Danger in the filter?

[TropicalBob]

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.

[jimldk]

Agreed with you Tb..my earlier experiments(refer needle project) actually try to separate the wool from direct contact with the atomiser head so to avoids plastic burns or meltdown...also been using a lot of different materials which are less hazardous(varying results..still in search)..

I knew about the dangers of the burnt smell..that's why you need to keep the atomiser clear of any wool strands and also bathing the atomiser will also helps to clear of any burnt wool on the heads...heads up people..do your daily checks and keep the atomiser and the cartridges as clean as possible..there are an inherent danger there....

[dnakr]

by jimldk on Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:38 am

Agreed with you Tb..my earlier experiments(refer needle project) actually try to separate the wool from direct contact with the atomiser head so to avoids plastic burns or meltdown...also been using a lot of different materials which are less hazardous(varying results..still in search)..

I knew about the dangers of the burnt smell..that's why you need to keep the atomiser clear of any wool strands and also bathing the atomiser will also helps to clear of any burnt wool on the heads...heads up people..do your daily checks and keep the atomiser and the cartridges as clean as possible..there are an inherent danger there....

Don't like the sound of this. Now I have something else to worry about. Maybe dripping is "best" for now until some alternative is found for delivering the e-liquid safely.

[jimldk]

Originally Posted by dnakr

Don't like the sound of this. Now I have something else to worry about. Maybe dripping is "best" for now until some alternative is found for delivering the e-liquid safely.

Sorry to say this but it is true rachel.....Dripping/ Dry smoking IS the better option at the present moment provided the atomiser head is clear of any wool/burnt wool material....

[TropicalBob]

We all appreciate your contribution on this, Dr. Loi. YOU are the true pioneer and our canary in the mine. Thanks for the information.

[dnakr]

by jimldk on Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:51 am

Sorry to say this but it is true rachel.....Dripping/ Dry smoking IS the better option at the present moment provided the atomiser head is clear of any wool/burnt wool material....

Guess I am back to "e-liquid only" for now. This may be a silly question, but if we are squeezing the e-liquid from the cartridges, what are the chances of fiber being found in that. Should we worry about it?

[jimldk]

Originally Posted by dnakr

Guess I am back to "e-liquid only" for now. This may be a silly question, but if we are squeezing the e-liquid from the cartridges, what are the chances of fiber being found in that. Should we worry about it?

No fibre at all ...I always double check with a magnifying glass after the extraction method.....better be safe than sorry....

[jimldk]

Originally Posted by TropicalBob

We all appreciate your contribution on this, Dr. Loi. YOU are the true pioneer and our canary in the mine. Thanks for the information.

Thanks TB...still long way to go...BTW I am starting to use Vegetable Glycerin as a substitute for PPG...trial will start by next Monday..I am altering the component..I'll let you know later the outcome....

[TropicalBob]

Please do. I haven't posted the fact, but I've been vaporizing my glycerine and home-cooked tobacco liquid, without any noted consequence. No dry throat. No cough. Nothing this time. Same amount of vapor, too. And mine tastes better than E-Cig flavors! Look forward to your conclusions.

(Actually, I'm doing atomizer testing by devoting one atomizer to only factory propylene glycol liquid and another to glycerine-based liquid. I use a different one each day. I need to see if clogging is worsened with the home-brew/glycerine liquid).

[UncleMidriff]

Does anyone actually know, like, fo' reals, what the material in the cartridges is made of? I'd like to think that the manufacturers of e-cigs wouldn't put the POISONOUSOMGThisWillKillYouIfitsBurnedAndYouInhale It stuff right damn next to a burn-y thing...

Let's say it's not polyester, but rather cotton, or wool, or anything else more innocuous sounding: what then? Presumably some of it burning so that the e-cig user ends up inhaling the smoke is less than ideal, but would it be as worrisome as inhaling the polyester death fumes?