Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Health experts insist UK vapers are safe despite six deaths in the US being linked to vaping.

The fatalities and more than 450 respiratory-related illnesses were not linked to any specific e-cigarette but may have may be linked to homemade and unlicensed vaping fluid.

Before the otherwise “healthy young people” were admitted to hospital they claimed to experience symptoms including a cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

Some also experienced vomiting and diarrhoea.

But experts here believe vapers are safe because of the UK's strict regulations on the sale of e-liquids and vaping fluids

Martin Dockrell, head of Tobacco Control at Public Health England, said reports suggested that most cases in the US had been linked to people using homemade or vaping fluid bough on the street - some of which contained cannabis products.

There were fears that the cannabis products used may contain vitamin E acetate, an oil derived from vitamin E that can be dangerous if inhaled or THC or spice.

Mr Dockrell added: “Unlike the US, all e-cigarette products in the UK are tightly regulated for quality and safety by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and they operate the yellow card scheme, encouraging vapers to report any bad experiences.”

Paul Aveyard, a professor of behavioural medicine at the University of Oxford, said: “These cases are worrying and need investigating but advice from all official bodies in the UK is that it is always preferable to vape than to smoke. These reports should not change that advice.”

North Wales Live has approached Public Health Wales for a comment.