Queensland vapes contain ‘staggering’ amounts of nicotine and harmful chemicals, tests reveal

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says analysis showing the dangerous substances in e-liquid samples available in Queensland should be a wake-up call.

Vaping has grown in popularity among young people, although in Queensland legal access to vapes containing nicotine is only possible with a prescription.

Popular vapes on the Queensland market contain “staggering” amounts of nicotine as well carcinogens, government-ordered tests reveal.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tasked the state parliament’s health and environment committee to perform tests to determine the contents of vapes, following concerns consumers were unaware of its ingredients.

The committee found all 17 e-liquid samples available in the state‘s vape market contained nicotine ranging from trace levels – less than 200mg/kg – to 47,000mg/kg.

All vape samples also contained volatile organic compounds which can be found in paints, pharmaceuticals and refrigerants.

“I asked the health and environment committee to look at this issue and these results are staggering,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

“There are people who might think vaping is safer than smoking or, indeed, harmless.

“These test results should make those people think again.“

In Queensland, vapes containing nicotine can only be obtained legally from a pharmacy using a prescription.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk watches Shannon Fentiman, who has described the test results as ‘confronting’. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

The samples also tested positive for at least two carbonyl compounds, including formaldehyde, a group one human carcinogen and acetaldehyde.

Arsenic, zinc, lead, mercury and other toxic heavy metals are also among the contents found in vapes.

Newly appointed Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the test results are “confronting”.

“We know vapes are becoming more popular, especially with younger people, and these results make it clear that what is inside them is extremely dangerous,” she said.

“This week, our government passed a bill to strengthen controls on smoking and vaping, including harsher penalties for anyone selling or storing illegal tobacco.”

A bag of disposable vapes. Picture: Todd Lewis

The findings follow the federal government’s move to spend $234m to crackdown on vaping and tobacco, with single-use, disposable vapes banned.

Health Minister Mark Butler announced the reforms will aim to stamp out vaping by restricting flavours, reducing nicotine concentrations in products and making it easier to obtain prescriptions for therapeutic use.

“Vapes contain more than 200 toxic chemicals that do not belong in the lungs, some of the same chemicals you’ll find in nail polish remover and weed killer,” he said in his National Press Club address this month.

“Just like they did with smoking, Big Tobacco has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added sweet flavours to create a new generation of nicotine addicts.”