Dow chemical refusing to supply Propylene Glycol to e-cigarette industry

[Oliver]

This doesn't bode well, at all:

[tweet]497303470232195072[/tweet]

 

[Towmotor]

Yikes.

As you say, does not bode well at all.

 

[Miata GT]

Amazon....

 

[440BB]

Wonder who influenced that decision?

 

[DetraMental]

This made my heart skip a beat .

 

[TinyTimberGal]

Has this been reported anywhere besides Facebook? I'm wondering because of the typo in the letter. This sounds like a response to a request for a free sample.

 

[aubergine]

Here's the link re that policy. It's not dated so I don't know if it's an older policy re e-cigs or if that's a recent addendum. It basically describes various "unsupported" uses of PG, including e-cigs, and declares that they'll neither sample nor knowingly supply it for those purposes, and will "exit" sales if same is discovered.
Also don't know if other chem companies follow suit, or how much of our PG is supplied by Dow.

http://msdssearch.dow.com/ PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_030e/0901b8038030e4cf.pdf?filepath=propyleneglycol/pdfs/noreg/117-01801.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc




Also, if you google 'electronic cigarette' within the Dow site you'll find a very negative description, apparently addressed to employees.

 

[stevegmu]

Looks like they never did in the first place. Oh, no! They will continue to not supply PG to the e-cig industry...

 

[aubergine]

Looks like they never did in the first place. Oh, no! They will continue to not supply PG to the e-cig industry...

It did appear that way to me. I haven't heard anything about 'concern' pressure (rather than overt regulation) being placed on chem companies that way; it is an alarming thought, but I dunno how far that'd get.

 

[dragonpuff]

Even if Dow never supplied the e-cig industry, this is a huge, well-respected company making a strong statement. Unfortunately that means other companies may follow suit.

 

[aubergine]

A quick google search yielded ANTZ agitprop mentioning Dow but no others.

A public service from the careful, humane persons who brought you napalm and agent orange.

 

[XJ-linux]

There is a .... pile of money to be made supplying PG for eCigs if Dow Chemical and others won't do it, and it remains legal to do so. Worst case, we move to VG and distilled water. Best case, a few up and comers swallow that corner of the market with a focus on PG specifically for eCigs.

Maybe Dow shouldn't be in the PG for ecig business anyhow. They should stick to things they know like running the Army's Edgewood Chemical Weapons Arsenal.

 

[aubergine]

Another quick search; Dekang and other Chinese e-liquid claims that their "solvent" is supplied by Dow, as recently as July 2014.

Also an ECF discussion of PG with mention of Dow by Rolygate here:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/455394-glycerine-vapor-acrolein-issues.html

According to Rolygate, who has creds, Dow was (is?) probably supplying the safest and best PG.

So "Dow, Shell (semi-confirmed that on their website*) and one other" have bailed on PG sales for e-cig juice... ?

Really, yeah, that doesn't bode well at all.

*I couldn't find explicit statement re restricting supply re Shell; here, under "safety" they state that use for e-cigarettes is not supported.
http://www.propylene-glycol.com/what-is-propylene-glycol/safety

 

[Uma]

This saddens me to no end.

 

[squee]

Seems like a standard liability disclaimer. PG has not been specifically tested for long-term, higher quantity inhalation so they will not specifically sell it for that purpose. Suppose someone vapes it, has an allergic reaction and then sues them? A number of flavoring manufacturers have the same disclaimers. They won't stop you from using it, but for legal reasons, they state that it's not for that purpose.

 

[aubergine]

Ya, my first thought was that it was insurance company stuff. If the OP is correct, though, someone, presumably a vendor?, was refused a sale altogether. If they're cracking down (in response to insurance companies or whatever), very small companies might get in under the radar but...

Just more squeeze.

 

[440BB]

Dow certainly has enough chemical engineers to determine what is safe for us

Dow Chemical Agrees To Clean Dioxin-tainted Properties In Midland, Mich.

or not

 

[DrMA]

I was worried about nic availability, but I never thought PG might become a problem. Also, who do you think makes VG?

 

[TamiP]

Makes no nevermind to me, I prefer VG, but how in the world do they really think it will stop it? Plenty of ways to get PG except directly from them.

 

[KurrptSenate]

I find VG way more agreeable