The environmental impact of vaping
The medical officer of health for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph is concerned about the effects of vaping on the environment.
Dr. Nicola Mercer calls the electronic vape pens “a problem product.”
“I think we all want to make sure manufacturers are responsible for the products they give us,” says Mercer. “And this is a really bad environmental product.”
Mercer notes that vaping products have evolved from large canisters, to refillable products, and now they’re disposable.
“They’re plastic, with electronic wiring in them,” she says. “They also have a lithium ion battery and they contain a cartridge that will also always carry some residual nicotine and other carcinogenic chemicals.”
This has Mercer asking the question, “Where do you dispose of these products? They’re absolutely not a recyclable item.”
She says there is a lot of confusion about what to do when throwing away a vape pen.
Mercer says some manufacturers advise to remove the battery cartridge before throwing the rest in the garbage.
But she says a lot of cartridges are not easy to remove, and end up in the landfill. She says the battery and carcinogenic chemicals can leach into groundwater.
Mercer says in 2019, 90 million vapes were sold in Canada.
She’s encouraging people to quit vaping, not only for their own heath, but for the health of the environment.
She says your primary-care physician can connect you to resources to help quit.
“Vaping really is nicotine addiction,” says Mercer. “So most organizations, most places, are treating it similar to cigarettes.”
Mercer adds whether you support vaping or not, we all should be aware of the environmental impacts.
“I think we should all demand that these products be environmentally-friendly.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.
Maple Leafs eliminated from NHL playoffs with Game 7 OT loss to Bruins
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc says
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
Ukraine marks its third Easter at war as it comes under fire from Russian drones and troops
As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia on Sunday launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraine's east, wounding more than a dozen people, and claimed its troops took control of a village they had been targeting.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.