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The Dangers of Nicotine in Vaping Liquid

The dangers of nicotine in vaping liquid

Last updated October 2025

Nicotine in vaping liquid - the fluid used in vaping products or e-cigarettes - can cause poisoning. It can make someone very ill or even kill them. A young child can die from a very small amount of nicotine.

Vaping liquid (also known as e-liquid) can poison somebody when they:

• swallow it
• spill it on their skin or get it in their eyes
• are a child and they puff on a vape.

How do I know if there is nicotine in vaping liquid?

It’s safest to treat all vaping products as if they contain nicotine because most do, even if it’s not on the label.

If you need to call for help or seek medical care, try to have with you any packaging, leaflets or vaping liquid containers that has any information about the contents of the vaping liquid.

Who should I call?

Children

Urgently call Triple Zero (000) if you suspect:

• A child has swallowed any amount of vaping liquid
• A child has puffed on a vape or spilled vaping liquid onto their skin or splashed into their eyes.

Adults

Urgently call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance if you suspect an adult has swallowed vaping liquid and they have any symptoms of nicotine poisoning (see below). If they do not feel ill urgently call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.

Vaping liquid spilt on skin or splashed in the eye and vaping too much nicotine can also cause symptoms of poisoning (see below). If you suspect this has happened, urgently call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or urgently call 000 if they feel ill.

Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 at any time. The Poisons Information Centre will answer your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What are the signs of nicotine poisoning?

Nicotine poisoning can happen quickly.

Typical symptoms of nicotine poisoning may include some or all of the following:

• burning of the mouth and throat (if swallowed)
• nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach or gut, or diarrhoea
• drooling, sweating, feeling clammy, looking pale
• finding it hard to breathe
• feeling dizzy, faint, confused, headache
• being twitchy, hyped up
• heart beating rapidly and uneven heartbeats
• convulsions, seizures

Symptoms usually appear within the first hour and a half after exposure.

Keep out of reach of children

Most vapes and vaping products are not made with basic safety features. To prevent an accidental exposure:

• lock vaping products out of sight when not in use
• do not use vaping products in front of children
• keep vaping products away from pets.

Keep children and pets away from spills. Vapes and vaping liquid containers may leak. Be careful not to touch any spills with bare skin and wash any spills on skin with water only – do not use soap.

Information about vaping, including resources for parents, teachers and teens, can be found at Vapes and the effects of vaping.