E-Cigarettes and Liquid Nicotine Poisoning

Is liquid nicotine poisoning on the rise? Poison centers began receiving calls about e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine products in 2011, which coincides with the initial period where these products reached the U.S. market. These products often contain a greater concentration of nicotine, a stimulant, than other nicotine/tobacco products on the market. Some children and toddlers who come in contact with e-cigarette devices or liquid nicotine have become very ill; some even requiring emergency department visits with nausea and vomiting being the most significant symptoms.

As of September 30, 2023, poison centers have managed 5,967 exposure cases about e-cigarette devices and liquid nicotine. For more information on how poison center data is collected, please click here.

 

Prevention Tips

• Protect your skin when handling the products.
• Take special care to always keep any nicotine-containing product, including e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine, out of the reach of children.
• Follow the specific disposal instructions on the label.
• If you think someone has been exposed in a dangerous way to an e-cigarette or liquid nicotine, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.

 

For the Media

Please cite this data as “National Poison Data System, America’s Poison Centers.” Any and all print, digital, social, or visual media using this data must include the following: “You can reach your local poison center by calling Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. To save the number in your mobile phone, text POISON to (301) 597-7137.” Email Media@PoisonCenters.org or call 703-894-1863 for more information, questions, or to submit request data.

Resources

For more safety information, visit the E-Cigarette and Liquid Nicotine Poisoning and Exposures prevention page.
 
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