Shocking footage has captured the moment a British toddler vaped in front of a group of adults before coughing and spluttering.
In a series of disturbing video clips released online, the baby – believed to be aged between one and two – is seen inhaling a pink vapour.
The blond-haired child holds a plastic drinking cup and then exhales while smiling at the camera.
In a second sickening clip, the child is seen holding another vape in his hand and is filmed coughing after sucking on the device.
The two incidents are said to have occurred in Ayrshire, Scotland, and have been reported to Police Scotland and the Social Work Department. Two 19-year-old women have now been charged.
Two 19-year-old women have since been charged after clips appearing to show a toddler vaping were shared online (pictured)
In a series of disturbing video clips released online, the baby – believed to be aged between one and two – is seen inhaling a pink vapor (pictured)
The clips were shared by a person who viewed the footage, along with a screenshot of a Google search detailing the effects of nicotine intake in children, reports the Daily record.
It says: ‘A young child can die from very small amounts of nicotine. The effects of nicotine poisoning can occur very quickly.
‘If you think your child may have been exposed to nicotine, seek immediate medical attention or call an ambulance.’
The disgusting video footage, which has been viewed thousands of times, has sparked outrage online.
‘Of course not? This has made me so angry,” one person said. Another added: ‘This is so, so disgusting. Poor kid. Who does that?! A little baby deserves to be safe.”
While a third person raged: ‘This is absolutely vile. That poor child deserves better.”
The clips come amid new warnings about the impact vaping and e-cigarettes can have.
A recent survey last year found that schoolchildren as young as eight are vaping, with the sweet flavors and colorful packaging said to be attractive to children.
Tests on e-cigarettes seized from young people showed that they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Some were almost ten times above safe limits. Exposure to lead can hinder brain development, while the other two metals can cause blood clotting
MailOnline recently discovered dupe vapes similar to Chupa Chups, Skittles, Jolly Rancher, Rubicon and Calypso (pictured), with almost identical branding to the popular sweets and drinks in other shops along London’s Oxford Street
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The shock data, collected by a Trading Standards department, was shared at a Lancashire County Council.
It also revealed that one in six teenagers now regularly vapes – almost three times that number in 2020.
Doctors fear that in the coming decades there will be a wave of lung disease, dental problems and even cancer in people who started the habit at a young age.
In November, figures showed that two dozen children had been hospitalized due to vaping in the past two years.
Hospital admissions for “vaping-related conditions” among those under 20 have increased sixfold overall over the same period, amid an exploding youth e-cigarette epidemic.
Use among teens has nearly doubled in a decade, prompting the government to promise a crackdown on the sale and marketing of vapes to minors.
Since the start of 2022, there have been 24 vaping-related hospitalizations for children under the age of ten.
NHS informed that even occasional vaping can lead to nicotine addiction and withdrawal can cause stress and anxiety.
Their website states: ‘Vapes are not for children or non-smokers. Someone who vapes may become addicted to nicotine and find it difficult to quit.
‘You can become addicted to nicotine within days of starting, even if you only vape occasionally. Research on smoking has shown that nicotine addiction can affect your mental health. It can make you tired, stressed and anxious.’
Speaking about the video clips showing the toddler vaping, a spokesperson for Police Scotland said: ‘Two women, both 19 years old, are the subject of a report to the Tax Prosecutor. The child is safe and sound.”