Call to ban vaping for young Australians after review concludes it causes ‘acute lung injury’

The sale and promotion of e-cigarettes to young people must be banned by governments, the Australian Council on Smoking and Health says, following the most comprehensive review yet of vaping harms.

The review, led by researchers from the Australian National University Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, found there was conclusive evidence that e-cigarettes caused poisoning, injuries, burns and immediate toxicity through inhalation, including seizures. Their use also led to addiction.

The review, funded by the federal health department, found there was also conclusive evidence e-cigarettes caused less serious health impacts such as throat irritation and nausea.

"E-cigarettes cause acute lung injury," the review, which was published on Thursday, states. "Among smokers, there is moderate evidence that use of e-cigarettes increases heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and arterial stiffness acutely after use."

The review found there was strong evidence that e-cigarettes increased tobacco smoking uptake in non-smokers, particularly young people, while there was limited evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes help smokers quit cigarettes.

The 430-page review was led by the epidemiologist and public health physician Prof Emily Banks.

She and her team analysed evidence from 189 studies on the health impacts of e-cigarettes. Previously, there was no systematic review drawing together the existing evidence of the health effects of e-cigarettes.