clearomizers almost certainly contain BPA

[ropetrick]

I have no interest in creating a firestorm over this, but I think it's important for us to pay attention to. For the record, I'm discouraged by all of this because I've grown to love clearomizers and just ordered some this morning.

"Eric" at Royalsmokers clarified for me this morning that the plastic tubes used in clearos is, in fact, polycarbonate, and as near as I can tell this means they contain BPA. BPA is known to leach readily into liquids under high temperatures like one might find in a cartomizer, and BPA can be absorbed by the body by inhalation. Whether this actually occurs during vaping, or if the levels are toxic, I have no way of knowing; testing is certainly called for. Despite industry rhetoric it seems pretty clear that low doses of BPA cause all manner of health problems:

BPA is toxic at low doses | Environmental Working Group

Note that this page says clearos are made from "PV." Royalsmokers confirms that this is a typo.

http://www.royalsmokers.com/Clearomizer.html

Royalsmokers also points me to all manner of certifications that I don't understand (and which are apparently irrelevant, as they don't appear to apply to clearos), so for the record:

http://www.microcig.com/download.html

I'm switching to the metal CE2s, and you might consider it as well. Pregnant women should stay away from these things.

 

[Lil-Stewie]

The part of the Clearomizers, below the atomizer, that is bathed in juice doesn't get warm does it? I have some steel CE2's and the only part that warms up is above the atomizer.

 

[zoiDman]

The part of the Clearomizers, below the atomizer, that is bathed in juice doesn't get warm does it? I have some steel CE2's and the only part that warms up is above the atomizer.

The Clearo's get about as hot, in about the same areas as the metals ones.

Here is some interesting reading about BPA...

BPA or Bisphenol A is Everywhere – Are We Safe? | Acrylic Plastic Sheets

 

[ropetrick]

It seems to be mostly the area between the atomizer coil and the mouth end. It's a fairly small surface area and, again, I have no idea how much BPA might be leaching into the vape.

However, it's worth noting that leaching is also caused by acidic liquids -- the very thing that also causes clearo tubes to crack, as so many complain about.

Finally, at least one study (on pet cages, if I recall) shows that BPA can leach into water at room temperature. I assume this would also apply to nicotine liquids, but I don't know at what levels.

Edit: reading zoiDman's link, it appears that saliva might also cause the release of BPA.

 

[Lil-Stewie]

This is all very interesting because I am considering cutting up a couple of my stainless steel XL CE2's to make tanks for a flashlight mod. I have all kinds of engineering plastics here in my shop but I was going to use lexan and delrin .. pretty much a copy the tank mod you can buy from COV. Maybe I'll reconsider the use of lexan and use SS tubing for the tank itself.