The packaging says “strawberry chill” or “mango.” But you already know there’s no actual fruit in there. What you might not know is exactly what is in there – and some of it is genuinely disturbing.

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, or nic, which is highly addictive. Nic messes with the parts that control mood, focus, learning, and impulse control. It also raises your chances of getting hooked on other substances later.

Not really. Some vapes labeled “nicotine-free” or “0%” have been tested and actually contained significant amounts of nicotine. One supposedly nicotine-free vape actually had 25.6 mg/mL. That’s not zero – that’s a lot. Companies also use thousands of ingredients never tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety.

Vape liquid contains propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin – chemicals also found in antifreeze and fog machines. When heated, they create new toxic chemicals: formaldehyde (used to preserve dead bodies), acetaldehyde (causes cancer), acrolein (a weed killer that destroys lung tissue), and benzene (found in car exhaust).

Yes. The heating coil releases lead, cadmium, nickel, and chromium directly into your lungs—sometimes at levels equal to or higher than cigarettes. These products contain thousands of chemicals. We don’t know all the long-term effects yet. But we know enough: this stuff doesn’t belong in your body.