Beat the Mistruths

You may have heard of these mistruths before, but did you know they were false? Uncover the truth behind the hype.

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Clear the Air

You may have heard of these mistruths before, but did you know they were false? Uncover the truth behind the hype.

The Hearsay

"I'm not breaking the law if I don't vape in the open"
The Hearsay

"Vapes are less harmful than cigarettes?"
The Hearsay

“I want to quit vaping but if I ask for help, I will get into trouble.”
More Mistruths

False!​

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that vapes are harmful to health and not safer than regular cigarettes.​

Studies show that vaping generates toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and increase the risk of heart and lung disorders. For example, Vitamin E acetate found in some vapes is strongly linked to lung injury, such as pneumothorax (collapsed lungs).

Nicotine in e-cigarettes can also impact brain development in young people, affecting their ability to manage attention and learning, mood and impulse control1. It can also adversely affect the development of the foetus in pregnant women2​.

Did you know?

Based on vapes seized by HSA in Singapore, the nicotine consumed from 1 vape pod is equivalent to about 3 to 4 cigarette packs. With vape manufacturers putting more nicotine into vapes over the years, these risks as well as that of nicotine addiction are greatly increased3.

Emissions can also pose risks to bystanders. Bystanders may experience irritation of the respiratory tract as a result of exposure to fine particulate matter, like propylene glycol and glycerol4.

Don't believe that!

Ingredients in vape e-liquids may vary widely between different manufacturers, and can contain harmful, toxic chemicals.

Some commonly found ingredients5 include:

Nicotine

  • found in pesticides

  • can cause harmful side effects, which include decreased appetite, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, nausea, and even diarrhoea in extreme cases

  • can impact brain development in youth, affecting their ability to manage attention and learning, mood and impulse control1

Benzene

  • found in car exhaust fumes, fuels and detergents

  • can cause infertility and leukaemia with long-term exposure

Formaldehyde

  • fused as an embalming fluid and in adhesives for wood

  • known to cause cancer and infertility

Diacetyl

  • a food flavouring agent

  • can cause permanent lung scarring and inflammation when inhaled

Toluene

  • found in paints, lacquers and nail polishes

  • can cause cancer and infertility

Metals

  • found in batteries

  • can lead to respiratory diseases when inhaled

As e-liquids come in a concentrated form, you can accidentally expose yourself to potentially toxic levels of nicotine and other harmful substances6 from simply refilling the e-cartridges.

Untrue!

Vaping devices heat e-liquids or nicotine salts into vapours that are inhaled7.

Some chemicals in e-liquids such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and flavourings are meant to be eaten but not inhaled8. Other commonly found ingredients in vape-liquid include nicotine, benzene, formaldehyde, diacetyl, toulene, metals and more. Some of these components can turn into other potentially dangerous chemicals when heated in vaping devices.

Vaping thus exposes the lungs to a variety of chemicals that can cause serious lung injuries9.

Don't be fooled!

In youths, nicotine impacts brain development, permanently lowering the developing brain’s impulse control, affecting its ability to manage attention and learning1. It can also lead to mood disorders10.

Problems with impulse control (i.e. failure to resist urges) can result in sudden physical or verbal outbursts, an internet addiction, or even compulsive eating.

Medical literature also suggests that vaping can be a gateway to smoking and other drug abuse, particularly among youth and young adults11, with growing evidence that those who vape have 3 times the risk of becoming smokers as compared to those who don’t12, 13, 14, 15. This can result in even more negative impacts on health that are hard to recover from.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024, May 15) Why Youth Vape. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/youth.html

  • Jones, K., & Salzman, G. A. (2020). The Vaping Epidemic in Adolescents. Missouri Medicine, 117(1), 56–58. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023954/

  • Chadi, N., Rachel Schroeder, & Jensen, J. W. (2019). Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use and Marijuana Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(10).

  • Baenziger ON, Ford L, Yazidjoglou A, et al E-cigarette use and combustible tobacco cigarette smoking uptake among non-smokers, including relapse in former smokers: umbrella review, systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ Open 2021;11:e045603.

  • Chan GCK, Stjepanović D, Lim C, Sun T, Shanmuga Anandan A, Connor JP, Gartner C, Hall WD, Leung J. Gateway or common liability? A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of adolescent e-cigarette use and future smoking initiation. Addiction. 2021 Apr;116(4):743-756.

