--- title: Vape 101 description: Looking into the growth of vape and the potential risk for insurers allows us to better understand how to manage this risk effectively. image: https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hubfs/vape-resized-header.png --- [![Go to WSRB](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/buildingmetrix/test%20images/inactive-WSRB.png?width=120&height=21&name=inactive-WSRB.png "Go to WSRB")](https://www1.wsrb.com/) ![Go to BuildingMetrix](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BuildingMetrix/images/logo/BuildingMetrix_Primary_Color_White.png?width=140&height=23&name=BuildingMetrix_Primary_Color_White.png "Go to BuildingMetrix") [![BuildingMetrix_Tagline_Color](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/buildingmetrix/logo/BuildingMetrix_Tagline_Color.png?width=200&height=40&name=BuildingMetrix_Tagline_Color.png "BuildingMetrix_Tagline_Color")](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/) ** ** [![CREATE AN ACCOUNT](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2459360/9813bb99-bbd6-41d2-8a6f-dcf35fa5352e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2459360/9813bb99-bbd6-41d2-8a6f-dcf35fa5352e) [![LOG IN](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2459360/ebfc0b19-0406-4afd-9c46-c19c57a79fe3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2459360/ebfc0b19-0406-4afd-9c46-c19c57a79fe3) ** #### [About the Company ](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/about) Who we are and how we help property insurers and agents throughout the U.S. #### [CEO Perspective](https://www1.wsrb.com/ceo-perspective-wsrb) Engaging thought leadership on key insurance industry issues from our CEO.  #### [Meet the Team](https://www1.wsrb.com/meet-the-team) Get to know the team of property insurance experts at WSRB, our parent company.  #### [InsuranceEDGE](https://insuranceedge.wsrb.com) Keep up with changes in the P&C industry with our weekly newsletter.  --- #### [Underwriting Guide to Cannabis & Hemp ](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/cannabis-and-hemp) An underwriter’s guide to risk and how to protect against it. #### [BuildingMetrix Blog](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/blog) Learn about key insurance trends and how data helps you navigate them.  --- #### [Agency Guide to Earthquakes](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/agent-earthquake-guide) Help your customers understand and be covered for earthquake risk.   #### [Case Studies](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/case-studies) Discover customer success stories powered by BuildingMetrix solutions. --- #### [A Guide to Geospatial Technology](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/geospatial-tech-guide) Harness the latest tools to achieve your underwriting goals.   #### [Help Center](https://help.wsrb.com/) Get step-by-step how-to articles on all BuildingMetrix data products. ---   [![BuildingMetrix_Tagline_Color](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/buildingmetrix/logo/BuildingMetrix_Tagline_Color.png?width=200&height=40&name=BuildingMetrix_Tagline_Color.png "BuildingMetrix_Tagline_Color")](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/) [![CREATE AN ACCOUNT](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2459360/9813bb99-bbd6-41d2-8a6f-dcf35fa5352e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2459360/9813bb99-bbd6-41d2-8a6f-dcf35fa5352e) [![LOG IN](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2459360/ebfc0b19-0406-4afd-9c46-c19c57a79fe3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2459360/ebfc0b19-0406-4afd-9c46-c19c57a79fe3) ** ** ** #### [About the Company ](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/about) Who we are and how we help property insurers and agents throughout the U.S. #### [CEO Perspective](https://www1.wsrb.com/ceo-perspective-wsrb) Engaging thought leadership on key insurance industry issues from our CEO  #### [Meet the Team](https://www1.wsrb.com/meet-the-team) Get to know the team of property insurance experts at WSRB, our parent company  #### [InsuranceEDGE](https://insuranceedge.wsrb.com) Keep up with changes in the P&C industry with our weekly newsletter.  --- #### [Underwriting Guide to Cannabis & Hemp](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/cannabis-and-hemp) An underwriter’s guide to risk and how to protect against it. #### [BuildingMetrix Blog](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/blog) Learn about key insurance trends and how data helps you navigate them. --- #### [Agency Guide to Earthquakes](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/agent-earthquake-guide) Help your customers understand and be covered for earthquake risk.   #### [Case Studies](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/case-studies) Discover customer success stories powered by BuildingMetrix solutions. --- #### [A Guide to Geospatial Technology](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/geospatial-tech-guide) Harness the latest tools to achieve your underwriting goals.   #### [Help Center](https://help.wsrb.com/) Get step-by-step how-to articles on all BuildingMetrix data products.  --- #### [A Guide to Wildfire Risk](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/wildfire-hub) Everything you need to know about managing this growing risk. Search **Search filters** Website pages Blog posts Help Center articles Include results from WSRB.com ![buildingmetrix-primary-color-white](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/buildingmetrix/images/logo/buildingmetrix-primary-color-white.png?width=200&height=33&name=buildingmetrix-primary-color-white.png "buildingmetrix-primary-color-white") ** ** ![](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hubfs/vape-resized-header.png) [Risk Assessment](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/blog/tag/risk-assessment) | [Underwriting](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/blog/tag/underwriting) | 4 min read # Vape 101 [![Joe Nolan](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hubfs/Joe%20Nolan%20-%20Author-1.jfif)](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/blog/author/joe-nolan) By [Joe Nolan](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/blog/author/joe-nolan) November 8, 2022 In recent years, e-cigarette and vape usage has exploded in the United States; vape-associated risk has grown alongside this boom in popularity. Looking into the growth of vape, the harms it brings with it, and the potential risk for insurers allows us to better understand how to manage this risk effectively. ## What is vape? Though you may have heard different terms like e-cigarette, e-cig, vape pen, e-pen, e-hookah, and mods, they ultimately all mean the same thing: vape. But what is a vape? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide us with a working definition:1 *[Vapes] come in many shapes and sizes. Many have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid. [They] produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine – the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products – flavorings, and other chemicals that help to make the aerosol. Users inhale this aerosol into their lungs.* There isn’t just one type of vape; some look like traditional cigarettes, some come in bright colors, some are reusable, some are disposable, and some are modular. ![vapes-cdc](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/vapes-cdc.png?width=700&name=vapes-cdc.png) ## Harms of vape Because vapes are still a relatively new product, entering the US market in the mid-2000s, we do not have a complete picture of their long-term health effects. However, there are a few things that we know for certain. **ONE**: The aerosolized liquid inside vapes that users inhale often contain nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical that is toxic to developing fetuses and can harm adolescent/young adult brain development. That said, nicotine is not greatly harmful in and of itself. Rather, nicotine causes users to become addicted to the substance, furthering their exposure to other, more harmful substances. **TWO**: The aerosolized liquid contains harmful and potentially harmful substances. Some of the substances which have been found to be present in vape liquids are:2 - Flavoring, namely diacetyl - Small amounts of toxicants, including formaldehyde - Carcinogenic compounds - Ultrafine particles, or nanoparticles - Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, chromium, and lead During a 2021 study at Johns Hopkins University, researchers detected over 2,000 unknown chemicals present in vape clouds.3 Vapes, while healthier than cigarettes, still carry with them the chance for severe physical health impacts, including lung disease and death. **THREE**: Vape devices themselves can cause injuries.4 Defective vapes have caused fires and explosions in the past. The exact causes of these incidents are not yet clear, but evidence points to battery-related issues. Although uncommon, vape fires and explosions can seriously harm exposed individuals. During one such instance in 2019, the force from a vape explosion shattered a teen's jaw and knocked out several of his teeth.5 ## Growth of vape Since the introduction of vapes into the US market, their popularity has continued to grow. As of 2021, the vape market generated upwards of $7 Billion in revenue6. By current estimates, the market is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 30% from 2022 to 2030, reaching over $180 Billion in revenue by 2030. ![vape-market-graph](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/vape-market-graph.png?width=650&name=vape-market-graph.png) A 2018 Gallup poll concluded that roughly 9% of U.S. adults said they “regularly or occasionally” used vapes.  