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Rachel V Thomas

Vaping Becomes Major Nicotine Threat Among Children Under 5 in US, Warns Study

Vapes were marketed as a safer option than cigarettes, but research now shows they carry serious health risks -- from lung damage to meningitis to cancer.

Vaping has been a serious concern in the United States, with New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2025 filing a lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturers and distributors.

The lawsuit accused the companies of fueling a youth vaping crisis, alleging that these companies that manufacture vapes, especially with flavors, have misled consumers about the safety of their products while deliberately targeting young people through deceptive marketing. 

Now, a new study, published in JAMA Network Open, has for the first time assessed trends in young children's nicotine exposures across all types of products.

Shockingly, electronic cigarette-related incidents increased 243 percent over the past eight years in young children, especially among those under five years of age, said researchers from the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. 

In contrast, tobacco exposures from conventional products such as cigarettes decreased by 43 percent.

Unlike cigarettes, these devices are often ready to use, brightly colored, require little effort to activate, and appear more like toys than a harmful product. 

"This significant spike in children breathing in these substances tells us the risk has changed: It's no longer just about a toddler swallowing something they found on the floor," said lead author Perry Rosen, who conducted the research at the New Jersey Poison Control Center. 

"Many recent cases involve children actively using e-cigarette devices after gaining access to them," Rosen added. 

The findings were based on an analysis of more than 92,000 reported nicotine exposures in children ages 5 and younger between 2016 and 2023.

The researchers noted that vaping risks often involved children who inhaled the vapors directly from the devices. They also found that children exposed to e-cigarettes were more likely to require a visit to a health care facility compared with those exposed to cigarettes.

According to researchers, young children naturally mimic the behaviors they see around them. So, parents and caregivers must keep vaping devices away from the reach of young children.

Previous research has shown that even moderate ongoing nicotine exposure can lead to lasting health effects on developing lungs, including increased risk of bronchitis and worsening asthma.

"When children see caregivers or older family members vaping, they may copy that behavior—bringing the device to their mouth and inhaling—without any understanding they are exposing themselves to a harmful substance," said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center.

Vaping has become a more common form of tobacco use among American middle and high school students. 

As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1.6 million students used e-cigarettes in 2024, with 87.6 percent of them opting for a flavored product.

It is the flavor that makes it even more addictive, and people want to keep smoking it, resulting in it being emptied and refilled way more quickly.

This means those who smoke flavored cigarettes consume more tobacco than those who smoke unflavored ones.

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Vapes were marketed as a safer option than cigarettes, but research now shows they carry serious health risks -- from lung damage to meningitis to cancer. Vaping has been a serious concern in the United States, with New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2025 filing a lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturers and distributors.  The lawsuit accused the companies of fueling a youth vaping crisis, alleging that these companies that manufacture vapes, especially with flavors, have misled consumers about the safety of their products while deliberately targeting young people through deceptive marketing.  Now, a new study, published in JAMA Network Open, has for the first time assessed trends in young children's nicotine exposures across all types of products. Shockingly, electronic cigarette-related incidents increased 243 percent over the past eight years in young children, especially among those under five years of age, said researchers from the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. In contrast, tobacco exposures from conventional products such as cigarettes decreased by 43 percent. Unlike cigarettes, these devices are often ready to use, brightly colored, require little effort to activate, and appear more like toys than a harmful product. "This significant spike in children breathing in these substances tells us the risk has changed: It's no longer just about a toddler swallowing something they found on the floor," said lead author Perry Rosen, who conducted the research at the New Jersey Poison Control Center. "Many recent cases involve children actively using e-cigarette devices after gaining access to them," Rosen added. Key Findings  The findings were based on an analysis of more than 92,000 reported nicotine exposures in children ages 5 and younger between 2016 and 2023. The researchers noted that vaping risks often involved children who inhaled the vapors directly from the devices. They also found that children exposed to e-cigarettes were more likely to require a visit to a health care facility compared with those exposed to cigarettes. According to researchers, young children naturally mimic the behaviors they see around them. So, parents and caregivers must keep vaping devices away from the reach of young children. Previous research has shown that even moderate ongoing nicotine exposure can lead to lasting health effects on developing lungs, including increased risk of bronchitis and worsening asthma. "When children see caregivers or older family members vaping, they may copy that behavior—bringing the device to their mouth and inhaling—without any understanding they are exposing themselves to a harmful substance," said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center. Vaping: A Concern Vaping has become a more common form of tobacco use among American middle and high school students. As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1.6 million students used e-cigarettes in 2024, with 87.6 percent of them opting for a flavored product. It is the flavor that makes it even more addictive, and people want to keep smoking it, resulting in it being emptied and refilled way more quickly. This means those who smoke flavored cigarettes consume more tobacco than those who smoke unflavored ones. 

vaping becomes major nicotine threat among children under 5 in us, warns study

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Vaping Becomes Major Nicotine Threat Among Children Under 5 in US, Warns Study

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