Vape waste is becoming an environmental danger for both animals and humans when it comes to their health. If you want to get more information Read more here. Although there have been attempts at environmental cleanups across the globe, vaping is still a threat considering that 3.6 million people are littering vape waste on a daily basis. Below are factors that’ll explain why this kind of waste is more harmful in the long run:

Non-biodegradable Plastic

Plastic components of discarded vapes, like pods and caps, aren’t biodegradable simply because they take hundreds of years to be decomposed. This means that micro-organisms can’t convert those components into natural elements like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water.

Neurotoxin

Nicotine residue is usually found in discarded plastic pods and is the reason why plastic pods can’t be recycled together with other regular plastic waste. Once nicotine seeps into the environment, it can harm aquatic and wildlife creatures. It can also harm you when swallowed or when it’s absorbed through your skin. Nicotine is also linked to problems related to memory, concentration, and behavior, especially during adolescence.

Heavy Metals

Vapors produced by vaping devices contain heavy metals like lead, chromium, nickel, and cobalt. If inhaled in large amounts, they can cause various health problems. These metals can also seep into water and soil if the vapes aren’t properly disposed of.

Prolonged inhalation of lead can cause cardiovascular problems as well as problems in memory, speed, and learning. Chromium can trigger gastrointestinal problems, breathing problems, and lung cancer. Both nickel and cobalt can lead to problems in blood clotting.

Lithium Batteries

Explosions or fires can occur if lithium batteries get thrown into the garbage or a recycling bin. Batteries brought to the landfill site can start a fire to nearby waste if damaged or exposed to high temperatures.

Vaping Flavors

Aldehydes are chemicals used for putting flavor in a vape juice. Common examples of aldehydes are cinnamaldehyde for cinnamon flavor, acetoin for butter flavor, vanillin for vanilla flavor, benzaldehyde for almond flavor, dimethylpyrazine for strawberry flavor, and isoamyl acetate for banana flavor. If aldehydes are converted into vapor, they can produce formaldehyde which is responsible for lung inflammation and irritation. Vape juice with mixed flavor can cause more damage to your body than a vape juice with one flavor.

Titanium Dioxide

The vape’s heating coil is made of titanium wire which is used to convert vape juice into vapor during the heating process. If titanium is exposed to very high temperatures, it will form a toxic component called titanium dioxide which is responsible for lung injury. Titanium dioxide is also commonly used as a food coloring for vape juice.

Disposing vape waste is a challenge because some manufacturers don’t provide instructions when it comes to throwing away your vape device. If you don’t know how and where to dispose of it, consider talking to the right authorities and ask for their advice. Another way to avoid vape waste is to stop vaping. This way, you’re not only protecting your health but you’re also protecting the health of other people and animals.