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Cannabis vaping liquids contain lead and other toxic metals

The heating elements in vapes can release toxic metals. Now an analysis of cannabis vaping liquids shows metals like lead are present at dangerous levels – even before the vape is used

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

19 March 2024

Cannabis vape pens can contain unsafe levels of heavy metals

Richard Vogel/AP/ Alamy

Cannabis vape liquids contain toxic heavy metals that do not come from the device itself. In both legal and illegal products, the concentration of nano-sized metal particles exceeds the safe limits for metal intake.

Vaping is touted as a healthier alternative to smoking because heating a drug into an inhalable vapour, rather than burning it, releases lower levels of toxic chemicals. However, vaping liquid does contain other dangerous additives such as benzene, a carcinogen also found in car exhaust. Research on nicotine e-cigarettes has also shown…

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