E-cigs could carry bacteria that cause lung problems as experts warn there are growing concerns about the popular alternative to tobacco
- Tests showed presence of harmful bug in a quarter of vaping devices and refills
- The bug can cause a range of lung problems including asthma and inflammation
- Experts fear cotton wicks used in e-cigarettes may be source of contamination
E-cigarettes may be contaminated with bacteria and fungi linked to lung disease, research suggests.
Scientists who tested 75 single-use cartridges and refill liquids found signs of harmful bugs in just over a quarter.
Meanwhile glucan – a sugary molecule found in most fungi – was detected in 81 per cent of the products.
![Scientists tested 75 single-use cartridges and refill liquids and found signs of harmful bugs in just over a quarter of them [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/23/23/12635244-6952751-image-a-62_1556058295726.jpg)
Scientists tested 75 single-use cartridges and refill liquids and found signs of harmful bugs in just over a quarter of them [File photo]
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Exposure to the toxins has been associated with a range of health problems including asthma, reduced lung function and inflammation, the researchers say.
A team from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health studied e-cigarette – or 'vaping' – products from some of the top-selling brands in the US.
Professor David Christiani, who led the study, said the toxins 'have been shown to cause acute and chronic respiratory effects in occupational and environmental settings'.
He added: 'Finding these toxins in e-cigarette products adds to the growing concerns about the potential for adverse respiratory effects in users.'
The findings are reported in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. It is thought that cotton wicks used in e-cigarette cartridges may be a potential source of contamination.
The study comes after a British expert accused Public Health England of ignoring mounting evidence about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes.
Professor Martin McKee, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, claimed the UK was 'out of step' with other countries when it came to messages about vaping safety.
He argued that e-cigarettes should not be actively promoted as a stop- smoking aid without knowing more about the effects of inhaling nicotine and flavouring chemicals.
He said: 'When we look at the evidence we do have, there's enough grounds for serious concerns.'
PHE has campaigned for smokers to switch to e-cigarettes on the basis that they are 95 per cent less harmful than tobacco products – a figure disputed by Professor McKee. Professor John Newton, director of health improvement at PHE, said there was widespread agreement between experts that vaping is 'far less harmful than smoking'.
