September 10, 2024

expert reaction to proposed ban on disposable vapes

Irish scientists comment on a proposed ban on disposable vapes. 

Dr Jason Power, University of Limerick, said:

“From a materials, environmental and technology perspective, disposable vapes are fundamentally a terrible idea. Their impacts can broadly be grouped as:

1. An enormous waste of battery materials in an already stressed supply chain. In the UK alone 260 million vapes are disposed of after a single use of their battery. This is the equivalent of charging 37.6 million new iPhone batteries once, and then throwing them away. These batteries can typically be discharged about 500 times before there is a noticeable decrease in battery capacity. The materials in these batteries (cobalt, lithium etc) are in high demand globally, resulting in reduced availability and higher prices for other battery powered products such as EVs.
2. Disposal is difficult and dangerous. If vapes are improperly included in standard recycling or landfill they can cause fires, which in turn can destroy infrastructure and emit dangerous toxins. The typical designs are not suitable for easy or automated disassembly, meaning material recovery is not viable. The casings are typically plastic and do not naturally breakdown. The associated litter problem is evident across the country.
3. They encourage the production of low quality batteries. Research has shown that the types of batteries manufactured for use in vapes are typically low quality meaning re-use is not viable.

It is important to note that a disposable vape ban is not a ban on vaping. A move towards reuseable vape products can greatly reduce environmental impacts with minimum impact on consumers.

For further information please see: https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2024/0910/1466756-disposable-vapes-lithium-batteries-environmental-cost-electronic-waste/”

Prof Donal O’Shea, Head of Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, said:

“I broadly welcome the announcement of new legislation to ban the sale of flavoured and disposable vapes. This combination has played a significant role in the rapid rise of vaping among younger people, many of whom have never smoked. Our research, along with that of others, highlights the health risks posed by the cocktail of chemicals in vapes, and with nicotine being such a highly addictive substance, there is an urgent need for these new regulations. I encourage the Minister to be ambitious with this legislation. Ireland has been a global leader in tobacco control, particularly with the indoor smoking ban, and we have the opportunity to lead once again on the issue of vaping. These new laws stand to bring considerable public health benefits and in the long term, it is unlikely that future generations will thank us for allowing yet another addictive health crisis to take root.”

Declarations of Interest

Prof O’Shea has received funding from Science Foundation Ireland

Dr Power supports an Environmental Protection Agency project