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Danger in the filter?
There are various posts around about people sometimes experiencing a "burnt taste" and physical problems from e-smoking that have mostly been written off as caused by a faulty atomizer. That might be the case. But these problems might have something to do with the filter material used in cartridges.
The material is said to be the same as is used in aquariums for particulate filtration. Some e-smokers said they bought some "wool" to use to replace worn and discolored core filters. I bought some at a local pet shop. It's pure polyester. Now, that might not ring anyone's bell, but polyester produces extremely toxic vapors when heated or burned. Here's the first reference I found when searching the topic:
"Polyester is inexpensive so it is very common in industrial applications. The downside is the nastiness of the vapors -- very, very bad juju. You need good ventilation, and its a good idea to use an organic vapor mask so you don't have to inhale the polyester fumes even if you use it outdoors. Its possible to build up intolerance to the fumes and suddenly suffer an intense allergic reaction."
I kept going. Another reference I copied:
"Most polyester is manufactured using antimony as a catalyst. Along with being a carcinogen, antimony is toxic to the heart, lungs, liver and skin. Long-term inhalation of antimony trioxide, a by-product of polymer production, can cause chronic bronchitis and emphysema."
And does anyone remember famed artist and sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle. She died of emphysema on May 22, 2002 as a consequence of years of inhaling toxic polyester fumes while working on her art projects, according to her biography online.
Here's an example of polyester being used to coat a biological aquarium at a college:
"In 1979 the biological tanks at a college were coated with a polyester resin which the substrate was made of concrete. While the material was being applied the fumes were so bad all the students had to leave the building and the fire department was called. The EPA shut down the job and made them ventilate the building. The fiberglass and gel coat deteriorated in less then 60 days killing all the fish in the tank. Some people have complained of the toxic fumes from the polyester as far away as ½ mile from swimming pools being resurfaced in their neighborhood. These fumes have been known to set off pace makers and cause asthma attacks. (Polyester & Vinyl esters increase the heart rate and to some can shut the lungs down.)"
So this has given me some concern that it's not only the liquid that could pose unknown hazards from our repetitive inhalation. Are we not melting (vaporizing) some of the polyester core content as it touches the hot atomizer? Is that the cause of the "burnt taste." We can often see polyester fibers hung up on the atomizer. Maybe it's not enough to harm us. But someone somewhere needs to research exactly how much toxic polyester byproduct is in the vapor we're sucking into our lungs.
I'm reminded of the time I began cigarettes by smoking Kent "with the Micronite filter." That filter was supposed to be a miracle filter to remove health hazardous smoke byproducts without affecting taste. It's primary material was .. asbestos. It changed composition about five years after its introduction, after the deaths began.
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Originally Posted by dnakr
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