  • O'Brien D, Long J, Quigley J, Lee C, McCarthy A, Kavanagh P. Association between electronic cigarette use and tobacco cigarette smoking initiation in adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2021 Jun 3;21(1):954.

  • Soneji S, Barrington-Trimis JL, Wills TA, Leventhal AM, Unger JB, Gibson LA, Yang J, Primack BA, Andrews JA, Miech RA, Spindle TR, Dick DM, Eissenberg T, Hornik RC, Dang R, Sargent JD. Association Between Initial Use of e-Cigarettes and Subsequent Cigarette Smoking Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2017 Aug 1;171(8):788-797. Erratum in: JAMA Pediatr. 2018 Jan 1;172(1):92-93.

Think again!​

What you see or have been advertised may not be what you get. There have been reports and studies showing that some products labeled as nicotine-free do, in fact, contain nicotine16, 17. This could be due to contamination, mislabeling, or even intentional deception by manufacturers.

Learn about the harms of nicotine here.

That's not true!

Vapes contain toxic substances like fine particulate matter that are harmful to not only vapers themselves but others in the same indoor space as well18.

Bystanders may experience irritation of the respiratory tract as a result of exposure to substances like propylene glycol and glycerol found in fine particulate matter4.

Breathing in particulate matter can result in increased risks of developing heart, lung, and other harmful diseases, worsening of existing illnesses, and shortened life expectancy19.

It is not a scare tactic – vaping can cause lung injuries.​

Vaping can trigger an inflammation that causes small blood vessels in the lungs to close up, leading to impaired gas exchange and potential respiratory complications20.

Vitamin E acetate (found in some e-liquids) is strongly linked to an outbreak of lung injuries in the United States, leading to hospitalisations and deaths21. In Singapore, two vapers had to undergo operations to treat their collapsed lungs (pneumothorax)22.

Even when no nicotine is involved, inhaling the mist from vapes can damage the lungs due to chemicals present in e-liquids.

That's an inaccurate claim.

Studies indicate that smokers who tried to quit smoking using vapes had lower success rates in quitting cigarettes compared to those who used pharmaceutical aids or tried to quit on their own.

A Singapore based survey indicated that while most smokers who tried vaping said that their key motivation to vape was to quit or cut down on smoking, few actually did, and 90% of them ended up as dual users which can be worse for their health23.

Moreover, among recent quitters who vaped daily, nearly 60% returned to cigarette smoking within two years of their quit attempt24. These findings suggest that vaping is not an effective smoking cessation tool and may actually hinder successful quitting attempts while potentially creating additional health risks.

Time for a reality check.

Vapes contain nicotine, which can lead to addiction.

Based on vapes seized by HSA in Singapore, the nicotine consumed from one vape pod is equivalent to about 3 to 4 cigarette packs. In addition to that, vape manufacturers have been putting more nicotine into vapes over the years, which greatly increases the risk of nicotine addiction3.

Did You Know? Vapes being marketed as nicotine-free have been found to contain nicotine as well, and users may be addicted without knowing.

Are you sure?

Vapes contain the highly addictive chemical nicotine. When inhaled, nicotine is absorbed within 20 seconds into the bloodstream and releases a feel-good chemical called dopamine in the brain. This dopamine "rush" is a big part of the addictive process.

When the person stops vaping, the level of nicotine in the person’s brain decreases, leading to increased cravings for nicotine. This can result in nicotine dependence. Attempting to quit may cause them to experience withdrawal symptoms, potentially leading the person to resume vaping or smoking25. Hence, quitting vaping is challenging due to its highly addictive nature.

Not true.

You can dial in to Quitline at 1800 438 2000 to seek help*. Quitline is a tele-counselling service and a safe space readily available to support you in quitting.

You can dial in to Quitline at 1800 438 2000 to seek help*. Quitline is a tele-counselling service and a safe space readily available to support you in quitting.

For more support personalised to your needs, you can sign up for the HPB I Quit Programme, which focuses on helping individual smokers and vapers quit their nicotine addiction to achieve a healthier, nicotine-free lifestyle. Admissions of consumption of such products shared during the programme will be kept confidential and will not be reported to other authorities.

If you are currently attending school, you can contact your school’s Student Health Advisor or school counsellor to seek cessation help as well.

*Kindly note that airtime charges apply for mobile calls to 1800 service lines and calls are free of charge only if made from regular landlines.

