Two New Cancer Chemicals Found In E-Cigarettes - And Some Gadgets Are Worse Than Others

Scientists have found two more cancer-causing chemicals - propylene oxide and glycidol - in e-cigarette vapour - and gained an insight into how the gadgets release toxic chemicals.

Scientists from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that emissions of dangerous chemicals vary widely between gadgets - and even between puffs.

The researchers found that cheaper gadgets with one heating coil release higher levels of irritant chemicals.

‘When you apply the same voltage to the double-coil e-cigarette you see a lot less emissions,’ said Berkeley Lab researcher Lara Gundel.

‘We think it has to do with lower temperatures at each of the coil surfaces.’

The researchers also found that levels of dangerous chemicals increased steadily the longer the device was used in one ‘sitting’ - in some cases by a factor of 10.

Hugo Destaillats of Berkeley Lab said, ‘Advocates of e-cigarettes say emissions are much lower than from conventional cigarettes, so you’re better off using e-cigarettes.

‘I would say, that may be true for certain users - for example, long time smokers that cannot quit - but the problem is, it doesn’t mean that they’re healthy. Regular cigarettes are super unhealthy. E-cigarettes are just unhealthy.’