What Are the Safest Ingredients in Vape Juice?
The e-liquids used in vaping devices consist of a mixture of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin with either natural or artificial flavors, sweeteners, and nicotine. These ingredients are considered ‘generally recognized as safe’ for consumption, but little is known about their effects on the body when inhaled.
Caffeine may increase heart rate, lead to jitteriness, and disrupt sleep, whereas the chemical compound diacetyl (also used to preserve bodies!) is known to cause lung disease.
Propylene Glycol
If you’re new to vaping, it’s important to be mindful of the ingredients in your e-juice. Manufacturers often mix artificial flavors and low-cost nicotine with high concentrations of PG, a petroleum-based liquid. These chemicals can be harmful when inhaled. To avoid this, choose a liquid that is 100% natural and made by reputable brands.
Propylene glycol is a colorless, odorless liquid that’s used as a solvent in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. It’s also an ingredient in e-liquids and responsible for the cloudy vapor produced when a vaporizer is heated. It’s usually combined with vegetable glycerin, which is thicker and has a sweeter taste. Vegetable glycerin can also produce larger clouds and has a smoother throat hit than PG.
The safest liquids are a 50/50 blend of PG and VG, but checking the label on your e-liquid is also important. Some e-juices contain dangerous ingredients like diacetyl, which is linked to lung disease. Another ingredient to avoid is vanilla, which contains vanillin, a chemical that turns into toxic acetaldehyde when it’s aerosolized and inhaled. This is a chemical that has been linked to the lung disease known as popcorn lung, which targets small airways in the lungs and can lead to bronchiolitis obliterans and constrictive bronchiolitis.
You should also steer clear of liquids that use a combination of PG and VG, as these contain more formaldehyde than a 50/50 blend. Formaldehyde is a cancer-causing compound and is the same substance used to preserve dead bodies. It’s also been found to cause irritation and lung damage in some users over time.
Another thing to look out for is strawberry and banana flavors, which contain isoamyl acetate and dimethyl pyrazine. These are both harmful to the heart and can lead to severe cell damage. It’s best to avoid these flavors unless you’re buying from a reputable retailer and not someone selling their own juice mixes on a Facebook sellers group! You’ll also want to avoid anything that uses fragrance oils, as these are pure toxins. They can cause allergic reactions and irritate your respiratory system.
Vegetable Glycerin
The base of most vape liquids is a combination of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. The VG is thick and syrupy and serves as a carrier for the flavors used in the e-liquids. It is a non-toxic compound and is considered “generally recognized as safe” for human consumption by the FDA. This makes it one of the safest ingredients in vape juice. The VG also provides the aerosol vapor that is produced by an electronic cigarette or other devices that use a similar technology.
The e-liquids used in electronic cigarettes and other devices usually contain multiple flavorings, additives, and nicotine. The flavorings can be natural or artificial, and the additives are often food-grade. While these additives are considered to be safe when eaten, the long-term effects of inhaling them are unclear.
Generally, the safest ingredients in a vape are those that are food-grade and derived from plant-based sources like soybeans or palm trees. However, some vape liquids contain synthetic additives that are not safe to inhale. For example, a 2019 study showed that mint and menthol vape liquids can contain pulegone. While this chemical is safe to eat, it is not safe to inhale and can cause lung irritation or even EVALI (e-cigarette vaping-associated lung injury).
Some of the chemicals that aren’t safe for vapers to inhale include diacetyl, which has been linked to the condition popcorn lung. Fortunately, this is already banned in the EU and UK, so all British-made e-liquids should be free of it. Acetoin, another synthetic additive, can also be harmful if inhaled.
In addition to these chemicals, some e-liquids have sweeteners that aren’t safe for vaping. Sucralose and ethyl maltol are two common sweeteners in various e-liquid flavors. While they are safe to eat, they can break down into harmful substances when heated to high temperatures.
Other vaping ingredients that should be avoided include fragrance oils, which are nothing short of pure toxins. When these are heated to high temperatures, they can release toxic heavy metals that can damage the lungs. This is why it is best to stick with natural and organic vapors when possible.
Natural and Artificial Flavors
The majority of the e-liquids on the market contain natural and artificial flavoring. These are food grade and, as such, generally safe for vaping. The flavorings are then combined with the base e-liquid. This mixture of ingredients is then heated by the atomizer, producing a vapor that can be inhaled.
The natural and artificial flavorings are usually sourced from plants, herbs, or animals. These can be used individually or in combination. They can also be added to a range of other ingredients, such as sugar, salt, caffeine, and even tobacco. They are used to create different flavors and to give the vapor its texture and taste.
Vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol dominate the e-liquids people buy to use in their vaporizers. There has been some controversy surrounding the safety of these chemicals in vaping but, much like water, they are generally considered safe for inhalation and don’t cause any health issues.
Most e-liquids are composed of a PG/VG base with a small percentage of flavors suspended in it. This is the same mix that makers of snacks and beverages use to make their products. This allows them to create a wide range of different vape juices that can be very similar to popular foods and drinks.
Often, these e-liquids will have a number of different flavors that can be mixed to create unique combinations. This allows a person to find a flavor that they really enjoy. It’s possible to get a flavor that is very similar to the original product, which is ideal for people who like to try new things but are worried about putting too many different things into their bodies.
These e-liquids can also have a very low or high level of nicotine, depending on the preference of the person. However, sticking to a 0% nicotine liquid is recommended as this is the safest option.
It’s also worth noting that there are some harmful chemicals in some e-liquids. One such chemical is diacetyl, which has a buttery flavor and can be found in some butter-based snacks. While this ingredient is completely safe to eat, long-term inhalation of it can damage the lungs. This can be avoided by using e-liquids that have been guaranteed to be free of this substance.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a stimulant that’s added to many of the flavors used in vaping devices. It’s also an addictive substance that can trigger cravings and lead to addiction in some people. This is one reason it’s so difficult to quit smoking cigarettes. Thankfully, it’s possible to purchase nicotine-free e-liquids without the added drug.
However, you should still be wary of vaping because of the chemicals it can release into the air when heated. Studies have found that higher-powered vaporizers can produce up to 200 times more formaldehyde, acetone, and acetaldehyde than lower-powered ones. These chemicals are released by heating the e-liquids to very high temperatures and can irritate your lungs and throat.
In addition, some e-liquids contain caffeine. This chemical can affect your heart rate, cause stomach upset and jitteriness, and disrupt good sleep habits. If you react badly to these effects, it would be best to avoid caffeine or limit your intake.
Buying your e-liquid from trusted brands that have undergone rigorous testing and regulations is a good idea. This includes testing for toxicity and emissions. The MHRA register is where you can find out if an e-liquid has been submitted and approved for sale in the UK. This will help you know if it is safe to use.
Flavorings that are part of the diketone family, such as diacetyl, acetoin, and acetyl propionyl, can be hazardous if inhaled. Diacetyl has been linked to a serious lung condition known as popcorn lung in workers in microwave popcorn factories. It’s been banned for use in food flavorings, but it’s still present in some e-liquids.
These e-liquids can also contain heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, nickel, and lead, which are toxic to inhale. This is because the coil that heats the e-liquids can introduce these metals into the vapor. This is especially dangerous for kids who may be using these products because their lungs are more delicate and can’t process these toxins. It’s also important to check the labels of your e-liquids to see what ingredients they have.