Blackburn Named Vape Shop Capital of UK

A recent study conducted by online vape store Go Smoke Free has revealed that Blackburn, a former mill town in Lancashire, has the highest concentration of vape shops in the United Kingdom. The research, which analyzed data from Companies House, found that Blackburn had 22.56 e-cigarette shops per 100,000 people, surpassing other major cities such as Bolton, Manchester, and Middlesbrough.

The study ranked UK cities based on the number of registered vape shops per 100,000 people. Bolton and Manchester followed Blackburn in the rankings, with 20.26 and 19.84 vape shops per 100,000 people, respectively. Middlesbrough and Stockport rounded out the top five, with 12.43 and 12.03 shops per 100,000 people. Other notable cities on the list included Newport, Wales (8th, 9.75 shops), Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (9th, 9.68 shops), and Nottingham (10th, 9.62 shops).

The findings come amid growing concerns about the health risks associated with vaping and the increasing prevalence of e-cigarette use among young people. In response to these concerns, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced a ban on disposable vapes, set to come into effect from April 1, 2025, across England, Wales, and Scotland. The ban, which does not include refillable vape pens, aims to curb pollution and prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine.

The announcement of the disposable vape ban coincides with the release of a new study conducted in the United States, which found that vaping could lead to a substantial increase in the risk of heart failure. The research, which included more than 175,000 participants, revealed that those who had vaped at any point were 19 percent more likely to develop heart failure compared to non-vapers.

Dr. Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, the lead author of the study from MedStar Health in Baltimore, US, cautioned, “More and more studies are linking e-cigarettes to harmful effects and finding that it might not be as safe as previously thought. The difference we saw was substantial. It’s worth considering the consequences to your health, especially with regard to heart health.”

The study specifically found an increased risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes stiff and does not properly fill with blood between contractions. However, no link was found between vaping and reduced ejection fraction, where the heart muscle becomes weak and the left ventricle does not squeeze as hard as it should during contractions.

Heart failure, a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly, affects a significant portion of the UK population. The British Heart Foundation estimates that more than one million people across the UK have heart failure, highlighting the importance of addressing risk factors such as vaping.

As the debate surrounding the safety and regulation of e-cigarettes continues, the findings from Blackburn and the recent study on heart failure risk underscore the need for further research and public awareness about the potential health consequences of vaping. The UK government’s decision to ban disposable vapes is a step towards addressing these concerns and protecting public health, particularly among young people.

News Source: Independent UK

Author
Recent Posts

Sophia Bennett

Author at Ecigator

Sophia Bennett has dedicated her career to monitoring and analyzing the regulatory landscape and news within the vape industry. With a keen eye for the evolving policies that shape this dynamic market, Sophia brings a critical perspective to her commentary and reports.

Latest posts by Sophia Bennett (see all)