E-cigarette liquids: we don’t know what’s inside?

We should still stop pushing Grandma into the nettles… We hear too often about e-cigarette liquids that we don’t know what’s inside. We know very well!

Yes, we know perfectly well what is in e-cigarette liquids, there are four products:

Vegetable glycerin (VG)

It is also called glycerol. It is found in medicines, cosmetics, food products, wine… It is a non-toxic solvent, and aroma carrier, VG is used in e-cigarette liquids for its low-temperature evaporation properties between 50 and 70°, which makes it possible to create a beautiful volume. Power vaping enthusiasts use 100% VG liquids.

Propylene glycol (PG)

Also used in the food industry and pharmacy, PG is also used to make steam in nightclubs and can be used in antifreeze products sensitive to humans or the environment, it then replaces ethylene glycol, cheaper but very toxic, so it is NOT to be confused. Propylene glycol also evaporates at low temperature, it is a very good aroma carrier and as it is slightly irritating, it improves the “hit”, that scratching in the throat so dear to smokers. The icing on the cake, propylene glycol has anti-bacterial properties. Be careful, PG can create allergies in some people.

The aromas

Diverse and varied, always food, organic, natural or synthetic, flavourings are the components that could raise the most questions from a health point of view, given the diversity of sources and given the additives sometimes added. to work on taste and texture. There may be water, alcohol, dyes and flavour enhancers. The manufacturer of e-cigarette liquids must be responsible and ensure their traceability to guarantee healthy products to its customers.

Nicotine

This is the only common point with the cigarette. Nicotine is present in e-cigarette liquids to prevent the craving, and it also creates the “hit”. Namely that nicotine is not a dangerous product in small doses as in the e-cigarette and even the cigarette. Its “default” is to have addictive properties. And again, not so much it seems, because the tobacco industry adds a lot of products, including ammonia, to boost this addictive power. Classified in the family of alkaloids, like caffeine, nicotine has calming properties. Nicotine-based anti-depressant drugs are being studied. Nicotine is found in certain vegetables such as eggplant or tomato. So everyone eats it. Here: is more info on the skull on e-liquid bottles.

IMPORTANT

Many studies have analyzed liquids and vapours, and of course, there are many compounds and particles. On the other hand, the quantities are infinitely less important than in cigarettes, and therefore statistically: negligible! We bet that the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries had to invest a few million to do their research in the hope of finding dangerous products…

There are so many studies today on e-cigarette liquids and materials that an English team was able to carry out a synthesis of 99 studies on e-cigarettes! All this leads to very positive conclusions. If total harmlessness cannot be demonstrated for decades, two points are now acquired:

• the e-cigarette is 100 to 1000 times less dangerous than the tobacco cigarette
• smoking cessation with the vape is successful in 30 to 70% of cases, against barely 15% with nicotine substitutes.

To be clear, you have less risk to try the e-cigarette than continuing smoking.

Some links on Wikipedia concerning the 3 bases of e-cigarette liquids:

> Propylene glycol, which is called PG (noted although it is not ethylene glycol!)

> Vegetable glycerin, called VG: linked to glycerol which can be animal or vegetable

> Nicotine, with a small “controversy” paragraph that talks about the e-cigarette