Health and wellbeing
Creative visual installation highlights harms of vaping in Walsall
Published on
A powerful new visual installation crafted from the empty boxes of illegal vapes has been unveiled at Walsall College.
The installation is part of a collaborative project between Walsall Council’s Public Health and Trading Standards teams and students at Walsall College, aiming to raise awareness of the harms associated with vaping for those not already smoking and particularly illicit products.
The empty boxes of approximately 4,000 illicit vapes seized by Trading Standards have been provided to the college and arranged to create a striking, large-scale model of a pair of lungs with a heart.
Increasingly, young people who have never previously smoked are using vaping products. Vapes can appear very attractive to children due to their colourful appearance and fruity flavours. In recent years, Trading Standards have seized thousands of illegal vapes from traders across the borough. Illegal vapes are not subject to the same stringent safety legislation that legal vapes are and may contain unknown substances and excess nicotine. Many disposable vapes seized have contained 10,000 puffs when the legal limit is approximately 600.
Students from the college have also documented the creative process through a video diary, sharing their views on the project.
“ We’re thrilled to have collaborated with Walsall College on this project and unveil a creative visual using seized empty vape boxes.
Vapes contain nicotine which is highly addictive. Children and young people are more sensitive to its effects and those who use vapes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future. Furthermore, illicit vapes in circulation can be more harmful to the health of all age groups including adults due to the unknown substances they contain and the number of puffs which often exceed the legal limit.
We hope this new art installation will be a conversation starter and create meaningful dialogue on the potential impacts of vaping if you are not using them as a stop-smoking too. The message is simple – if you don’t smoke, don’t vape. “
“ The installation is the work of our graphic design students who were excited to produce something that prompts people to think seriously about the health, environmental and financial implications of vaping. They used a variety of 3D design and print techniques, creating the lungs from predominantly repurposed materials.
Reaction from the public has been overwhelmingly positive, just as we hoped. It has raised awareness of a lifestyle habit with consequences that can affect us all. “
To access support to stop smoking or vaping, contact Be Well Walsall on 01922 444044.
Residents are also encouraged to report where illegal vapes are being sold by emailing tradingstandards@walsall.gov.uk
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