A disturbing number of children have been exposed to toxic vape chemicals, recently released data shows.
The New South Wales Poisons Information Centre revealed more than 140 children under the age of four have been exposed and 17 of those were aged under one.
The figures should be a wake-up call for parents across Australia, one medical expert told Weekend Today.
“We know they’re highly addictive and dangerous,” Demaio said.
“We’ve seen kids drinking the vaping liquid, inhaling the vapes, being hospitalised, even dying overseas, and they can cause long-term harms.”
Demaio also stressed inhaling the vapour can lead to death in some cases.
“It can lead to death. That’s the important thing to say first and foremost, particularly in children, very young children.”
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Nicotine poisoning can lead to a burning sensation in the mouth and the throat, headaches, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, high heart rate, convulsions and unconsciousness.
Demaio said the chemicals in vapes have a major impact on the respiratory system.
“There are things like chemicals found in e-cigarettes also found in weed killer and nail polish,” Demaio said.
“These are not things we want to have in our lungs or in the lungs of kids who whose body is still developing.”
Lung Foundation Australia is calling for a ban of all vaping products – both their importation and their sale.