The increase in vape usage is most profoundly visible among children. According to the FDA, high school students who had tried vaping between 2011 and 2019 grew to over 25%.7 **![vape-use-graph](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/vape-use-graph.png?width=650&name=vape-use-graph.png)** A 2022 youth survey conducted by UK-based Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) showed habitual vape use among children, defined as ages 11-17, rose from 4% in 2020 to 7% in 2022; the number of children who admitted to trying vaping also increased during this period, from 14% to 16%, with 29% of 16- and 17-year-olds having tried it.8 ## Risk for insurers As of 2019, there were at least 530 confirmed and probable cases of vaping-related illness and 7 deaths within the US alone.9 Though this may not seem like a large number, we are only just beginning to see the fallout as the long-term effects of vaping become apparent. As the resulting consequences of vape continue to mount, insurers will likely face an increase in litigation and regulatory changes.10 Several states have already placed regulations on the sale of specific types of vape products, most notably cracking down on colorfully fruit-flavored offerings. But even with a growing regulatory framework built up around the burgeoning vape industry, many vape products have dubious origins. Underregulated manufacturing and distribution bring with it the possibility of legal trouble related to improper labeling, false advertising, and product defects.11 On top of that, the problem of underage sale can further complicate things for retailers, embroiling them in legal battles which can come back to bite companies that insure them. In short, the unknown future of a new industry brings with it fresh dangers. --- [1] CDC, [https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/about-e-cigarettes.html) [2] National Center for Biotechnology Information, [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4018182/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4018182/) [3] Johns Hopkins University, [https://hub.jhu.edu/2021/10/07/vaping-unknown-chemicals/](https://hub.jhu.edu/2021/10/07/vaping-unknown-chemicals/) [4] FDA. [https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/](https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/tips-help-avoid-vape-battery-or-fire-explosions) [5] NBC News, [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/vape-pen-explodes-shattering-teen-s-jaw-amid-rising-concerns-n1018741](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/vape-pen-explodes-shattering-teen-s-jaw-amid-rising-concerns-n1018741) [6] Grand View Research, [https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/e-cigarette-vaping-market](https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/e-cigarette-vaping-market) [7] FDA. [https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/public-health-education/think-e-cigs-cant-harm-teens-health](https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/public-health-education/think-e-cigs-cant-harm-teens-health) [8] Action On Smoking and Health, [https://ash.org.uk/media-centre/news/press-releases/fears-of-growth-in-children-vaping-disposables-backed-up-by-new-national-survey](https://ash.org.uk/media-centre/news/press-releases/fears-of-growth-in-children-vaping-disposables-backed-up-by-new-national-survey) [9] Gen Re, [https://www.genre.com/knowledge/blog/2019/september/e-cigarettes-and-vaping-en](https://www.genre.com/knowledge/blog/2019/september/e-cigarettes-and-vaping-en) [10] Risk and Insurance, [https://riskandinsurance.com/insurers-refuse-to-inhale-the-liability-risk-of-vaping/](https://riskandinsurance.com/insurers-refuse-to-inhale-the-liability-risk-of-vaping) [11] Risk and Insurance, [https://riskandinsurance.com/vaping-smoking-gun/](https://riskandinsurance.com/vaping-smoking-gun/) Joe Nolan is WSRB's Manager, Risk Data & Analytics. He has extensive experience providing data and technology solutions for the insurance sector as well as a strong analytics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) background. Connect with me on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joenolan1/) ![RAS_Blog_Callouts_Vape_BackgroundImage_large](https://www.buildingmetrix.com/hubfs/RAS_Blog_Callouts_Vape_BackgroundImage_large.jpg "RAS_Blog_Callouts_Vape_BackgroundImage_large") ## See through the haze and pinpoint vape exposure ### Run your book of business against known vape establishments to make informed underwriting decisions. Click here to learn more. 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