The rapid growth of vaping has created two very different markets: regulated products manufactured under strict standards, and illicit e-liquids made in unregulated, often unsafe conditions. While legal e-liquids are tested for consistency and contaminants, underground or counterfeit liquids pose serious health risks due to chemical contamination. Understanding what goes into these untested products—and what can go wrong when they’re inhaled—is critical for consumer safety.
This article explores how the lack of quality control, dangerous additives, and poor manufacturing practices in illicit e-liquids can expose users to toxic aerosol contaminants.
Lack of Quality Control: When “Manufacturing” Happens in a Kitchen
One of the biggest dangers of illicit e-liquids is unsterilized manufacturing. Legitimate e-liquid production takes place in controlled, lab-grade environments with clean rooms, filtered air, and sterile equipment. In contrast, illegal or home-brewed liquids are often mixed in kitchens, garages, or back rooms with no sanitation standards.
Without quality control, there is:
The Vitamin E Acetate Crisis: Lessons from EVALI
The dangers of illicit vaping products became globally visible during the EVALI outbreak (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury). Investigations revealed that many underground THC and nicotine cartridges contained Vitamin E acetate, a synthetic thickener used to dilute oils and increase profit.
While Vitamin E acetate is safe when ingested or applied to the skin, it becomes extremely dangerous when inhaled. When heated, it interferes with lung surfactant, impairing oxygen exchange and causing severe inflammation.
This crisis highlighted a key issue with illicit e-liquids:
Heavy Metal Leaching from Counterfeit Hardware
Chemical contamination doesn’t only come from the liquid itself. Heavy metal toxicity is a major risk associated with counterfeit or low-quality vape devices commonly paired with illicit e-liquids.
Poorly manufactured heating coils can leach metals such as:
Regulated manufacturers test coil materials for stability under heat. Counterfeit devices do not, making metal contamination an invisible but serious threat.
Undisclosed Additives and Synthetic Contaminants
Another defining danger of illicit e-liquids is the presence of undisclosed additives. Because there is no labeling oversight, liquids may contain substances never intended for inhalation.
Confiscated illegal vapes have been found to contain:
Aerosol Contaminants: Why Inhalation Changes Everything
A key factor often overlooked is how chemicals behave once vaporized. Heating e-liquids transforms them into aerosol contaminants, which are absorbed rapidly through lung tissue and enter the bloodstream almost immediately.
Even small concentrations of toxic substances can:
Conclusion: The Hidden Cost of Illicit E-Liquids
Illicit e-liquids may appear cheaper or more accessible, but the lack of testing, quality control, and transparency introduces serious health risks. From Vitamin E acetate and synthetic additives to heavy metal toxicity and unsterilized manufacturing, these products expose users to a range of dangerous aerosol contaminants.
The history of EVALI serves as a reminder that when vaping products are produced outside regulated systems, the consequences can be severe, sudden, and life-threatening. Inhalation is one of the most direct delivery routes into the human body—and what enters the lungs should never be a mystery.
Understanding these risks is essential for making informed decisions in an industry where not all products are created equal.
This article explores how the lack of quality control, dangerous additives, and poor manufacturing practices in illicit e-liquids can expose users to toxic aerosol contaminants.
Lack of Quality Control: When “Manufacturing” Happens in a Kitchen
One of the biggest dangers of illicit e-liquids is unsterilized manufacturing. Legitimate e-liquid production takes place in controlled, lab-grade environments with clean rooms, filtered air, and sterile equipment. In contrast, illegal or home-brewed liquids are often mixed in kitchens, garages, or back rooms with no sanitation standards.
Without quality control, there is:
- No verification of ingredient purity
- No consistency in nicotine concentration
- No screening for microbial growth or chemical contamination
The Vitamin E Acetate Crisis: Lessons from EVALI
The dangers of illicit vaping products became globally visible during the EVALI outbreak (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury). Investigations revealed that many underground THC and nicotine cartridges contained Vitamin E acetate, a synthetic thickener used to dilute oils and increase profit.
While Vitamin E acetate is safe when ingested or applied to the skin, it becomes extremely dangerous when inhaled. When heated, it interferes with lung surfactant, impairing oxygen exchange and causing severe inflammation.
This crisis highlighted a key issue with illicit e-liquids:
- Thickeners and synthetic additives are used without toxicological testing
- Consumers have no way of knowing what they are inhaling
- Chemical behavior changes dramatically when substances are aerosolized
Heavy Metal Leaching from Counterfeit Hardware
Chemical contamination doesn’t only come from the liquid itself. Heavy metal toxicity is a major risk associated with counterfeit or low-quality vape devices commonly paired with illicit e-liquids.
Poorly manufactured heating coils can leach metals such as:
- Lead
- Nickel
- Cadmium
Regulated manufacturers test coil materials for stability under heat. Counterfeit devices do not, making metal contamination an invisible but serious threat.
Undisclosed Additives and Synthetic Contaminants
Another defining danger of illicit e-liquids is the presence of undisclosed additives. Because there is no labeling oversight, liquids may contain substances never intended for inhalation.
Confiscated illegal vapes have been found to contain:
- Pesticides used in unregulated nicotine or cannabis extraction
- Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen formed through poor formulation or overheating
- Synthetic additives, including synthetic cannabinoids sometimes referred to as “zombie drugs”
Aerosol Contaminants: Why Inhalation Changes Everything
A key factor often overlooked is how chemicals behave once vaporized. Heating e-liquids transforms them into aerosol contaminants, which are absorbed rapidly through lung tissue and enter the bloodstream almost immediately.
Even small concentrations of toxic substances can:
- Bypass liver detoxification
- Reach the brain within seconds
- Trigger acute inflammatory responses
Conclusion: The Hidden Cost of Illicit E-Liquids
Illicit e-liquids may appear cheaper or more accessible, but the lack of testing, quality control, and transparency introduces serious health risks. From Vitamin E acetate and synthetic additives to heavy metal toxicity and unsterilized manufacturing, these products expose users to a range of dangerous aerosol contaminants.
The history of EVALI serves as a reminder that when vaping products are produced outside regulated systems, the consequences can be severe, sudden, and life-threatening. Inhalation is one of the most direct delivery routes into the human body—and what enters the lungs should never be a mystery.
Understanding these risks is essential for making informed decisions in an industry where not all products are created equal.