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Vaping

Key facts

  • Vapes often contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive and toxic chemical.
  • Vapes can also contain other dangerous chemicals that are known to cause cancer.
  • Vaping can harm your health by causing respiratory problems and nicotine dependence.
  • There is support to help you quit vaping. See your doctor or qualified healthcare professional and call Quitline.

What are vapes?

Vapes are also known as electronic cigarettes. They are devices that people use to inhale vapour. Using vapes is often called vaping. Vapes can look like common items, like highlighters, pens or USB memory sticks.

What do vapes contain?

Vapes have a liquid inside them that is heated up to make vapour. The liquid can contain nicotine even if the vapes don’t say they contain it. Nicotine is a very addictive and toxic chemical.

Vapes can also contain other dangerous chemicals that are known to cause cancer, such as:

  • formaldehyde (used in industrial glues and for preserving corpses in hospitals and funeral homes)
  • acetone (found in nail polish remover)
  • acetaldehyde (used in chemicals, perfumes and plastics)
  • acrolein (found in weedkiller)
  • heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, lead and arsenic

Vapes can also contain:

  • propylene glycol (a solvent used in fog and smoke machines)
  • polyester compounds
  • anti-freeze (used in the coolant of a car)
  • vegetable glycerine (a liquid from vegetable fat)

The chemicals in vapes have not been tested for safety. This includes chemicals that add flavour to the vape.

What are the risks of vaping?

Vaping can harm your health. The known health problems of vaping include:    

Vaping can cause other health problems including:

  • nicotine dependence or addiction
  • respiratory problems and permanent lung damage
  • damage to a developing brain
  • problems with learning, concentration and memory
  • anxiety and depression

When vape liquid is heated, it creates very toxic chemicals. There is growing evidence that vaping may increase your risk of lung and oral cancers. Some studies show that vaping can damage cells and DNA in the lungs and mouth and cause inflammation. The long-term health effects are still being studied. 

There are other health concerns of vaping:

  • possible increased risk of  lung disease, heart disease and cancer
  • an increased risk of taking up smoking cigarettes, which also causes serious health issues 
  • exposure to higher levels of toxic chemicals if you vape and smoke cigarettes

Dangers of vaping liquids

Liquid nicotine used in vapes is dangerous for children and adults. Nicotine is a poison that can be absorbed through the skin. Accidental swallowing of liquid nicotine can be deadly.

Even a small amount of a liquid nicotine refill is enough to cause permanent damage or even death, especially in children.

Error:

If you suspect that someone has been poisoned, get medical help immediately. You can call the Poisons Information Line 24 hours a day from anywhere in Australia on 13 11 26.

If the person is showing signs of being seriously ill, such as vomiting, loss of consciousness, drowsiness or seizures (fits), call triple zero (000) for an ambulance, or take the person to the closest emergency department.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How can I quit vaping?

There are lots of ways to quit vaping. The method you choose may depend on what makes you want to vape.

Research shows that if you have support, you will have a better chance of quitting.

You can get advice and support from:

Methods include:

Once you decide on how you are going to quit, your next steps are to:

  • make a quit plan
  • learn how to cope with quitting and stay vape free

More quitting support

Get support on quitting vaping and smoking.

Are vapes legal to buy in Australia?

If you're aged 18 years or older, you can buy vapes from certain pharmacies without a prescription — subject to certain conditions. To learn more about these conditions and vaping laws, go to the Therapeutic Goods Administration website (Opens in new tab).

If you're younger than 18 years:

  • You will need a prescription to buy vapes.
  • Some states and territories will not allow you to buy vapes.

Find out about vaping laws in your state or territory:

Resources and support

State-based quit resources

Information for parents and carers

Information for young people

Languages other than English

The SA Health website (Opens in new tab) has translated resources about how to quit vaping — find your language using the language button in the top right corner the page. 

Health Translations has information about how vaping affects your health (Opens in new tab) and how to quit (Opens in new tab).

Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Tackling Indigenous Smoking (Opens in new tab) has resources and factsheets about vaping and how to stop (Opens in new tab).

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Last reviewed: December 2025

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