Contradictory to a common message perceived on social media – namely the harm of e-cigarettes on health. These messages are either taken out of context to cigarettes or disregarding the current evidence available. Researcher Cohn Siegel asserts to us that we know very well the health effects that the ingredients of E-juice/E-liquid apply. However, there are still many additives and chemicals in cigarettes that we lack knowledge of.
The ingredients of E-juice are few, the vast majority of the E-juice content is of Propylene Glycol (also known as PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (also known as VG) and a differing amount of concentrated nicotine liquid.
Propylene Glycol is a colorless, odorless, sweet liquid that is “generally recognized as safe” by the FDA. It is widely used in shampoo, hand cream, foods… PG is safe to touch and ingest, and this we know, otherwise, it probably would not be used in all these common products we have around us. Is it, however, toxic to inhale in vapor form? A report in 1997 concluded that inhaling PG caused no need for concern even in higher concentrations. After another similar study was executed a comprehensive assessment concluded that the Propylene Glycol presented no health hazards and that no additional research was needed. Click here to see the detailed report of all these studies and surveys.
Do note, PG can irritate the throat owing to it’s drying effect during inhaling. However, this can be avoided by consuming a max or high VG E-Juice.
Vegetable Glycerin is very similar to Propylene Glycol, though it is composed of vegetable fats. It is however unlike PG as it is not classified as an irritant and seen by the FDA as even safer. Its use is like PG common in moisturizers and foods as it functions as a sweetener and a caloric macronutrient. Research made in Paris in 2002 with help from the UK concluded VG to be non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and non-mutagenic. This made VG a very low priority topic and no further research is deemed necessary.
Lastly, we have the nicotine which much like caffeine is a naturally found alkaloid, they are both cognitive stimulants in small doses but can be dangerous in high quantities. Additionally, they are both very addictive. Their big difference is their public perception, owing to the two different incorporations we interpret them from, namely cigarettes and coffee. Nicotine is negatively associated due to tobacco, nicotine, however, does not cause cancer, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. It is not responsible for the major adverse effects of tobacco smoking. It is not even the only addictive agent in cigarettes, further chemicals are used, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
The real danger nicotine holds is sexual impotency. This is the risk all nicotine products carry. Not an increase in mortality.
