The use of vape by teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 is associated with possible exposure to heavy metals such as lead and uranium. This is what urine tests of young people in the United States suggest, in a study carried out by scientists at the University of Nebraska.

Teenagers who use vape regularly show 30% higher levels of lead and twice as much uranium in their urine compared to those who don't use e-cigarettes regularly. Despite the variations in lead and uranium levels, cadmium concentrations remained constant.

According to the authors, the use of vape during adolescence "may increase the risk of exposure to [heavy] metals, which can damage the development of the brain and other organs". However, the results of the study should be interpreted with caution and on a preliminary basis.

Regardless of the levels of heavy metals and the way in which exposure occurs, the consensus is that children under 18 should not use electronic cigarettes.

Link between vape, uranium and lead
Published in the scientific journal BMJ, the study analyzed the urine tests of 200 American teenagers who use vape, also known as e-cig. Based on questionnaires, the users were divided into three groups:

  • Occasional vape use: once a day or less;
  • Intermittent use: eight times a day;
  • Frequent use: 27 times a day.

According to the researchers, "both intermittent and frequent users showed higher levels of lead in their urine than occasional users".

In addition, "frequent users also showed higher levels of uranium in their urine compared to occasional users". It is important to note that if the preference is for vapes with sweet flavors, the level of uranium tends to be even higher.

Biomarkers of metal exposure in adolescent e-cigarette users: correlations with vaping frequency and flavouring
Background Youth vaping poses a significant public health concern as metals have been detected in e-cigarette aerosols and liquids. This study investigated factors associated with biomarkers of metal exposure. Methods Data were drawn from Wave 5 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Youth Panel, a nationally representative sample of US adolescents aged 13–17 years. Urinary biomarkers of exposure to cadmium, lead, and uranium were assessed by vaping frequency (occasional (1–5 days), intermittent (6–19 days), and frequent (20+ days)) in the past 30 days and flavour type (menthol/mint, fruit, and sweet). Results Among 200 exclusive e-cigarette users (median age 15.9 years, 62.9% female), 65 reported occasional use, 45 reported intermittent use, and 81 reported frequent use. The average number of recent puffs per day increased exponentially by vaping frequency (occasional: 0.9 puffs, intermittent: 7.9 puffs, frequent: 27.0 puffs; p=0.001). Both intermittent (0.21 ng/mg creatinine) and frequent users (0.20 ng/mg creatinine) had higher urine lead levels than occasional users (0.16 ng/mg creatinine). Frequent users also had higher urine uranium levels compared with occasional users (0.009 vs 0.005 ng/mg creatinine, p=0.0004). Overall, 33.0% of users preferred using menthol/mint flavours, 49.8% fruit flavours, and 15.3% sweet flavours. Sweet flavour users had higher uranium levels compared with menthol/mint users (0.009 vs 0.005 ng/mg creatinine, p=0.02). Conclusions Vaping in early life could increase the risk of exposure to metals, potentially harming brain and organ development. Regulations on vaping should safeguard the youth population against addiction and exposure to metals. Data are available upon reasonable request. Data can be accessed at <https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/NAHDAP/studies/36840/datadocumentation>.
Tobacco Control1

The research does not, however, establish a causal relationship between vape use and the presence of heavy metals. In other words, it does not show that the use of the device causes an increase in lead and uranium levels - the cause has not been investigated. For example, exposure to uranium can occur through the consumption of contaminated water or food, and these factors have not been analyzed.

Another point that deserves attention is the absence of a control group, which should include adolescents who don't use vape. This would make it possible to evaluate the differences in urine between those who use and those who don't. Even so, the study opens up future avenues for research, according to experts.