A Gedling councillor has backed calls for a ban on the sale of disposable vapes due to health and environmental concerns.
Councillor Henry Wheeler wants tough action to stop children and young people from vaping, including a disposable vape ban, which he said are also a big environmental problem.
Single-use varieties have surged in popularity, driven by Chinese brands such as Elfbar and Lost Mary.
The UK Vaping Industry Association says they help smokers quit and can be recycled.
Disposable vapes offer a few hundred puffs of nicotine-containing vapour, often with an added flavour of fruit or sweets, in bright plastic packaging – which are thrown away when empty.
They are easier to use than conventional vapes, or e-cigarettes, which need to be refilled with pods or liquid.
Cllr Wheeler said: “As a professional who works with young people I am extremely concerned about the damage vaping is doing to children and young people’s health.
“I have raised the issue of the vaping epidemic amongst young people and the damage that vaping is doing to the health of young people on various occasions, at the Nottinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board”.
“Disposable Vapes have exploded in popularity as a recreational product amongst young people, with slick packaging and sweet flavours creating a new generation of nicotine addicts in the process”.
“This addiction to vapes is creating very serious problems within our schools.”
“I believe Vape manufacturers are deliberately targeting young people and exposing them to potentially very serious health risks”.
“Research by some health experts has shown that vaping can cause acute lung injury in children and young people which researchers believe could be linked to vape aerosol causing lung inflammation”. “Sadly, some young people have died as a result of vaping”.
“Vapes also contain metals and plastics which are incredibly bad for the environment once disposed, he added.
“The fact of the matter is whilst vapes may help adults quit smoking cigarettes, it is also creating very serious health problems among young people”. This demands urgent action including much tougher regulations on the sale of vapes.”
