VAPERS could be inhaling harmful levels of toxic metals linked to brain and heart damage, experts have warned.

Significant traces of metals such as lead, leak from e-cigarette heating coils into the vapour, a study found.

3 High levels of dangerous metals were found in the vapour of e-cigarettes Credit: Getty - Contributor

Long-term exposure to lead, chromium, manganese and nickel can cause damage to the lungs, liver, heart, brain and immune system - as well as cancer.

Experts from Johns Hopkins University school of public health looked at vaping devices owned by 56 users.

They found that significant numbers had dangerous levels of the toxins leaking into their vapour.

The amount of lead found in the aerosols produced by the devices was, in some cases, more than 25 times greater than in the refill dispensers.

3 Long-term exposure to lead, chromium, manganese and nickel can cause damage to the brain, lungs and heart Credit: Getty - Contributor

Almost half of the aerosol samples had lead concentrations higher than limits set out by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The researchers called on the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to regulate the devices.

Senior author Ana Rule, from the school's department for environmental health, said: "It's important for the FDA, the e-cigarette companies and vapers themselves to know that these heating coils, as currently made, seem to be leaking toxic metals, which then get into the aerosols that vapers inhale."

E-cigarettes often use a battery operated electric current that passes through a metal coil to heat e-liquids, many of which contain nicotine, to create a vapour to inhale.

3 Almost half of the aerosol samples had lead concentrations higher than limits set out by the Environmental Protection Agency Credit: Getty - Contributor

Vaping is becoming increasingly popular with young adults.

It provides the nicotine hit and the feel of smoking without the dangerous chemicals found in fags.

But recent studies have found some e-cigarette flavours contain toxins that harm the body and another found vaping leaves people more susceptible to pneumonia.

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For this study Ana and her team tested the e-cigarettes of 56 users for 15 different metals.

They found minimal amounts in the liquid but much larger amounts were in the heating coils and then transferred to the vapour.

"We don't know yet whether metals are chemically leaching from the coil or vaporising when it's heated," Ana added.

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