Epping Forest's MP praised an "honest, insightful, and extremely thought-provoking" report on youth vaping by young people in the district.
Dr Neil Hudson, a veterinarian and MP for Epping Forest, shared his support for the Ditch the Vape report, produced by the Epping Forest Youth Council.
The MP praised the group for gathering responses from 2,924 young people aged 12 to 18 across the district's schools, making its findings "very powerful and impactful".
While he was impressed by the scientific evidence of the health impact on young people, he recalled a recent personal experience.
He said: "Not long ago, my own young dog, Poppy, came running out of the undergrowth with a brightly coloured, melon-flavoured vape in her mouth.
"Luckily, I managed to get it out before she bit into it.
"But I still shudder to think what could have happened had she swallowed the battery or the chemicals inside.
"Wildlife and pets are at particular risk when vapes are discarded in parks, play areas, and public spaces."
Dr Hudson said: "I want to express my sincere thanks to the Epping Forest Youth Council for producing such an honest, insightful and extremely timely report into youth vaping."
He highlighted the environmental dangers posed by vaping, particularly the volume of waste generated by single-use products.
Dr Hudson said: "The scale of disposable vape waste in the UK is truly staggering.
"It is estimated that 1.3 million single use vapes are thrown away every week."
The MP warned that improper disposal can lead to the release of toxic chemicals and plastics into waterways.
He also raised concerns about the risks to animals.
Dr Hudson said: "Improper disposal of single use vapes, which unfortunately occurs in the majority of cases when single-use vapes are disposed of, also leads to a risk to animals and wildlife consuming them."
Dr Hudson also drew attention to the health impact on young people.
Read more
He described the most alarming findings in the report as those related to availability and early use.
He said: "The most concerning findings in your report relate to the impact of vaping on young people themselves.
"The data are stark.
"69% of young people surveyed said vapes are too easily available to under-18s.
"Among those who do vape, 40% started in primary school."
Share