Isle of Wight councillors raise concerns about youth vaping; one says it may be seen “akin to asbestos”

Key Takeaways

• Youth vaping and public health impacts discussed at a council committee meeting; one councillor said it may be seen “akin to asbestos”
• Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust highlighted a case study of a 15-year-old with chest pain and breathing difficulty
• The young person reported cannabis use and vaping about 500 puffs daily; CT diagnosis was “air leak syndrome”
• Public health director said local Stop Smoking services support young people who want to quit vaping; “if you don’t vape, you shouldn’t start”
• Committee agreed to bring forward a briefing; NHS Better Health advice cited vaping as less harmful than smoking but “not completely harmless”

2Firsts, Feb 26, 2026 – 

According to IW Radio, alarm over the effects of vaping on young people and public health was raised at County Hall, with one councillor saying it will one day be seen as “akin to asbestos.”

The report said Cllr Chris Jarman (Chris Jarman) told the adult social care, public health and housing needs committee that every time he drives down Carisbrooke Road he sees “very large numbers” of children vaping. He referred to recent NHS research on “air leak syndrome,” particularly in younger people with lung development.

The report said Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust highlighted a case study published by doctors in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science examining a 15-year-old’s hospital admission with chest pain and breathing difficulty. The young person admitted to using cannabis and vaping on average 500 puffs each day. Their symptoms also included swelling to the neck and face, a high heart rate and low oxygen levels.

The report said medics used a CT scan to diagnose “air leak syndrome,” where pockets of gas or air collect in body parts such as the spinal canal, between the lungs and under the skin. The trust said doctors believe the young person’s cannabis use and vaping is a “likely cause” of internal damage to their food and/or wind pipe, which led to air pockets collecting outside the lungs.

Jarman, who leads the Empowering Islanders group, said he finds it increasingly alarming to see large numbers of Island children heading to and from school vaping, and added that the council pays “so little attention” to the issue in its paperwork, the report said.

Kate Harvey (Kate Harvey), director of public health at the Isle of Wight Council, said Jarman raised a “really good point.” She said local Stop Smoking services offer support for young people who want to stop vaping, adding: “If you don’t vape, you shouldn’t start,” while also saying vaping remains part of the treatment package as one of the quit aids and a step toward becoming nicotine free.

Committee chair Cllr Debbie Andre (Debbie Andre) said there was perhaps a “communications issue” and welcomed Harvey’s update that a “vapes campaign is coming,” the report said.

Conservative group leader Cllr Ed Blake (Ed Blake) said there has been a higher amount of “black market vapes” accessed since government legislation to ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes. He also said vapes containing marijuana are becoming more prevalent, which schoolteachers he speaks to describe as an incessant problem. Blake said: “This is a situation I think down the line we’ll look at akin to asbestos or something like that.”

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that a briefing on smoking and vaping will be brought forward for committee members, the report said. It also cited NHS Better Health advice describing nicotine vaping as less harmful than smoking and as an effective tool for helping smokers quit, while describing vaping as “not completely harmless,” noting long-term effects are still unknown and stating children and non-smokers must never vape.

Image source: iwradio