people, potentially affecting neurological development, while inhaled nickel is a known respiratory carcinogen. I find it deeply concerning that these products are marketed with appealing flavors and sleek designs while potentially delivering such serious health risks.
What's Next on the Horizon?
This study opens several critical research avenues. Scientists need to examine the roughly 100 other disposable e-cigarette brands currently on the market to understand how widespread these metal contamination issues really are. We also need studies tracking how different e-liquid compositions, storage conditions, and device designs affect metal leaching.
More immediately, there's an urgent need for regulatory action. The FDA has issued warning letters to ELF Bar and Esco Bar manufacturers, but these products remain widely available. The researchers are calling for stricter manufacturing oversight, better product characterization requirements, and more robust enforcement mechanisms.
Future studies should also investigate how these metal exposures affect real-world health outcomes through both laboratory and population-based research. Understanding the long-term consequences of sustained metal inhalation from these devices will be crucial for informing public health policy.
Safety, Ethics, and Caveats
The study has several important limitations. The researchers tested only three brands out of nearly 100 on the market, so we can't assume all disposable vapes have identical problems. The risk assessments assumed 100% absorption of inhaled metals and daily use patterns based on averages—individual exposures could vary significantly.
Additionally, the study used laboratory conditions that might not perfectly replicate real-world vaping patterns. The researchers also couldn't identify the source of antimony contamination, suggesting there may be unknown contamination pathways in manufacturing or storage.
From an ethical standpoint, the fact that these high-exposure devices are most popular among underage users raises serious questions about industry responsibility and regulatory oversight. The researchers discovered that some manufacturers are using materials like leaded bronze that have no business being in inhalable products—whether intentionally or through poor quality control.
What This Could Mean for You
If you currently use disposable e-cigarettes, this research suggests switching to older-generation devices with replaceable coils and e-liquids might reduce your metal exposure. Products like traditional MODs allow you to replace components before they degrade significantly.
For parents, this study underscores why monitoring teens' vaping habits matters beyond just nicotine concerns. The metal exposure risks add another layer of potential harm that goes well beyond addiction issues.
If you're trying to quit smoking, this research reinforces that while e-cigarettes might still pose fewer risks than traditional combustible tobacco in some areas, they're not risk-free alternatives. The cleanest approach remains avoiding inhaled nicotine products altogether when possible.
For policymakers and public health advocates, these findings highlight the urgent need for better manufacturing standards and regulatory oversight of the rapidly evolving disposable e-cigarette market.
Explore the Full Study
Elevated Toxic Element Emissions from Popular Disposable E-Cigarettes: Sources, Life Cycle, and Health Risks
https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.5c00641