The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has completed a systematic review of approximately 81 studies on vaping and its effects on young people. The findings indicate that vaping is associated with multiple health concerns in the pediatric population.
The review identified associations between vaping and various health outcomes, including wheezing and coughing, dental health problems, sleep disturbances, mental health issues, and eye symptoms. Researchers also found evidence of harm in infants whose mothers used vaping products during pregnancy. Prof Will Carroll, one of the review authors, emphasized that the evidence demonstrates clear connections to respiratory symptoms, nicotine dependence, and progression to conventional cigarette use.
Doctors are calling on the UK government to implement more stringent measures beyond current proposals. Recommendations include reducing the number of available flavors and making vaping products less visually appealing to young people. In July, the government initiated a 12-week consultation period on vape appearance, packaging, and shop display, with plans for plain packaging with limited branding and simplified flavor descriptions. The Tobacco and Vapes Act recently passed legislation establishing a smoke-free generation in the UK, with a lifetime purchasing ban on cigarettes for those born after 1 January 2009.
Dr Mike McKean, vice-president for policy at the Royal College, noted that while vaping remains a relatively new product with uncertain long-term effects, concerning patterns are emerging. Public health organizations acknowledge that vaping is less harmful than smoking but emphasize it is not risk-free. According to polling data, almost one in five young people aged 11 to 17 in Britain have tried vaping. The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed its commitment to protecting children from vaping through various regulatory measures already in place.
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