HSE warns of cancer risks from vaping and tanning ‘Barbie drug’ dangers

Health experts warned that 'one of the disposable vapes that are particularly popular with children and young people is the equivalent of about a 20-pack of cigarettes'.

A senior HSE official has pleaded with the public to avoid vaping, saying emerging research has linked vapes to cancer in a similar way to cigarettes. 

Edward Murphy, the HSE's Tobacco Free Ireland Programme manager, warned that vapes deliver nicotine “as effectively as a traditional tobacco cigarette does”.

“One of the disposable vapes that are particularly popular with children and young people is the equivalent of about a 20-pack of cigarettes," he said.

Studies are examining potential cancer risks from these new products, he added.

"I’d love to sit here in 10 or 15 years time and say we’re not seeing a cancer disease profile associated with e-cigarettes but unfortunately the emerging research is suggesting the products contain definite and probable carcinogens," he said. 

"And that they will likely cause similar cancer-associated genes deregulations that combustible tobacco does. Obviously we hope that they won’t but it is probably more likely that they will than not."

He acknowledged vapes contain less tar than tobacco, but said: “Everything is safer than combustible tobacco because we are talking about something that kills 50% of its long-term userbase reliably.

“So it’s a very low bar for safety to say something is safer than that.” 

The colourful products are very popular with teenagers in Ireland. 

He urged young people struggling with vape addiction to contact the HSE Quit Smoking helpline.

Melatonan

Meanwhile, dangers of the illegal ‘Barbie drug’, melanotan, used for tanning, were also discussed at the Irish Cancer Prevention Network webinar to mark World Cancer Day.

Dr Emily Orr warned against the fake tanning product.

This is widely promoted on social media but is illegal, the dermatology registrar at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda warned.

“We just don’t know what they’re taking, that’s the worrying thing about melanotan,” she said.

“It’s completely unregulated and being produced by who knows who or where and by people who we don’t know what their qualifications are. The evidence out there is that there is potentially this link with melanoma. So I would just strongly advise people not to use it.” 

She suggested people use tanning creams instead, saying “they don’t have the same risks”.

Heathy diet

Choosing to eat healthy foods can help reduce cancer risks, advised Dr Erin Stella Sullivan, dietitian and lecturer in Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London.

Eating more fruit and vegetables along with less red meat, less processed foods and fewer sugar sweetened drinks is recommended.

She said while red meat is a good source of protein and vitamin B12, that “we just recommend limiting red meat — so beef, pork, lamb - to no more than three servings per week. So that’s about 350g to 500g.” 

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She also advised: “Having a healthy weight reduces your risk of cancer”.

For anyone seeking to lose weight for this reason, she advised following national guidelines on healthy eating, alcohol intake and physical activity.

“Even if you don’t lose as much weight as you were hoping, those changes will still improve your cancer risk balance,” she said.