As for vaping gets accepted in the society more people are interested what a little bottle of liquid in the vape contains. Most of these are sold as safer forms of cigarettes known to smokers today and come in a variety of flavors and concentrations of nicotine. But what’s really in vape juice? It’s just a little bit of alcohol in your drink but is that as innocent as it looks? Ever wondered what goes into preparation of the juice Vape vendors sell? Allow us in this article dissect what is in vapour and what isn’t to demystify your puff.
What Is Vape Juice?
E liquid or commonly known as smoke juice or vaping juice is the solution that gets vaporized in electronic cigarettes or vape pens. When it heats the liquid, it forms an aerosol which is vaporised and then inhalued The encased liquid is heated to turn into an aerosol and then inhaled. It is often thought that vaping is much safer than smoking, but it must be remembered that vape juice includes many chemical compounds which can potentially have negative affects on health.
The Basic Ingredients of Vape Juice
The primary ingredients found in most vape juices are:
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Propylene Glycol (PG)
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Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
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Nicotine (optional)
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Flavorings
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Other Additives
Now let’s look closer at each component to understand, what role they can play and their possible outcomes.
1. Propylene Glycol (PG)
Propylene Glycol is a colorless, non-hygroscopic, and tasteless liquid that is approved for use in foods, drugs and cosmetics. It plays the role of a vehicle by holding flavor and nicotine content of the vape juice. PG is also expected to produce a good throat hit, which emulates the effect of smoking normal cigarettes.
Although FDA approves PG as safe for use in foods, it can be noted that inhaling it may have some different effects on health. A few publications associated lengthy inhalation of PG with respiratory tract irritation, or allergic reactions in predisposed subjects. But it is clear that this compound requires additional investigation in order to determine the benefits it offers to lung health.
2. Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
Vegetable Glycerin is less viscous than the compound glycerin, almost sweet in taste and it is sourced from plant oils. It is more often used in food items, ointments, and in medicines. In e-liquid, VG plays the role of producing the heavy fogs one see in movies that many vapers prefer. VG produces less vapour compared to PG and it is better for those who find the inhale harsh from PG.
VG is considered safe by the FDA if used in foods, yet inhalation is not without its hazards. Compared to PG, VG does not cause throat irritation; still, some vapers can swallow excessively or have a sore throat and so on.
3. Nicotine (Optional)
Nicotine is a potent alkaloid naturally occurring in the nightshade plant, of which tobacco belongs to. Most of the vape juices are flavored and some have nicotine content but it is not hard to get flavoured and nicotine free vapes. The levels of nicotine can be considerably different with some products containing much less nicotine while others holding a much stronger impact.
However, many do not realize that while nicotine itself can never give one cancer it does act as a stimulant to the body and brain. Short-term nicotine addiction has been associated with several diseases such as; increased rate of heartbeat, high blood pressure, and also high possibility of getting an addiction. To those who still vape because they want to quit smoking for example, the gradual reduction of nicotine is usually among the ultimate objectives of the activity.
4. Flavorings
Nanother pediatric cancer rider changer is that vaping comes in numerous flavors. Ranging from different fruits, to creamy drinks and even drinks that are motivated by desserts, there are products to suite all tastes. Nonetheless, the components, from which these flavors are produced, cannot be considered completely harmless.
It is worthy of note that while most of the compounds used in creating the various tastes and smells in most of the vape products are of food grade quality, they shouldn’t be inhaled because they aren’t safe for human consumption via the respiratory system. Certain flavoring things, especially those producing buttery or creamy sensations, include chemicals like diacetyl which has been found to cause what is known as popcorn lung or bronchiolitis obliterans. Manufacturers have withdrawn diacetyl from their products, it is still essential for the consumers to know these dangers.
5. Other Additives
To this primary set of ingredients, other possible components may be added to the vape juice, including sweetening agents, preservation chemicals or a cooling agent like the menthol. As with other components in e-liquids, some of these flavors and other substances can make vaping more enjoyable but come with extra hazards.
