The hidden dangers of vapes: VCU study reveals chemicals, risks and teen use

By Sian Wilkerson

Recent testing by a Virginia Commonwealth University forensic toxicology research lab is uncovering the hidden dangers of vapes and cannabis products used by more than a million school-age children across the country each year. The study also highlights the rise of vaping in schools, where unregulated devices are increasingly found among students.

This past school year, VCU researcher Michelle Peace and her team in the Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology Research conducted extensive research on e-cigarettes, collecting and evaluating nearly 1,300 products from K-12 schools in Virginia as part of a project that exposes the ingredients in thousands of unregulated vapes and cannabis products.

The project, funded by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth and the National Institute of Justice, aims to help consumers, particularly youth, make informed decisions.

"This work is important because it's a direct measure of what children have access to - and what their preferences are," said Peace, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Forensic Science in VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences. "Vaping is a significant public health and public safety threat to the well-being of our children … and [this information] serves as an educational tool for prevention and cessation."

Tested chemicals in vapes reveal mislabeling, contaminants and risks

Of the nearly 1,300 vaping products collected from schools during the 2024-25 school year:

• 83% contained nicotine.
• 14% contained cannabinoids.
• 73% of cannabinoid vapes tested contained a mixture of cannabinoids, both plant-based and synthetic, with cannabinoid concentrations ranging from 28% to 90%.
• Vapes often advertised as containing 5% nicotine were found to contain anywhere from 1% to 4%.
• Ethanol - or alcohol - was identified in 4% of vapes that contained nicotine.

In addition to the mislabeling and various chemicals found in vapes, Peace's research on e-cigarettes and cannabis products uncovered more hidden dangers. Most concerning to Peace was the presence of microbiologicals, such as bacteria, yeast, and coliform, the latter of which indicates fecal contamination, in the devices and in the aerosol of some of the products tested, many of which she said exceed the exposure threshold - meaning that they rise above the level of exposure at which health effects are likely to occur, raising significant concerns about the potential side effects from vaping on user health.

Vaping in schools: The growing relationship between vaping and teens

Less than 0.1% of the products submitted were authorized for sale by the Food and Drug Administration, meaning that they were overwhelmingly purchased from the unregulated market.

"I firmly believe that if you aren't measuring a phenomenon, you cannot manage it properly," Peace said. "[This research] provides as close to real-time data as to what schools are experiencing so they can develop strategies."

According to a 2025 report by the Monitoring the Future, 15.3% of secondary school students in the U.S. used nicotine vaping products within the last year, while 11.5% used cannabinoid vaping products. The report's findings are based on a survey sample of 8th, 10th and 12th grade students from around the country. Peace and her team have concerns about the generalizability of this data as school personnel continue to report a rise in vaping among the student population.

Of the 1,287 submissions received by the lab during the 2024-25 academic year, the most common brand was Geek Bar (508), followed by Raz (123) and Lost Mary (100). Students self-reported most commonly that they acquired their vaping product through a friend or peer (110), by purchasing it themselves (60) or by stealing it (18).

FAQs about vaping and teen health

Why is vaping in schools a major concern for parents and educators?

The presence of nicotine and unregulated chemicals is more than just a classroom distraction; it introduces teens to addictive nicotine and harmful chemicals at a critical stage of brain development. Beyond the health risks, it normalizes substance use among peers and creates challenges for teachers trying to maintain a safe and focused learning environment. This combination makes prevention and education essential for protecting student well-being. Many vapes were determined to contain cannabinoids and/or other substances. Many products had no label defining the drug contents, meaning the consumer, parental figures, and school personnel cannot make informed decisions.

What are the side effects of vaping?

Reported effects include coughing, dizziness, shortness of breath and long-term damage to lung function. VCU's research also shows the risk of exposure to bacteria and harmful contaminants that can cause health issues. Another VCU study found that use of a vape can lead to the body aging faster; people who vape were, on average, physiologically 10 years older than their actual age.

Is vaping nicotine safer than cigarettes?

While some believe vaping nicotine is less harmful than cigarette smoking, research on nicotine vapes shows that unregulated devices still carry significant risks due to hidden chemicals and addictive nicotine. Decades worth of health and safety data demonstrated the risks of smoking that finally precipitated changes in public health policies. For vaping, it will be decades before the comprehensive risks will be fully understood.