Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mr. Wells.

And welcome to today's lesson.

Today's lesson is called Why Smoking and Vaping are Risky.

And It's part of the unit Risky Substances: What Do I Need to Know About Tobacco and Vaping?

We recommend that you're supervised by an adult when you're completing this lesson.

If at any point you feel upset about the contents of today's lesson, I would like you to close the screen and talk to a trusted adult.

Let's make a start.

Today's lesson outcome is I can identify risky substances in cigarettes, vapes, and illegal vapes, explain why they are harmful, and explain how to spot an illegal vape.

Let's get started.

In every RSHE lessons, there are ground rules.

Let's take a moment to go through them.

Laura says that we should listen to others.

It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond.

When disagreeing, we should challenge the statement, not the person.

Andeep says we should respect privacy.

We can discuss examples, but do not use names or descriptions that identify anyone, including ourselves.

Jacob says there's no judgment.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without fear of being judged.

And Izzy says we can choose our level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or join the discussion.

We never put anybody on the spot.

Throughout today's lesson, there are three keywords or phrases.

These will appear in bold on the screen.

The first is nicotine, an addictive drug that cigarettes and some vapes contain.

The second is tar, a substance in tobacco smoke that can cause cancer and damage to the lungs.

And finally, illegal vapes, vapes sold illegally in the UK that may contain banned substances or unsafe levels of nicotine that can seriously harm a person's health.

Today's lesson, Why Smoking and Vaping Are Risky, is in three parts, what are the harmful substances in cigarettes, what are the harmful substances in vapes, and how can we spot an illegal vape.

Let's make a start with our first learning cycle, what are the harmful substances in cigarettes?

Cigarettes contain nicotine, making them addictive.

However, they also contain 5,000 chemicals in total, with around 70 being carcinogenic, cancer-causing.

These carcinogenic substances include tar, arsenic, cadmium, benzene, carbon monoxide, ammonia.

It's time for our first check for understanding.

Cigarettes contain around blank carcinogenic chemicals.

Is the correct answer a, 30, b, 50, or c, 70?

Well done.

The correct answer to the question is c, 70.

The harmful chemicals in cigarettes are found in other things too.

For example, arsenic is also found in rat poison.

Benzene is also found in exhaust fumes from cars.

And ammonia is also found in cleaning products.

Cadmium is also found in batteries.

And carbon monoxide is also found in burning fossil fuels.

Why is this concerning?

Well, these substances are so toxic that we use them for cleaning, killing pests, or they're created from pollution.

When people smoke, they're inhaling these poisons directly into their lungs, where they enter the bloodstream and travel around the body, causing serious damage to their health.

Many people find it very hard to stop smoking once they start because nicotine is so addictive, which means they continue to breathe in these harmful chemicals over a long period of time.

It's time for our next check for understanding.

I would like you to match the substances in cigarettes to where else it is found.

On the left-hand side, you can see three words: a, benzene, b, arsenic, c, ammonia.

And on the right-hand side of the screen, where it might be found: 1, rat poison, 2, cleaning products, 3, exhaust fumes.

Well done.

The correct answers are as follows.

Benzene, a, can be found in exhaust fumes, 3.

Arsenic, b, can be found in rat poisons, 1.

Ammonia, c, can be found in cleaning products, 2.

Well done if you've got those correct.

Tar is one of the most harmful substances in cigarette smoke.

It is created when tobacco and other materials in cigarette are burnt.

It creates a sticky brown substance that coats the inside of the lungs.

The tar builds up over time, blocking the tiny alveoli, air sacs, that help you breathe and preventing the lungs from cleaning themselves properly.

On the screen, there is an illustration of alveoli, air sacs in the lungs.

The chemicals in tar damage the cells in the lungs, which can cause them to become cancerous and lead to serious illnesses like lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

It's time for another check for understanding.

True or false.

Tar damages lung cells and can cause cancer.

Is that true or is it false?

Well done.

The correct answer is true.

I wonder if you can tell me why.

You might have said tar is a sticky substance that coats the lungs and builds up over time.

The chemicals in tar damage the cells in the lungs, which can cause them to become cancerous.

It's time for our first task now.

You're doing really well.

Explain to your learning partner the different harmful substances in cigarettes and where else they're commonly found.

Consider the following: the number of substances in cigarettes, where the substances in cigarettes are also found, why it is concerning that cigarettes contain these substances.

You can pause the screen now and press play when you're ready to go through your answers.

Well done.

Your discussions might have included the following.

Cigarettes contain 5,000 chemicals in total, with around 70 of these being carcinogenic.

Cigarettes contain harmful substances such as ammonia, tar, carbon monoxide, arsenic, cadmium, and benzene.

These harmful substances are also found in rat poison, car exhaust fumes, cleaning products, batteries, and burning fossil fuels.

