Pesticides, poo in e-cigs

POO, pesticides and nicotine are being inhaled by smokers of nicotine-free electronic cigarettes, a study has found.

Researchers analysed the liquid in e-cigarettes sold online and over-the-counter as nicotine-free and found 60 per cent contained the highly addictive stimulant. All held traces of a toxic chemical — 2chlorophenol — often used in insecticides, herbicides and dis- infectants. Head researcher Alexander Larcombe said the toxin was known to irritate human airways and skin.

“We also found other things — by-products of animal or human bodily functions — which indicates the process of making the e-liquids might not be as clean as you might hope,” Professor Larcombe said. The study was published in the Medical Journal of Australia.