Vaping may appear to leave nothing behind, but the effects on a facility and its occupants can be significant. Using a vape introduces a complex mixture of chemicals and small particles into the indoor environment. For facility managers, it’s important to understand how vape emissions can impact facilities, so the proper measures can be taken to maintain healthy spaces and efficient building systems.

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Indoor air quality and occupant health

Many people mistakenly believe that vaping produces harmless water vapor, but the exhaled aerosol, also known as emissions, contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, fine particles and toxic chemicals like formaldehyde. These emissions linger in the air, degrading indoor air quality and posing health risks to occupants who may inhale them. Secondhand vaping can have health effects similar to secondhand smoking for bystanders, irritating the lungs and other organs. Vaping emissions can also settle and accumulate on surfaces and be unknowingly absorbed through the skin or ingested through a process known as thirdhand vaping.

A study found that people who didn’t vape but lived with someone who did vape had significant levels of vape-related chemicals in their body compared to those who didn’t live with users, highlighting the real risk of secondhand and thirdhand exposures in all indoor spaces. While bystanders of all ages can be affected, it’s especially important to be aware of this public health issue if your facility welcomes children due to their frequent hand-to-mouth behavior increasing their risk of ingesting accumulated emissions.

Emissions vs. your facility

HVAC system

When vaping occurs indoors, some of the emissions lingering in the air get pulled into your building’s HVAC system. These systems are designed to maintain good air quality by filtering out dust, allergens and other contaminants, but vaping presents a unique challenge. Vaping emissions contain fine particles, sticky residues and other chemicals that can adhere to filter fibers and duct surfaces. Residue buildup ends up attracting dust and other pollutants, clogging filters and reducing airflow efficiency. This can shorten the lifespan of HVAC components and lead to increased operational and maintenance expenses.

Vape waste

Improper disposal of vapes pose a serious hazard in facilities. Many vape devices use lithium-ion batteries, which can fail if they are damaged or exposed to heat. This failure, also known as thermal runaway, can cause the battery to overheat, ignite or even explode, creating a fire risk that endangers both occupants and property. Discarding vapes in regular trash containers increases the likelihood of these incidents, especially in high-traffic areas. Beyond fire hazards, when vapes end up in landfills, metals from the battery and residual e-liquid can leach into landfills and contaminate groundwater, creating environmental health risks. These challenges highlight why vape waste is one of the most difficult new waste streams. Addressing this complexity is an important step in applying circular economy principles, aligning with the core mission of sustainability and responsible operations.

What you can do

Facility managers can protect air quality and their occupants by employing a few mitigation strategies.

1. Implement and enforce “no vaping” policies

    • Treat vaping the same as smoking in your building’s rules and regulations.
    • Post clear signage in common areas, entrances and restrooms to reinforce the policy.
    • Communicate expectations during onboarding and through regular reminders to staff and occupants.

2. Provide or direct people to educational and cessation resources

3. Schedule regular HVAC inspections and maintenance

    • Review your current maintenance schedule and make adjustments if vaping has occurred indoors. This may include:
      • Increasing the frequency of filter changes to maintain airflow and efficiency.
      • Adding duct inspections to detect residue before it becomes a bigger issue.
      • Considering upgrades to filtration systems, such as MERV 13 or HEPA filters, which are better at capturing fine particles.

4. Establish safe vape device disposal procedures

    • Provide designated collection bins that are clearly labeled as hazardous waste. Keep these bins in cool, temperature-controlled areas that are secure and monitored.
    • Contact your state and local environmental agencies for rules and guidelines about vape waste disposal.
    • Look at options for battery recycling programs near you, such as:

5. Monitor indoor air quality

    • Use sensors to detect particulate matter and VOC levels in real time.
    • If readings indicate elevated pollutants, adjust ventilation or filtration strategies.

Mitigating exposure risks protects all

Vaping may seem harmless, but its impact on indoor environments and health should not be underestimated. By enforcing policies, educating occupants and maintaining systems proactively, facility managers can protect their buildings and the people inside them.