It is concerning that cigarettes contain these toxic substances because when people smoke, they inhale these poisons directly into their lungs, where they enter the bloodstream and can damage the body.

Tar is particularly harmful as it coats the inside of the lungs and damages lung cells, which can cause cancer.

It's time to move on to our second learning cycle, what are the harmful substances in vapes?

The e-liquid in a vape is heated to create an aerosol, often called vapor, that is inhaled.

People may think of vaping as harmless, but vapes actually contain several harmful substances that can damage a person's health.

Even though vapes don't contain tobacco like cigarettes, they can still pose risks to your health, especially for young people whose lungs are still developing.

Many vapes also contain nicotine, but not all contain this addictive substance.

True or false.

There are no harmful substances in vapes.

Is that true or is it false?

The correct answer is false.

I wonder if you can tell me why.

You might have said vapes contain chemicals such as nicotine, metals, and flavorings that can harm the lungs and body.

Even substances that are safe in food can become harmful when heated and inhaled as an aerosol.

Legal vapes in the UK can contain flavorings, vegetable glycerin, a sweet liquid that creates the aerosol, propylene glycol, a colorless liquid that carries the flavor, nicotine, in many but not all vapes.

And these ingredients are regulated by the UK government to ensure they meet safety standards for vaping.

Some of the chemicals used in vapes are not always harmful to the body.

For example, flavorings aren't harmful when used in food, and pentanedione is not harmful when used in medicine.

However, when heated and inhaled in a vape, the substances can create chemical compounds which are harmful to health.

This is because heating can change chemicals and make them more harmful.

When you breathe them into your lungs, they go straight into your bloodstream, bypassing your body's natural defenses, like your digestive system.

Your lungs are also very delicate and can be easily damaged by chemicals.

The harmful chemicals in vapes are found in other things too.

For example, propylene glycol is also found in soap.

Vegetable glycerin could also be found in skincare products.

And this shows that just because something is safe for one use, like in soap or food, doesn't mean it's safe to inhale into your lungs.

It's time for a check for understanding.

Why might something that is safe to eat or put on your skin become harmful when heated and inhaled into your lungs?

You might have said because heating changes the chemicals, making them more harmful.

Also, your lungs are very delicate and don't have the same protection as your digestive system, which can break down harmful things in food.

The UK government has banned the use of certain substances in vapes.

However, vapes containing these substances are still sold illegally.

These substances can also be found in vapes outside of the UK.

They are banned because they're extremely harmful to health.

The government regularly tests and monitors vapes to protect public health, particularly young people.

Illegal vapes are vapes sold illegally in the UK that may contain banned substances that can seriously harm a person's health.

Illegal vapes can contain diethylene glycerol, a toxic chemical used in antifreeze, metals such as nickel, tin, and lead, which can poison the body, pentanedione, a flavoring chemical linked to serious lung disease, dangerous levels of nicotine, much higher than the legal limit of no more than 2%.

Unlike legal vapes, illegal vapes are not tested or regulated, meaning they could contain any dangerous substances without warning.

It's time for our next check for understanding.

Which of the following are true about illegal vapes?

A, the UK government has banned the use of certain substances in vapes, b, they are regulated and monitored for quality and safety standards, c, they can contain much higher levels of nicotine than legal vapes allow, or d, they only contain natural flavorings that are completely safe to inhale.

Well, the correct statements are a, the UK government has banned the use of certain substances in vapes, and c, they can contain much higher levels of nicotine than legal vapes allow.

It's time for our next task.

I want you to imagine you work for a health and safety team that investigates vape ingredients.

Two vapes have been sent to you for analysis.

Write a brief report for each vape, identifying which ingredients could be harmful and explain why.

For each vape, you should identify which ingredients are found in legal and illegal vapes, explain why certain ingredients could be harmful, and state which vape poses a greater risk to health and why.

Vape A, the red vape, contains vegetable glycerin, strawberry flavoring, and nicotine at 2%.

The blue vape, Vape B, contains vegetable glycerin, pentanedione, and nicotine at 5%.

You can pause the screen now and press play when you're ready to go through your answers.

You were asked to write a brief report for each vape identifying which ingredients could be harmful and explain why.

Your report could look like this.

Vape A contains vegetable glycerin, which is found in legal vapes and skincare products.

However, when heated and inhaled, it can harm the lungs.

The strawberry flavoring is safe in food but creates harmful compounds when heated in a vape.

Nicotine at 2% is the legal limit, but it is still addictive.

Vape B is much more dangerous.

It contains pentanedione, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.

The nicotine level is 5%, which is above the legal 2% limit.

Overall, Vape B is an example of an illegal vape and poses a much greater risk because it contains banned substances and dangerous levels of nicotine.

