THE Therapeutic Goods Administration has issued a formal alert for consumers about the potential risks of purchasing electronic cigarette liquid.
The advice stems from a study which found "undisclosed and potentially harmful ingredients" in e-cigarette liquid being sold in Australia, including nicotine and other chemicals in liquid that claimed to be "nicotine-free".
The Medical Journal of Australia published research yesterday detailing how scientists purchased 10 "nicotine-free" e-cigarette liquids both online and over the counter in Australia.
Testing found 60% of the products actually contained nicotine, which is classified as a Schedule 7 Dangerous Poison.
All liquids tested also contained traces of 2-chlorophenol, a common breakdown product of some insecticides, herbicides and disinfectants and is a known irritant to human airways and skin.
Contaminants included 2-amino-octanoic acid, routinely found the blood, urine and faeces of mammals, the researchers found.
The TGA noted that at this time no electronic cigarettes have been approved in Australia as a therapeutic good for smoking cessation, and noted concerns from Europe and the USA that significant use of nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes by adolescents can lead to longer-term cigarette smoking.
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