Flavor/PG/VG Chemistry questions from vaping starter

[JonesJustJones]

Yup MR
Organic is juts growing conditions (like pesticides and soils) and in a sense it has so little to do with e-juice content it's a non starter.
Biggest concerns are either burn (generally cartridge related) , allergies, or artificial sweeteners (as I see it).
And it seems to go down from there.
And again the concerns are minimal, yet can be dealt with if smart about how you vape.

Oh, and DON'T vape oils.

agree..

and regarding the oils, VG (Glycerin) afer some searching I did it turned up to be a by-product of bio-fuel (bio diesel, made out of Canola, dont know if you use that in the US) , somehow I suspect VG to be more of concern that PG...don´t know, its just a gut feeling.


Regarding the artificial sweeteners, are you sure this is in there? I read that the VG / PG by itself tends to taste sweet, perhaps there is no additive sweetening at all?

 

[MickeyRat]

Biggest concerns are either burn (generally cartridge related) , allergies, or artificial sweeteners (as I see it).
And it seems to go down from there.
And again the concerns are minimal, yet can be dealt with if smart about how you vape.

I agree those are the most obvious concerns. However, to discount an unknown just because it's not an obvious concern doesn't work for me. These flavors are pretty well tested for ingestion. So, I agree effects in the bloodstream are not much of a worry. Effects on the lungs are undetermined.

The thing is given the large number of available flavors, if we did know which ones were harmful, they would be easy to avoid.

All of the above said, if I didn't believe that the chances are excellent that whatever harmful substances I encounter vaping will be less harmful than those encountered smoking, I wouldn't vape.

and regarding the oils, VG (Glycerin) afer some searching I did it turned up to be a by-product of bio-fuel (bio diesel, made out of Canola, dont know if you use that in the US) , somehow I suspect VG to be more of concern that PG...don´t know, its just a gut feeling.

We use canola oil here. Bio-diesel is a hobbyist and rich green wannabe thing though. No way to physically supply a significant portion of our energy needs with it. Just because something is an oil by product doesn't make it oil nor does it make it harmful.

BTW did you know that in most of the world what we call canola oil is called rape seed oil?

 

[CBB]

The OP has a valid point and one that I wonder about. The PG, VG and nic have at least some research behind them. The flavorings though. We're flying blind on inhaling those. There are diacetyls in some buttery flavorings that may be a problem. I've heard of substances in clove and nutmeg. They usually aren't a problem when swallowed but, inhaled is an unknown. I'm sure there are other problem areas. I really would like more info on this.

I can't speak for all ingredients in flavorings, but many of them are used in candy flavorings in factories where they make candies and enough of it is used that some does get airborne and people breathe it every day. I don't believe respiratory protection is required in a candy factory, though that may explain the Umpa Lumpa.

 

[JonesJustJones]

BTW did you know that in most of the world what we call canola oil is called rape seed oil?

oh that is what we use here is also, its called "Raps Öl" which is the basis for Bio-Diesel here... i was just putting "raps" into the translator and it came up with "canola"..
"Rape Oil" sounds somehow offensive

The yellow plants we are talking about, right?

 

[JonesJustJones]

I don't believe respiratory protection is required in a candy factory, though that may explain the Umpa Lumpa.

llooool

 

[SuziesMom]

Glycerin is a byproduct of the saponification (soap making) process- so it does turn up in some odd places, including some biofuel reactions, depending on how they're making it. It happens when you start playing with oils.

I trust VG- for me I don't feel as good when I vape PG. PG sort of a synthetic alcohol, and it metabolizes into lactic acid in your body, so it makes me ache, and dehydrates me. I was a pack a day smoker, so maybe there is some concern about vaping ingredients, but waaaaay less than analogs.

If you want truly natural- a drop or two of peppermint essential oil with a little stevia, and some menthol is a really lovely vape. You shouldn't vape oil- but essential oils are a lot different chemically than something like canola or mineral oil. They're very volatile, so my feeling is that they're not going to stick in your lungs.

 

[Old Chemist]

oh that is what we use here is also, its called "Raps Öl" which is the basis for Bio-Diesel here... i was just putting "raps" into the translator and it came up with "canola"..
"Rape Oil" sounds somehow offensive

The yellow plants we are talking about, right?

Right - Raps Öl = canola oil = rape seed oil

I trust VG- for me I don't feel as good when I vape PG. PG sort of a synthetic alcohol, and it metabolizes into lactic acid in your body, so it makes me ache, and dehydrates me. I was a pack a day smoker, so maybe there is some concern about vaping ingredients, but waaaaay less than analogs.

You're right, as far as metabolism is concerned. But I'm not sure whether that lactic acid can dehydrate you. See for example this. Lactic acid is a natural substance synthesized and decomposed in human body. We shouldn't forget that we inhale only minute amounts of e-liquids and lactic acid is only one of the products of PG metabolism. The others are pyruvic acid, acetic acid and propionaldehyde etc.

If you want truly natural- a drop or two of peppermint essential oil with a little stevia, and some menthol is a really lovely vape.

Well - are yu sure that inhaling heatde stevia is really less dangerous than using some artificial aromas?

 

[earthpig]

Yup PG does morph to lactic acid and is ...... out. It's generally a slow (low glycemic) sugar.
VG is from either Veggie oil (canola/other)and / or Palm oil.

The thing about food flavorings in e-juice is it's hard to use straight up cane sugar for sweetening. This is why many opt for the other types, like those found in those coffee sweeteners on your restaurant table.

 

[SuziesMom]

Well - are yu sure that inhaling heatde stevia is really less dangerous than using some artificial aromas?

No- I'm not sure that it is safer than a synthetic, nor is anyone sure synthetics are safe- but he requested natural. It's so concentrated that I don't tend to worry about the very tiny amounts I'm inhaling. Literally a drop of a stevia liquid made from 1/32 teaspoon of powdered stevia in 5 ml of distilled water will flavor a 6 ml batch of juice. At that usage rate I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

I agree that natural isn't always better- but I like a little sweet, and stevia works.

I suspect that the dehydration I get from PG is that it's so dry here in the Winter that it's pulling moisture from my body because there isn't enough for it in the air. Glycerin does it to me too, but not as much as PG.

 

[JonesJustJones]

Ok now I am getting a little paranoid, tonight this was the third time an over 70 year old guy was sitting on a party beside me, explaining he was smoking for 40 years without side effects and he was ridiculing my e-cigarette. Is the tobacco industry sending me guys like him now to tell me I should continue smoking??? I swear this is true, I feel like in the X-Files already.

 

[NicLiq]

It's the cigarettes whispering.. "come back, please come back, we miss you, we're not that bad."

Our minds are powerful and most of the worrying about ingredients and things like that are more about wanting to subconsciously justify smoking. You will work through it, and before long, you will be reassuring others here.

 

[Old Chemist]

he was smoking for 40 years without side effects

Well - I wouldn't be so sure - first I'd like to talk to his doctor about that lack of side effects.
Anyway - after almost 2 yrs of vaping I can see the positive change - deeper breath, no morning cough, lower blood pressure. And I don't stink like hell. Even my daughter's dog started to like me!