E-cigarette flavours ‘can be harmful’

Researchers have warned that flavourings used in e-cigarettes contain potentially harmful high levels of chemicals.

Vapers, as users of e-cigarettes are known, have a vast selection of tastes to choose from, including menthol, cherry, coffee, and bubble gum, but they said that although the flavourings used are mostly the same as those found in food and have therefore passed safety tests, this applies to them being eaten rather than inhaled.

The US study analysed the chemicals used to flavour e-cigarette fluid in a sample of 30 products, and found a “significant” number were aldehydes — compounds recognised as being primary respiratory irritants.