More Mistruths

False!​

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that vapes are harmful to health and not safer than regular cigarettes.​

Studies show that vaping generates toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and increase the risk of heart and lung disorders. For example, Vitamin E acetate found in some vapes is strongly linked to lung injury, such as pneumothorax (collapsed lungs).

Nicotine in e-cigarettes can also impact brain development in young people, affecting their ability to manage attention and learning, mood and impulse control1. It can also adversely affect the development of the foetus in pregnant women2​.

Did you know?

Based on vapes seized by HSA in Singapore, the nicotine consumed from 1 vape pod is equivalent to about 3 to 4 cigarette packs. With vape manufacturers putting more nicotine into vapes over the years, these risks as well as that of nicotine addiction are greatly increased3.

Emissions can also pose risks to bystanders. Bystanders may experience irritation of the respiratory tract as a result of exposure to fine particulate matter, like propylene glycol and glycerol4.

Don't believe that!

Ingredients in vape e-liquids may vary widely between different manufacturers, and can contain harmful, toxic chemicals.

Some commonly found ingredients5 include:

Nicotine

  • found in pesticides

  • can cause harmful side effects, which include decreased appetite, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, nausea, and even diarrhoea in extreme cases

  • can impact brain development in youth, affecting their ability to manage attention and learning, mood and impulse control1

Benzene

  • found in car exhaust fumes, fuels and detergents

  • can cause infertility and leukaemia with long-term exposure

Formaldehyde

  • fused as an embalming fluid and in adhesives for wood

  • known to cause cancer and infertility

Diacetyl

  • a food flavouring agent

  • can cause permanent lung scarring and inflammation when inhaled

Toluene

  • found in paints, lacquers and nail polishes

  • can cause cancer and infertility

Metals

  • found in batteries

  • can lead to respiratory diseases when inhaled

As e-liquids come in a concentrated form, you can accidentally expose yourself to potentially toxic levels of nicotine and other harmful substances6 from simply refilling the e-cartridges.

Untrue!

Vaping devices heat e-liquids or nicotine salts into vapours that are inhaled7.

Some chemicals in e-liquids such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and flavourings are meant to be eaten but not inhaled8. Other commonly found ingredients in vape-liquid include nicotine, benzene, formaldehyde, diacetyl, toulene, metals and more. Some of these components can turn into other potentially dangerous chemicals when heated in vaping devices.

Vaping thus exposes the lungs to a variety of chemicals that can cause serious lung injuries9.

Don't be fooled!

In youths, nicotine impacts brain development, permanently lowering the developing brain’s impulse control, affecting its ability to manage attention and learning1. It can also lead to mood disorders10.

Problems with impulse control (i.e. failure to resist urges) can result in sudden physical or verbal outbursts, an internet addiction, or even compulsive eating.

Medical literature also suggests that vaping can be a gateway to smoking and other drug abuse, particularly among youth and young adults11, with growing evidence that those who vape have 3 times the risk of becoming smokers as compared to those who don’t12, 13, 14, 15. This can result in even more negative impacts on health that are hard to recover from.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024, May 15) Why Youth Vape. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/youth.html

  • Jones, K., & Salzman, G. A. (2020). The Vaping Epidemic in Adolescents. Missouri Medicine, 117(1), 56–58. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023954/

  • Chadi, N., Rachel Schroeder, & Jensen, J. W. (2019). Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use and Marijuana Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(10).

  • Baenziger ON, Ford L, Yazidjoglou A, et al E-cigarette use and combustible tobacco cigarette smoking uptake among non-smokers, including relapse in former smokers: umbrella review, systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ Open 2021;11:e045603.

  • Chan GCK, Stjepanović D, Lim C, Sun T, Shanmuga Anandan A, Connor JP, Gartner C, Hall WD, Leung J. Gateway or common liability? A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of adolescent e-cigarette use and future smoking initiation. Addiction. 2021 Apr;116(4):743-756.

  • O'Brien D, Long J, Quigley J, Lee C, McCarthy A, Kavanagh P. Association between electronic cigarette use and tobacco cigarette smoking initiation in adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2021 Jun 3;21(1):954.

  • Soneji S, Barrington-Trimis JL, Wills TA, Leventhal AM, Unger JB, Gibson LA, Yang J, Primack BA, Andrews JA, Miech RA, Spindle TR, Dick DM, Eissenberg T, Hornik RC, Dang R, Sargent JD. Association Between Initial Use of e-Cigarettes and Subsequent Cigarette Smoking Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2017 Aug 1;171(8):788-797. Erratum in: JAMA Pediatr. 2018 Jan 1;172(1):92-93.

