Here's my email to the newsperson
Administration did some random sampling, which found some shocking results.
"They found e-cigarettes contain proprelyne glycol which is basically the chemical used to make the smoke in this product," said Albert J. Ferrara of the New Jersey Health Department. "We don't know how serious that could be, but, again, it is an ingredient used in antifreeze in our cars and that doesn't sound healthy to any of us."
Shocking....Here is shocking. Ferrara is with the health department and he fails to mention that propylene glycol (misspelled BTW in the quote) is as common as the toothpaste in your medicine cabinet. Here is a short course from the CDC in where and how pg is used in the home, in medical facilities, at nightclubs: virtually everywhere that human beings visit and consume products. So, the shock is really that anyone who pretends to have knowledge about health and chemicals would spread the lie that PG could possibly be shocking or dangerous in secondhand
vape from an electronic cigarette. It is also shocking that the guy did not even spell the word correctly. Perhaps that's why his research was off since a misspelled chemical name would lead to a MISTAKE in his analysis of the compound. Please correct your article and this guy pretending to be a medical expert.
In contrast to ethylene glycol, a potent cause of acute toxicity in humans, propylene glycol is a “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) additive for foods and medications. Propylene glycol rarely causes toxic effects, and then only under very unusual circumstances.
Uses
Propylene glycol is a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) food additive that is widely used in
* food and
tobacco products,
* pharmaceuticals, and
* cosmetics.
In certain medicines, cosmetics, and food products, propylene glycol acts as
* an emulsifying agent,
* industrial drying agent,
* surfactant, and
* solvent.
Concentrations in Food
Concentrations in foods range from <0.001% in eggs and soups to about 15% in some seasonings and flavorings. Propylene glycol is an FDA-approved additive for military dietary rations (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 1997).
Use in Textiles
The largest amounts of propylene glycol are used in the textile industry, where it is an intermediate in polyester fiber production.
Synonyms
Synonyms for propylene glycol include
* 1,2-propanediol,
* 1,2-dihydroxypropane,
* methyl glycol, and
* trimethyl glycol (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 1997).
Special Uses
Aerosolized propylene glycol can provide dense “smoke” without flames. It is used
* by the military as a smoke screen to conceal the movement of troops on the battlefield and
* as a smoke simulator in various types of fire-training procedures and theatrical productions
n the general population, propylene glycol exposure occurs primarily through ingestion of food and medications and through dermal contact with cosmetics or topical medications. Propylene glycol is used as a solvent in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, in various formats
* oral
* injectable
* topical
For example, it makes up 40% of intravenous phenytoin (Dilantin) and other injectable medications (Meditext 2004).
No adverse health effects are likely to occur from normal use of these products. However, heavy use of injectable medications with propylene glycol (Louis, Kutt et al. 1967; Seay, Graves et al. 1997; Yorgin, Theodorou et al. 1997; Wilson, Reardon et al. 2000), or prolonged and extensive topical application on compromised skin, such as burns (Peleg, Bar-Oz et al. 1998), has caused excess levels of propylene glycol in the body.
Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol Toxicity: What is Propylene Glycol | ATSDR - Environmental Medicine & Environmental Health Education - CSEM
