Vaping liquids sold in Australia contain at least one toxic chemical, with menthol-flavoured e-liquids exposing young people to carcinogens, researchers warn.

Australia is lagging behind other countries in research and policy-making to reduce risks associated with vaping, the US researchers say in an editorial in the Medical Journal of Australia.

They were commenting on a chemical analysis of 65 e-cigarette liquids sold in Australia that found all contained one or more potentially harmful chemicals, including benzaldehyde, menthol, trans-cinnamaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Concerningly, e-liquids labelled ‘menthol’ may contain carcinogenic analogues, the researchers wrote in their editorial.