Think again!​

What you see or have been advertised may not be what you get. There have been reports and studies showing that some products labeled as nicotine-free do, in fact, contain nicotine16, 17. This could be due to contamination, mislabeling, or even intentional deception by manufacturers.

Learn about the harms of nicotine here.

That's not true!

Vapes contain toxic substances like fine particulate matter that are harmful to not only vapers themselves but others in the same indoor space as well18.

Bystanders may experience irritation of the respiratory tract as a result of exposure to substances like propylene glycol and glycerol found in fine particulate matter4.

Breathing in particulate matter can result in increased risks of developing heart, lung, and other harmful diseases, worsening of existing illnesses, and shortened life expectancy19.

It is not a scare tactic – vaping can cause lung injuries.​

Vaping can trigger an inflammation that causes small blood vessels in the lungs to close up, leading to impaired gas exchange and potential respiratory complications20.

Vitamin E acetate (found in some e-liquids) is strongly linked to an outbreak of lung injuries in the United States, leading to hospitalisations and deaths21. In Singapore, two vapers had to undergo operations to treat their collapsed lungs (pneumothorax)22.

Even when no nicotine is involved, inhaling the mist from vapes can damage the lungs due to chemicals present in e-liquids.

That's an inaccurate claim.

Studies indicate that smokers who tried to quit smoking using vapes had lower success rates in quitting cigarettes compared to those who used pharmaceutical aids or tried to quit on their own.

A Singapore based survey indicated that while most smokers who tried vaping said that their key motivation to vape was to quit or cut down on smoking, few actually did, and 90% of them ended up as dual users which can be worse for their health23.

Moreover, among recent quitters who vaped daily, nearly 60% returned to cigarette smoking within two years of their quit attempt24. These findings suggest that vaping is not an effective smoking cessation tool and may actually hinder successful quitting attempts while potentially creating additional health risks.

Time for a reality check.

Vapes contain nicotine, which can lead to addiction.

Based on vapes seized by HSA in Singapore, the nicotine consumed from one vape pod is equivalent to about 3 to 4 cigarette packs. In addition to that, vape manufacturers have been putting more nicotine into vapes over the years, which greatly increases the risk of nicotine addiction3.

Did You Know? Vapes being marketed as nicotine-free have been found to contain nicotine as well, and users may be addicted without knowing.

Are you sure?

Vapes contain the highly addictive chemical nicotine. When inhaled, nicotine is absorbed within 20 seconds into the bloodstream and releases a feel-good chemical called dopamine in the brain. This dopamine "rush" is a big part of the addictive process.

When the person stops vaping, the level of nicotine in the person’s brain decreases, leading to increased cravings for nicotine. This can result in nicotine dependence. Attempting to quit may cause them to experience withdrawal symptoms, potentially leading the person to resume vaping or smoking25. Hence, quitting vaping is challenging due to its highly addictive nature.

Not true.

You can dial in to Quitline at 1800 438 2000 to seek help*. Quitline is a tele-counselling service and a safe space readily available to support you in quitting.

You can dial in to Quitline at 1800 438 2000 to seek help*. Quitline is a tele-counselling service and a safe space readily available to support you in quitting.

For more support personalised to your needs, you can sign up for the HPB I Quit Programme, which focuses on helping individual smokers and vapers quit their nicotine addiction to achieve a healthier, nicotine-free lifestyle. Admissions of consumption of such products shared during the programme will be kept confidential and will not be reported to other authorities.

If you are currently attending school, you can contact your school’s Student Health Advisor or school counsellor to seek cessation help as well.

*Kindly note that airtime charges apply for mobile calls to 1800 service lines and calls are free of charge only if made from regular landlines.

SAY NO TO VAPING
SAY NO TO VAPING
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Talk to Our Consultants

Need support? Speak with a Quitline Counsellor to start your quit journey. (Mon to Fri, 8.00am to 6.00pm)

Call 1800 438 2000*
Call 1800 438 2000*
Report Illegal Vaping

Contact the Health Sciences Authority. (Mon-Fri, 9am to 5.30pm)

Call 6684 2036/2037
Call 6684 2036/2037
*Kindly note that airtime charges apply for mobile calls to 1800 service lines and calls are free of charge only if made from regular landlines.

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