For instance, other additives such as sweeteners such as sucralose used in making vape juices have flavor boosting impacts but decompose into toxic substances when exposed to heat. Likewise, cooling agents in carbonated drinks make some people develop throat irregularity.
Are There Hidden Chemicals in Vape Juice?
Does it also mean that by consuming these vaping devices it also implies that e-juice also contains other dangerous chemicals? When the e-liquid is heated, a chemical reaction occurs, producing substances like:
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Formaldehyde: A known carcinogen that is emitted at further elevated temperatures, probably through combustion.
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Acetaldehyde: Another chemical that may cause inflammation of the respiratory tracts.
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Acrolein: discovered in cigarette smoke, this chemical is a lung irritant and may be formed when glycerol is heated down and undergoes decomposition.
These chemicals constitute a certain threat, even if present in comparatively small amounts in the vapor as compared to regular cigarettes; and they are dangerous to heavy vapers.
Is Vape Juice Safer Than Cigarettes?
Promoters of vaping argue that vaping is safer than smoking normal cigarettes in the market, a major selling point of vaping products. Of course, this is far from the whole truth: although vaping has no such deadly products as tobacco smoke, it has its drawbacks.
While the CDC reported that vaping releases fewer toxic chemicals than smoking, it is not safe and can pose serious health risks for the young, pregnant women or people with lung ailments. Moreover, the consequences of vaping, including the effects of the ingredients inhaled during use of the device, have not been fully investigated these are the long-term effects of the substances found in the vaporized juice. There is still much that need to be understood regarding the possible adverse health effects.
The Impact of Vaping on Lung Health
Arguably one of the worst effects of vaping is the effects that it has on the lung of an individual. There have been many cases of people developing very dangerous lung diseases in recent years; this illness is known as EVALI, which stands for E-cigarette or Vaping product use-Associated Lung Injury. These cases were first associated with vaping products containing THC, but some specialists think that other elements of vape juice can lead to lung injury in the long term.
When anything is inhaled into the lungs anytime there is bound to be some side effects, and this is also the same case with vape juice. While it might be less harsh than cigarette smoke, e-cigarettes can indeed cause inflammation in the airways and lead to chronic bronchititis, or, in the case of asthmatics, a worsening of the condition.
The Role of Regulations and Quality Control
In most countries, the distribution and sale of the vape juice are restricted with the main aim of protecting consumer’s health. However, not all its regions are highly regulated and some of these manufacturers may limit themselves when it comes to quality. This means that the vape juice that you buy is still qualified to contain contaminants or have wrong labeling of the quantity of nicotine in it.
That’s why it is advisable to purchase vape juices from manufacturers who adhere to important regulatory measures. Products should offer specific and complete list of ingredients and one should avoid getting the products from unverified sources and they should refrain from buying products online or from black market producers.
Conclusion: What You Should Know Before You Vape
As you will learn in this article, while vape juice appears to be a product made up of a couple of ‘innocent’ ingredients, you would be mistaken. All the components such as propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin for the most part are safe for ingestion, but vaporization poses new risks that are still undisclosed. Further, such elements as nicotine, flavors, and other incorporated compounds may cause severe health effects more so if used for long term.
For someone who is looking forward to use vaping devices as an alternative to smoking then one should ensure that he takes all the advantages and disadvantages into consideration. While vaping does not put you in contact with all the cancer causing chemicals that are found in traditional cigarettes, it is not without risks. Get updated, select better quality products and when you can try to graduallyincipause your nicotine level.
Summary
Electronic cigarette liquid, which is inhaled in an electronic cigarette, consists of the elements such as Propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), nicotine (optional), flavors and other chemicals. Most of these substances are edible and safe for human consumption but breathing in the particles is a different story all together. Some of the chemicals which may be released by heating include formaldehyde acetaldehyde, and acrolein which have health risks. Even though vaping is considered safer than smoking, its effects on the lungs are also yet to be determined. Some of these risks can however be minimized if people chose wisely, that is choosing good quality vapes and other vaping related products.
