Coughing up Cartridges: Vaping ‘disposables’ litter the FAU landscape
Vapes, already known to wreak havoc on lungs, may be equally damaging to the environment.
By Jadyn Preyer
BOCA RATON, Fla. — A discarded vape lies on the ground. Unbeknownst to its previous owner, the device and its contaminants will remain in Boca Raton far past the student’s graduation date and have detrimental environmental effects for decades to come.
The health risks of vaping have been well documented over past years as individuals have been hospitalized for significant respiratory issues. However, what goes under-reported are the devices’ environmental impacts, especially in Boca Raton’s coastal region.
There are more than 10 smoke shops within two miles of Florida Atlantic University, making the purchase and consistent use of vape products very convenient. These devices are used on campus despite the university’s tobacco-free policy that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.
Students are known to toss their vape devices on the ground, in drains and in bodies of water on campus.
These actions harm Florida ecosystems as the microplastics from the vaping devices get deposited all over Boca Raton, and the chemicals in the devices seep into local soil and waterways.
Kayla O’Brien, 23, a graduate student and teaching assistant for the Environmental Science program researching microplastic pollution, shared her concerns about the vaping industry’s single-use mass production practice.
“We’re pretty used to that single-use throwaway mindset of purchasing, so it’s going to have to come from consumers having that to be transitioned to a more sustainable mindset,” said O’Brien, encouraging students to be mindful of buying e-cigarette devices frequently. “It’s definitely going to be a contributor to the plastic pollution issue that we already have.”
O’Brien discussed how Gumbo Limbo, a nature center in Boca Raton, has rehabilitated many juvenile sea turtles that required operations to have microplastic fragments extracted from their clogged digestive tracts to prevent starvation and death.
She fears the microplastic fragments from discarded vapes can also lead to these lifesaving procedures if they are introduced into Boca Raton’s waterways.
Heather Seaman, 27, a doctoral degree student in integrative biology at Florida Atlantic University, is currently researching the impact of plastic ingestion on sea turtles. She explained that any microplastic in the ocean could be an issue for sea turtles, especially smaller turtles, who are prone to consume plastic.
“The most common types of plastics sea turtles eat are polypropylene and polyethylene,” she said. Polypropylene and polyethylene are the conventional single-use plastics found in vape devices.
“A lot of people forget that just because those plastic pods are breaking down or they’re getting run over by the cars or different environmental conditions that are acting on them, just because you can no longer see them, they’re just continuing to break down, said O’Brien. “So, they’re still out there, even though you might not be able to see them with your eyes.”
“Vaping is stupid, period!” exclaimed Dr. J. William Louda, a research professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at Florida Atlantic University. “Microplastics are taken into lower food chain organisms, and as they are eaten, they pass up the food chain and become more and more concentrated. This is called bioaccumulation; the metals adversely affect enzyme activity, which can lead to disease and even death.”
Louda researched nicotine and its effects on enzymes in his study, “Cyclization of Lycopene in the Biosynthesis of β-Carotene.” The study found that nicotine can be poisonous to enzymes and alter their performance.
When the devices are littered, the cheap plastic is subject to breaking into pieces over time due to the elements and human interaction; additionally, this releases the nicotinic chemicals, lead, cobalt, nickel and other toxic components into water sources and soil where they can encounter the area’s wildlife.
Every living thing has enzymes that help with the everyday chemical processes necessary for life. Wildlife can become fatally ill when exposed to vaping chemicals, and their biological operations are gravely affected due to nicotinic poisoning.
There is no proper way to dispose of vapes since they contain fragile and noxious materials, so disposing of them in the trash or recycling bins instead of littering them will not prevent ecological damage.
“Vapes management is indeed challenging,” said Bob Madden, director of household hazardous waste for the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County.
He explained that the batteries integrated into the devices are not removable, and no recycling facility can recycle them. The pieces of glass, plastic or metal components are also not easy to disassemble and are impossible to recycle effectively.
“In many ways, they are akin to disposable lighters. In theory, higher-end devices have interchangeable pieces and could be disassembled to remove batteries and components for recycling,” said Madden, expressing his concerns about tackling electronic cigarette disposal. “Keep in mind that hazardous waste from individuals is not regulated, so that the device can be thrown away in the regular trash. SWA does not, at this time, specifically collect or recycle vapes.”
Most common vapes contain lithium batteries that, when overheated or punctured, can catch fire and further distribute their chemical contents into their surroundings.
Some students litter e-cigarettes in parking lots, where they are prone to be run over by cars or pelted by sunbeams on the asphalt. The high traffic of vehicles in these parking lots and the severity of sun exposure Boca Raton experiences can lead to a higher chance of e-cigarette fires and chemical pollution.
David Plata, 21, a biology major and an employee of Owls Care Health Promotion, was shocked and speechless to see the number of vapes pictured in the parking lot’s water drain and pond on campus.
“As a member of Owls Care Health Promotion, I believe that the health of not only ourselves but the other members of our community and wildlife here is important and something we should be mindful of,” said Plata, regarding students being mindful of their ecological contributions to Boca Raton’s ecosystems.
Owls Care Health Promotion’s mission is to empower students to be healthy, responsible and successful. This applies to the health of students themselves, others and the campus.
While e-cigarettes are relatively new technologies whose long-term effects on users’ health are not fully known, there are foreseen long-term consequences of vaping for the environment.
Florida Atlantic University does enforce the tobacco-free policy on campus. First-time offenders will receive a warning. Second-time violators must attend two tobacco management/dependence consultations with the Office of Health and Wellness Education within 14 days of receiving the notice.
Owls Care Health Promotion has resources on its website to help students and faculty quit addictive tobacco products, including vapes.
