Best way to explain the whole E-Cig juice thing to an outsider?

[mikeyk101]

So there I was at the hospital today getting prepped for some minor outpatient surgery. I'm in the patient room on the bed in my hospital gown and I'm answering the standard questions that come prior to the procedure. Then the question about do I smoke comes up. I started telling the nurse about the electronic cigarette I now use and she was very curious. I even got a chance to demonstrate it right there in the room to her by taking a puff. And this is inside a very strict non smoking hospital including anywhere on the grounds. I was surprised that she even let me do that but she was amazed. I talked about the lack of smell (which she agreed), the lack of dirty ashes, and the fact that what comes out is a vapor that will quickly disapate. Also that it lacks about 2000+ hazardous chemicals that you would get from an analog. The one thing that I didn't have a good answer to was about the ejuice. She questioned about how do I know that it is safe and about how do I know that a bunch of unkown chemicals aren't being added by those mixing the juice. I mentioned that it is basically just 4 things combined: PG, VG, Flavoring, and Nic. I mentioned that everything except the Nic is used in foods. I said that the best way is to find a reputable dealer by doing research of the vendor and also from referrals. That the reputable ones actually do their own lab testing and quite often use their own mixes.

But what I would like to know, in the future, is there a better way to address the question about the safety of the ejuices? How have others answered this question? Initially it was also a concern that I had when I started vaping but I feel very confident that the different ejuice vendors I use are fine.

 

[Cool_Breeze]

I think your explanation was very good. Beside that which is common knowledge amoung vaporers, I don't think it needs a lot of other detail. You've given 99 and 44/100th percent of what we know. Perhaps the only things missing are those that might be found in clinical trials and long-term (years, decades) of useage by a large number of vaporers.

 

[mikeyk101]

Well that works for me then, Thanks.

 

[Serianna]

I explain it like this.

All the stuff in E-Juice is found in daily life. Distilled water in some as a thinner, PG is used in water systems and medical inhalers, VG is used in foods (one that always gets the questioner is when I mention it is in cake frosting), and nic is found in things like green tomatoes, potatoes, and highest in eggplant, not only tobacco.

That usually leaves them with a gaping mouth while they ponder it.

 

[billo]

I usually emphasize that the main component of the vapor is PG. Most of what you see is vaporized PG. And PG has been used in inhalers and has been used in hospitals to help kill germs in the air. And in "fog" machines on stage. It sounds fairly harmless then, to say the least !

(Actually I say propylene glycol, not PG, since this sounds more impressive. Most people have never heard if it and may be impressed that you know about such stuff.)

 

[Slim Batz]

PG vapor is also an atmospheric sterilant ... even in low concentrations it effectively kills airborne staff, strep, and pneumonia bacteria as well as influenza virus. For this reason, its "longer term" exposure effects were documented in a 1947 study in the US with the intent of using PG vapor as an atmospheric additive in medical facilities. In short, rats and monkeys were kept in a PG vapor rich environment 24/7 for periods of 12-18 months, some were also injected to give concentrations 50-700 times what could be absorbed thru the lungs ... compared to a control group kept in a normal atmosphere, the rats in the PG environment had somewhat higher weight gain and the exposed skin on the monkeys faces tended to get dry ... makes sense since PG naturally absorbs moisture. Upon autopsy at the end of the trial (yeh, they killed them all ) they found no problems internally ... all organs and bone marrow appeared normal.

 

[tidegirl]

I think you did great explaining it. If someone really pushed the safety issue further than that I would probably add that yeah, the log term effects are untested. But considering that we are already ingesting everything in juice and that the alternative is 4000+ chemicals that are know poisons and carcinogens, I'll take my chances with the juice. Especially since it is THE ONLY thing that has worked for me, and I have tried them all.

That's so sad slim bats. I hate the things they do in the name of science.

 

[VapeMeStoopid]

I basically put it like this, I am now inhaling 4 things now versus 4000+ known killers.

I know all 4 things are found in daily life and give an example of each...as for the nicotine, in it's purest form, can be deadly, but we are all using diluted versions.

You buy from trusted sources, someone whos been doing it the longest and has the best reputation.

 

[bassworm]

The one thing that I didn't have a good answer to was about the ejuice. She questioned about how do I know that it is safe and about how do I know that a bunch of unkown chemicals aren't being added by those mixing the juice.

This is also a bit of a nagging thought, mostly along the tinfoil hat lines of how are we going to know if a particular vendor is being backed by big tobacco and the juice isn't as pure as we think / assume it is, and additives are being put in to get us "hooked" all over again. Like I said, its tinfoil hatt-ish and the self-regulation around this community is pretty phenomenal, but its still a bit of a concern I have.

Good read BTW.

*edit - wow, redundant post is redundant! I guess thats what I get for trying to think and work at the same time.

 

[Cool_Breeze]

...how are we going to know if a particular vendor is being backed by big tobacco and the juice isn't as pure as we think / assume it is, and additives are being put in to get us "hooked" all over again...

For one, most of us remain "hooked," and perhaps less satisified. Or else why do many vape more or less continually? As far as other chemicals, Whole Tobacco Alkaloyds may be useful to the mental health of some vaporers. I'll confess to not being up to date on the latest on that. And for traditional tobacco companies being involved in vaping, I'd not be surprised at all if some are. I suspect they have a considerable amout of understanding beyond that of pure nicotine, the primary active constituent in ejuice. I welcome healthful, positive, cost effective contributions to vaporing regardless of the source.

 

[PaporPlas]

If you think about it..."Who knows what the local burger joint puts in our cheeseburger?"

When it comes to eLiquid, I try and buy only from U.S. mixers. But, I am guessing many of them get their bulk ingredients from China.

Bottom line. We really don't KNOW. But, neither does anyone who doesn't grow their own food. Even then, what is in the soil that they are growing it in? To use the word "Organic" with food items, the grower must work with soil that has been "clean" for close to ten years. (no pesticides etc...).

We live in a world that is so complex and processed that one has to have a bit of faith that what they are consuming is not going to poison them.

 

[mikeyk101]

Great info and thoughts from everyone. Now I have the answers I need for the next Q&A session. Thanks

 

[John Phoenix]

I too think your explanation was great. You gave all the right highlights.

While we are on the subject..

I do want to caution people about using the stupid phrase we have all heard,

It's just water vapor

or

We exhale only harmless water vapor

This is Not true and is very misleading. I believe this was made up by someone who wanted to tell people about e-cigs but had no real clue what they were talking about.

In fact, aside from any possible water in the chemicals that make up the flavorings or water you add yourself - there is No water at all in e-cig juice.

The sharp researcher will find this out and make you look like you lied to them. Please no one repeat this lie.

I tell people the harmless vapor we exhale is made of PG, VG, Nicotine and FDA approved flavorings and is shown to have no harmful second hand effects on passersby as these are all very benign substances at these levels which dissipates quickly and does not get absorbed into people around you.