New, Updated, Comprehensive Intro to Vaping!

[Primulas]

Wow, very helpful and informative vid. Thanks for taking the time and effort.

This is actually my first post here and your video was the most helpful and comprehensive thing i've yet to come across.

Going to go check out ecig-reviews now as i consider my first purchase, which i am very eager to place asap.

again thanks for the very great information.

-Prim

[psalmstress]

excellent video's and content. Thanks for putting it together and sharing!

[Toni]

Thanks! That helped a lot.

[Klimpt]

On page one of this thread there is a link to Right to Vape's "Common Myths" where the blogger notes several potential dangers of e-cigs.

The first three I feel there is lots of info on to come to an informed decision about:

We could take in massive doses of nicotine which is a toxin
We don't know the long term side effects inhaling of the ingredients in the liquid
We don't know how the cocktail of chemicals we inhale interacts

While these are a concern, I feel I know enough about them to at least be able to make an informed decision.

But the next 3 do scare me as I cannot begin to quantify the dangers...namely:

We don't know the implications of breathing the chemicals given off by the burning coil wick as it degrades
We don't know what type of plastics are used for storage or cartridges and if they leach chemicals into the eliquid
We don't know what chemicals are given off by cartridge fillers when they are heated or burned

Does anyone know anything more about these specific potential hazards? I am brand new to all this, and while I love my 901 already (3 days in) I do get a faintly chemically taste from it. I can taste the nic and tobacco(ish!) flavour, but there is something else there, and I am worried about inhaling microscopic bits of burning "cotton wool" filler or fumes from the heating metal in the atomiser (or walls of it or whatever).

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[Kate]

We don't know much about those concerns but many of us seem to think they aren't significant risks.

This is what we know about the composition of atomiser wicks - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...-atomizer.html

If you're worried about cartridge fillers then you might want to consider dripping or trying something like surbitonPete's idea of using tea bag paper instead of polyester.

TropicalBob started a thread a few months ago about plastics and how some types can leech chemicals.

[strayling]

There was a thread the other day with a link to a study which included an analysis of the devices themselves.

[Kate]

I think I've just found the thread you mean Stray - Upon Further Review.. E-cig Breakdown!

EDIT
Oops... I didn't notice your links.

[Klimpt]

We don't know much about those concerns but many of us seem to think they aren't significant risks.

This is what we know about the composition of atomiser wicks - ...

If you're worried about cartridge fillers then you might want to consider dripping or trying something like surbitonPete's idea of using tea bag paper instead of polyester.

TropicalBob started a thread a few months ago about plastics and how some types can leech chemicals.

Kate, thanks for your reply.

Yeah, it's all a bit inconclusive as to what all that black stuff is and the extent to which the parts of the atomiser degrade and/or become part of the vapour.

I actually am somewhat surprised this isn't more of an issue on these boards - inhaling bits of degrading metal or plastic or whatever could be very bad and might be bad relatively quickly (ie, it wouldn't take a lot of doing it to be bad).

Must do some more reading later.

Cheers.

[Kate]

It is all pretty inconclusive and a matter of balancing risk. Most of us think there is less risk with vaping than with smoking which is proven to be unhealthy so if that's the alternative then vaping is probably an improvement.

It's not likely to beat good old fresh air though

Here's a research report that Ruyan had carried out and is pretty reassuring - http://www.healthnz.co.nz/RuyanCartr...t30-Oct-08.pdf

[Klimpt]

Kate, believe me, I am pretty much sold on the idea that it would be practically impossible for anything to be more unhealthy than cigarettes. I have just bought my mum and sister starter packs after 1 week of e-smoking myself, so I am becoming convinced.

My one remaining concern is this: if e-cigs are built as they are claimed to be built, I am almost certain they are safe. My fear is that there are things in there that we are not being told about - this issue of burning bits of plastic or degrading metal is the perfect example. If that metal were, say, made of lead, then using them would be worse than smoking and my primary comfort - that anything is better than smoking - would be blown out of the water in one fell swoop.

I know you are probably well aware of all these issues, but I'm new to it and still trying to come to an informed conclusion for myself.

Regards.