Chinese Companies Are Selling Vapes With Chemicals Potentially More Potent Than Nicotine
Louise MatsakisBusinessJul 24, 2026 4:42 PMChinese Companies Are Selling Vapes With Chemicals Potentially More Potent Than NicotineBig Tobacco studied nicotine analogs like 6-methyl-nicotine for decades but never marketed them. Now, Chinese vape makers are using them to sidestep US regulations.Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyEarlier this year, I picked up a rather unfortunate habit: vaping. More recently, Chinese manufacturers have found a new way to sidestep the law, escaping regulatory oversight altogether.Like many people, I assumed the only addictive chemical in these products was synthetic nicotine, which vape manufacturers have used for years to avoid FDA oversight.
- ▪Louise MatsakisBusinessJul 24, 2026 4:42 PMChinese Companies Are Selling Vapes With Chemicals Potentially More Potent Than NicotineBig Tobacco studied nicotine analogs like 6-methyl-nicotine for decades but never marketed them.
- ▪Now, Chinese vape makers are using them to sidestep US regulations.Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyEarlier this year, I picked up a rather unfortunate
- ▪More recently, Chinese manufacturers have found a new way to sidestep the law, escaping regulatory oversight altogether.Like many people, I assumed the only addictive chemical in these products was synthetic nicotine, which vape manufacture
WIRED files mainly under tech. We currently carry 481 of its stories.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Louise MatsakisBusinessJul 24, 2026 4:42 PMChinese Companies Are Selling Vapes With Chemicals Potentially More Potent Than NicotineBig Tobacco studied nicotine analogs like 6-methyl-nicotine for decades but never marketed them. Now, Chinese vape makers are using them to sidestep US regulations.Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyEarlier this year, I picked up a rather unfortunate habit: vaping.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at WIRED.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from WIRED