You're doing really well, and we're now onto our third learning cycle, how can we spot an illegal vape?

It's important to know how to recognize illegal vapes because they can be particularly dangerous.

There's different ways to spot an illegal vape.

Legal vapes contain no more than 2% nicotine.

30% of the packaging on a legal vape is covered by a health warning risk.

And a legal vape can contain a maximum of 600 puffs, equal to around 50 cigarettes.

With legal vapes, the contents of the vape are regulated, with most harmful chemicals banned.

Illegal vapes, on the other hand, contain more than 2% nicotine.

They will have little to no health warnings on the packaging.

They may contain as many as 4,000 puffs, which is more than six times the legal limit.

And the contents of illegal vapes are not regulated, meaning it can contain deadly substances such as lead.

Take a look at the packaging for this vape.

This packaging contained an illegal vape because it contains 5% nicotine and 4,000 puffs, whereas the legal limit is 2% nicotine and 600 puffs.

It doesn't have a health warning covering 30% of the packet.

And it says chemical rather than substance, as chemical is used in other countries where the same rules do not apply to vapes.

It's time for our next check for understanding.

Which of the following is a sign that a vape is illegal?

A, 30% of the packaging is covered in a health warning, b, it contains more than 2% nicotine, or c, the vape contains 600 puffs, equal to around 50 cigarettes.

The correct answer was b, it contains more than 2% nicotine.

Well done if you got that right.

The substances in illegal vapes can cause nicotine poisoning due to very high nicotine levels, causing rapid heartbeat, nausea, or even seizures, contain illegal drugs such as tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, a substance found in cannabis, contain dangerous levels of substances like lead, which damages the brain and nervous system, and chromium which can cause lung disease.

It is particularly dangerous for young people to use vapes with high nicotine content because young people's brains and bodies are still developing, and nicotine can affect brain development.

In the UK, it is illegal to sell vapes to anyone under 18.

Retailers must verify age and can be fined if they sell vape products to minors or allow adults to buy on behalf of minors.

This is called proxy purchasing.

Both the retailer and the adult can face legal consequences.

Trading Standards officers carry out spot checks and test purchases to ensure shops are following the law.

These laws are in place to protect young people from the harmful effects of nicotine and vaping.

And Police Officer Kofi tells us that selling a vape to someone under 18 is punishable with a fine of up to 2,500 pounds.

If someone offers you a cigarette, vape, or illegal vape, you have the right to say no.

Ways of saying no could look like, "No thanks, I'm not interested," "It's not for me," "No thanks," and you just don't need to give a reason.

If you need support, talk to a trusted adult, like a parent, carer, teacher, or school nurse, or you could contact Childline for free.

Remember, you're in control of your choices, and choosing to protect your health is always the right decision.

It's time for a check for understanding.

True or false.

It is dangerous for young people to use illegal vapes because their brains and bodies are still developing.

Is that true or is it false?

The correct answer is true.

It's time for our final task of today's lesson, write one paragraph answering the question, why are illegal vapes particularly dangerous compared to legal vapes?

Your answer should try to include how to identify an illegal vape, at least three different ways, the specific dangers of illegal vapes, and why they're especially harmful to young people.

I'd like you to pause the screen now and press play when you're ready to go through your answers.

It's time to go through your answers.

Your paragraph might include: illegal vapes can be identified in three ways.

They contain more than 2% nicotine, as the legal limit is 2%, they have more than 600 puffs, as the legal limit is only 600 puffs, or the health warning does not cover 30% of the packaging.

Illegal vapes are more dangerous because they're not regulated.

They can contain deadly substances like lead, which are banned in the UK.

They can also contain dangerous levels of nicotine that can cause nicotine poisoning.

These vapes are especially harmful for young people because their brains and bodies are still developing, and high nicotine levels can affect brain development and cause addiction.

Well done if your answer looks something like that.

Well done for your work in today's lesson.

You've worked really hard.

We're going to take a moment now to summarize what we've learned.

Smoking cigarettes is risky because they contain harmful substances such as nicotine, which is addictive, and tar, which damages the lungs.

Cigarettes also contain toxic chemicals found in rat poison, car exhaust fumes, and batteries.

Vaping is risky because vapes contain chemicals that, when heated and inhaled, can damage the lungs.

Many vapes also contain nicotine.

Illegal vapes are particularly dangerous because they can contain banned substances like lead or dangerous levels of nicotine.

And you can spot an illegal vape by checking the nicotine strength, puff count, and health warning coverage.

It's always good to know where you could get further support.

You might reach out to the NHS Live Well website, which offers advice about healthy living, exercise, quitting smoking, and drinking less alcohol, or Childline, a website and phone line which is able to offer confidential advice and support.

Well done for all your hard work today.

And I hope you join us soon for another Oak National Academy lesson.