Vapes: general information

What are vapes?

E-cigarettes, also known as ‘vapes’, are battery operated devices that work by heating a liquid ('e-liquid' or ‘juice’) until it becomes an aerosol that users inhale.

• E-liquid contains many different chemicals. Sticky chemicals called propylene glycol and glycerol^(12,13) make up most of the e-liquid.

• E-liquids usually contain highly addictive nicotine and a mix of flavouring chemicals. They may also contain coolants (chemicals that produce a cooling sensation in the mouth).

• Contaminants⁽¹⁴⁾ have also been found in many e-liquids. These include toxic metals (which leach off the solid surface of the vape directly into the liquid), such as arsenic, and toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Many of these contaminants are inhaled by the users.

What are the health risks associated with vaping?

• Many of the chemicals in vapes have health risks. These include chemicals that are known causes of cancer, heart disease or lung disease⁽¹⁾

• There are signs of lung function⁽⁶⁾ problems in some people who vape. These people may be at higher risk of lung disease in the future

• Vaping during pregnancy may harm the developing baby. There is some evidence that babies whose mothers vaped during pregnancy have a higher risk of low weight at birth^(8,9,10)

• People who vape risk injuries and burns from exploding devices

• The health effects of vapes for people who smoke tobacco include nausea, headache, throat irritation, cough, dizziness, increased heart rate and increased blood pressure⁽⁶⁾

• Disposable vapes are almost impossible to discard in an environmentally-responsibly way, posing risks to the environment.

Researchers have concluded that vapes present very real dangers to children and young people. The increasing rate of vaping by young people is concerning because:

• people who have never smoked who use vapes are more likely to take up smoking than people who do not vape

• nicotine may change the structure and function of the developing brain.

For more information on the health risks of vaping for young people, visit:

Are vapes legal in Australia?

In 2024, the laws on vaping in Australia changed and vapes can now only be sold in participating pharmacies to help people quit smoking or manage their nicotine dependence.

From 1 October, people 18 years and over can buy vapes with a nicotine concentration of 20 mg/ml or less from participating pharmacies without a prescription, where state and territory laws allow, but only after talking with the pharmacist.  

The pharmacist will advise on dosage and other help available for quitting smoking or managing nicotine dependence. A person can buy only one month's supply of vapes over the course of a month. Vapes must have plain packaging and flavours are restricted to mint, menthol and tobacco.

Where state and territory laws allow, people under 18 years need a prescription for a vape from a medical or nurse practitioner to ensure they get appropriate medical advice and supervision. People who need vapes with a concentration of nicotine higher than 20 mg/mL will also need a prescription from a medical or nurse practitioner, regardless of their age.

For more information on the laws around the supply of vapes in Australia see Australia’s 2024 vaping regulations: what you need to know

Can vapes harm the environment?

Yes. Discarded broken vapes can leach chemicals into soil and water, be eaten by animals, or puncture, explode or burn.

Disposable vapes contain single-use plastics, lithium batteries and metals. Chemicals from the battery may leech into the soil causing environmental harm.

There are no recycling programs for vapes. Most are made of single-use plastic and contain lithium-ion batteries that cannot be removed and can cause fires in waste facilities and landfills.

Can vapes help with quitting smoking?

It is important you talk to your doctor about your options to help you quit smoking. Some doctors may prescribe nicotine vaping products when a person has been unable to quit after trying a number of other options. However, unlike most prescription medicines, nicotine vaping products are “unapproved” products. This means that Australia’s medicines regulator has not assessed any vaping products on their safety, quality, or how well they work for helping people quit smoking.

More research is needed on the harms of vaping products and their use in quitting smoking. Australian medical guidelines recommend that if prescribed, nicotine vaping products be used together with a counselling service, such as Quitline. Quitline counsellors can support people who are using nicotine or non-nicotine vaping products to stop smoking.

Research shows the best way to quit smoking for good is if you:

1. Speak with a general practitioner (GP) or pharmacist. A GP or pharmacist can discuss options and provide advice on stop smoking medication like nicotine patches, lozenges or gum or prescribed tablets. See What to ask your GP or pharmacist.

2. Talk to Quitline (13 7848). Quitline counsellors are qualified in helping people break free from smoking. Quitline counsellors help build and sustain a person’s motivation to quit and help them create a stop smoking plan that suits them. Read more about how Quitline can help.

3. Use stop smoking medication, like the nicotine patch and lozenges or prescribed stop smoking tablets, to help manage cravings and feelings of nicotine withdrawal.

Last updated 1 October 2024.