A little different question... Tobacco Mosaic Virus

[Circumspice]

I have a little different question and didn't know where else to post it...
I am an avid gardener and when I was a smoker, I was very careful about cleaning my hands thoroughly before working in my garden so as not to spread tobacco Mosaic Virus. (TMV) Does the nic juice pose the same risk as analog cigs in respect to possibly spreading TMV to veggie plants like tomatoes, potatoes and peppers?

 

[Katmar]

Circumspice,
I sure wish someone would answer you. Now I am curious, but I truly have no idea. I, too, am an avid garderner, albeit a small one.
Hope someone can answer you!!

 

[SethG]

The content of viruses and other microbes in your nic-juice would depend upon the process used to extract the nicotine from the tobacco. I'm reading the "supercritical CO2" extraction process most of the nicotine producers use is a sterile process, however it probably wouldn't hurt to continue to wash your hands... Your tomato plants will appreciate the ounce of prevention.

 

[Circumspice]

Hey Seth!
Thanks for taking the time to answer this question. I take it that there is no data on this and that we should use normal precautions 'just in case'? The process itself doesn't destroy viral particles? Dang! Does that mean that I can't vape while gardening?!

The content of viruses and other microbes in your nic-juice would depend upon the process used to extract the nicotine from the tobacco. I'm reading the "supercritical CO2" extraction process most of the nicotine producers use is a sterile process, however it probably wouldn't hurt to continue to wash your hands... Your tomato plants will appreciate the ounce of prevention.

 

[SethG]

From what I was reading, CO2 extraction destroys bacteria but may not affect viral pathogens depending on the exact process used. CO2 extraction to specifically destroy viruses would use considerably higher pressures than the normal extraction process. Other than this non-specific information I doubt that there is any other data out there concerning TMV virus in e-juice.

One might also consider, extracted nicotine is used in some countries as an plant insecticide, but insecticidal nicotine may have antiviral agents added to the mix.

Without following a scientific method and exposing groups of plants to a particular e-juice to see if they get TMV, it would be difficult to say with certainty if is safe or not. And if the plants don't get sick, is it because the extraction process killed the virus, or is it because the tobacco the nicotine was initially extracted from didn't have TMV?

I'm still falling back on "Better safe than sorry."

 

[Circumspice]

Gotcha! That makes sense. Conducting a clinical trial like that would be time consuming and probably expensive, so I guess we'll never know with any certainty. And taking normal precautions isn't really that onerous... Thanks again Seth!

 

[SethG]

You could pasteurize your e-juice by placing your e-juice in a pan of nearly boiling water for a few minutes. I don't believe this would have any adverse affect on your juice.

 

[SethG]

That is, place your e-juice in it's container into nearly boiling water. I wouldn't do it directly in the pan.

I would use a glass vial for this process, who knows how heat tolerant these plastic droppers are?

It's a work around!

 

[Circumspice]

Pasteurization kills viruses? I know it kills many types of bacteria...

 

[SethG]

Viruses are rapidly killed when brought to a temperature above 65°C (149°F). I see pasteurization would only reduce the number of pathogens unless you were to go to boiling point or above... The idea just struck me, so I thought I would post it.

 

[Circumspice]

I had thought Pasteurization was a far too gentle process to kill most viruses and some bacteria because the process was developed to prevent wine from being spoiled primarily and milk secondarily...

Viruses are rapidly killed when brought to a temperature above 65°C (149°F). I see pasteurization would only reduce the number of pathogens unless you were to go to boiling point or above... The idea just struck me, so I thought I would post it.

 

[SethG]

The idea is that heat will destroy the virus RNA and make it inactive.

Heat seems to be a viable way of killing the TMV virus. I'm reading a pretty wide range of figures concerning the exact temperatures required to kill the virus though. Some of the varying heat treatments probably have to do with methodology used for steam treating top soil and how effective the steam is at penetrating to kill the soil-born virus.

Persistence of TMV-infected debris in soil, and the effects of soil partial sterilization TMV in undiluted tomato leaf sap was inactivated in one experiment in 20 min., but not in 10 min., at 82°C., and in 5 min. at 85 or 88°C.; in another experiment, elimination took between 10 and 20 min. at 85° and 88°C

I would think that immersing a bottle of fluid in boiling water for 5 or 10 minutes would be very effective.

And you STILL can't go wrong with the "better safe than sorry" method! LOL

 

[Circumspice]

Too true Seth! Simple precautions seem best. I sure hope that you are doing most of your research for your own benefit. (I'm feeling guilty about all the effort you put into the research) I know that the needed info is difficult to locate... That's why I posed the question on this forum. Thanks for the info!

 

[Circumspice]

I just remembered something... All over this entire forum, you see references on storing nic juice... Wanna guess what the recommendations are? "Store in a 'COOL', dark place". I suppose that heat breaks down the active component in nic juice... i.e. the alkyloid that causes our addiction.



[/quote]I would think that immersing a bottle of fluid in boiling water for 5 or 10 minutes would be very effective.

And you STILL can't go wrong with the "better safe than sorry" method! LOL[/quote]

 

[TJoe]

If your growing hybrid tomatos they are already resistant.
I gardened with a cigarette in my hands for years.My only problem has been
early blight except for this year when Bonide Inc sold late blighted seedlings through walmarts,home depot lowes and other retail outlets.I grew Black Krim tomatos(heirlooms) this year which are`nt resistant but the late blight killed them off.
I like the question but I`ll be vaping and gardening in a few months without worries.

 

[RatRacer]

If your growing hybrid tomatos they are already resistant.

Tjoe- 2 issues with your statement that should be clarified, as it's too general.

1- Resistant does not mean "proof". So plants can be infected, just harder for infection to occur.

2-"Hybrid" does not pertain to breeding for disease resistances only. Other characteristics are also desired, such as fuit size and skin thickness to resist bruising, cracking and checking.

I can provide a link to my employers commercial seed catalog that shows a plethora of hybrid tomatoes without any resistances at all.