Laois students shocked by vaping survey results

VAPING was a hot topic when children from Timahoe NS exhibited a powerful project at a prestigious science fair in the RDS.

The rise of vaping among teenagers and the associated health effects were explored in ‘Sweet Clouds and Bitter Truths’, a study by the school’s sixth class pupils that was presented at Science Blast from 3-6 March.

Scoil Mhuire Fatima has a rich tradition at the huge annual exhibition, which is run by the RDS and sponsored by the ESB, and this year’s project upheld that tradition with a wealth of research and striking presentation.

In their survey of teenagers, the Timahoe students discovered that over half vaped due to peer pressure, while 40% admitted they were lured in by sweet flavours. The primary school pupils said they were shocked to learn that one in five teenagers use e-cigarettes regularly.

The Timahoe students also spoke to experts and learned that vaping is more dangerous than many people realise and is especially harmful for those with a pre-existing condition such as asthma. They found that irreversible lung damage known as bronchiolitis obliterans or ‘popcorn lungs’ can be caused by a chemical found in e-cigarettes.

Science Blast adjudicator Kate, an engineer with a pharmaceutical company in Dublin, praised the students’ biology and human science investigation, as she agreed that the surge in teenage vaping was worrying.

She also acknowledged the students’ use of scientific methods such as surveys, labelling diagrams and conducting interviews, to support the secondary sources found through internet research.

Kate loved the colour coordination and popcorn lung as part of the display and complimented the children’s communication skills, suggesting that they have a bright future.

The boys and girls had a memorable day as they visited other school projects, science shows with RTÉ School Hub’s science presenters Mark and Phil and played educational games provided by science and engineering firms.

Timahoe NS principal Michael McEvoy and sixth class teacher Anna Moore were very proud of the students’ efforts. Ms Moore pointed out that the children worked extremely hard on the project and showed great interest in the topic, in what was an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Mr McEvoy said: “It is hugely important for the children to be aware of the consequences of vaping, particularly as they enter their teenage years. We are delighted with the children’s efforts. It was a great day and a very worthwhile learning experience for them.”