E-cigarettes are battery operated devices that heat a liquid (also known as e-liquid) to produce an aerosol that users inhale (often called vaping).
E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes and can be made to look like everyday items including highlighters, pens or USB memory sticks. Aerosol from e-cigarettes does not usually have a strong odour but may have a sweet smell depending on the flavour.
Evidence demonstrates that e-cigarettes are harmful including for non-smokers, and especially for young people (1). When someone uses an e-cigarette, the substance they inhale can contain over 200 chemicals, including formaldehyde, arsenic, mercury, heavy metals, solvents and volatile organic compounds. These chemicals have been shown to be harmful to health and can cause cancer, heart disease and lung damage.
Health harms associated with e-cigarette use include nicotine addiction, nicotine poisoning, throat irritation, breathlessness, cough, dizziness, headaches, nausea and lung damage. Rechargeable e-cigarettes can also explode causing serious burns and trauma. In rare cases, vaping may cause a life-threatening lung condition known as E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI).
Laboratory testing of seized illegal nicotine e-cigarette products has shown that e-cigarettes labelled 'nicotine-free' can have high nicotine levels. People can think they are using nicotine-free e-cigarettes and can unknowingly quickly develop a nicotine addiction.
Disposable e-cigarettes that contain even a low number of ‘puffs’ may deliver the same amount of nicotine as 50 cigarettes. Depending on the size of the e-cigarette and nicotine strength, it can be much higher
For young people, nicotine can cause changes to brain development, impaired attention, learning and memory, and may worsen stress, depression and anxiety.
The NSW Health Vaping Toolkit provides resources and information for young people, parents and carers, and school staff on vaping harms, nicotine addiction and support to quit vaping.
A young child can die from very small amounts of nicotine. E-cigarette packaging is not child-proof, and is often colourful with images of cartoons, food, or drinks. Children can easily activate e-cigarettes, particularly if they have watched a family member use them.
If you think a child may have been exposed to the contents of an e-cigarette, or has inhaled, swallowed or spilled vape liquid on their skin, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.
If a child has collapsed or are not breathing, immediately call 000 for an ambulance.
For more information on keeping children safe around e-cigarettes, please refer to the E-cigarette Child Safety Pamphlet.
E-cigarettes and e-liquids containing nicotine are a prescription only medicine. This means community pharmacies can supply e-liquids and e-cigarettes (containing nicotine) to their customers (18 years and over) if they have a valid prescription from a doctor.
For retailers other than pharmacies it is illegal to sell e-liquids and e-cigarettes that contain nicotine. This includes online sales.
Currently e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine are legal in NSW. Adults aged 18 years and over can buy e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine.
If you think a retailer other than a pharmacy is selling e-cigarettes that contain nicotine, please report it to NSW Health or call the Tobacco Information Line on 1800 357 412. Information collected will help to guide the enforcement of tobacco and e-cigarette retailing laws by NSW Health Inspectors.
For more information on smoke-free environment laws please refer to Smoke-free laws in NSW. Smoke-free signage and resources can be ordered from NSW Health at Smoke-free environment resources.
For more information on smoke-free environment laws please refer to Smoke-free signage and resources can be ordered from NSW Health at Smoke-free environment resources.
NSW Health Inspectors conduct regular compliance monitoring and enforcement activity. Inspectors enforce the ban on using e-cigarettes where smoking is not permitted. To report a breach of the smoking/vaping ban, please complete the online reporting form or contact the Tobacco Information Line on 1800 357 412.
Since October 2021, liquid nicotine (for example used in e-cigarettes) has been a schedule 4 (prescription only) substance, available for smoking cessation purposes only.
E-cigarettes are 'unapproved' therapeutic goods. This means that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has not assessed any e-cigarette products for quality, safety or performance as a smoking cessation aid. There are established pathways for consumers to legally access unapproved nicotine vaping products, with a valid prescription from a doctor.
