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• Posted July 25, 2025

Many Young Vapers Make Potentially Dangerous Tweaks To Their Devices

Most teens and young adults who vape tinker with their devices, often in potentially dangerous ways, a new study says.

More than 4 out of 5 young e-cigarette users have modified their device in some way – swapping batteries, replacing heating coils, tweaking the e-liquid or even adding weed to their vape, according to findings published in the journal Scientific Reports.

These modifications increase vapers’ risk of burns and exposure to toxins, says lead researcher Lucy Popova, an associate professor at the Georgia State University School of Public Health in Atlanta.

“Many users don’t realize the potential dangers of modifying e-cigarettes,” she said in a news release.

For example, 40% of young vapers reported that they’d made unauthorized battery modifications, which can lead the device to overheat, catch fire or explode, Popova said.

E-cigarette explosion and burn injuries caused more than 2,000 trips to the E.R. between 2015 and 2016 alone, according to earlier research.

These adjustments also increase the risk of exposure to toxins, Popova said.

“When people adjust the voltage of a device or add substances to the liquid, they can increase their exposure to harmful chemicals like heavy metals,” she said.

For the new study, researchers conducted a nationwide survey of nearly 2,400 U.S. teens and adults who vape. The survey took place in 2021.

Results showed that 84% of teens and young adults had modified their vape device in at least one way.

Most commonly, they had changed up the e-liquid in the device, with 68% of teens and 61% of young adults reporting this modification.

These changes included adding their own flavorings, mixing two or more e-liquids together, making their own e-liquid, or adding weed or nicotine, researchers said.

The next most-common changes involved the heating coil, with 64% of teens and 61% of young adults reporting they’d cleaned the coil, replaced it with another store-bought or home-built coil, or altered the coil.

Public health campaigns already warn about the health risks associated with vaping, but they should consider also highlighting the potential risks of modifying e-cigarettes, Popova said.

“Educating people is key, because most people don’t know that modifying e-cigarettes could be dangerous,” she said.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the health effects of vaping.

SOURCES: Georgia State University, news release, July 22, 2025; Scientific Reports, July 2025