But how do we 'know' this? Because our bodies tell us that our chest/bloodflow/nerves etc. feel initially better? Is this enough?
Like, all we know is that butter is better for you than MSG. Great, can I have 10lbs of butter please.
All we know, surely, is that as a nicotine delivery method, vaping is different from smoking.
EDIT: I know that cigarettes have dangerous tar included and up to 4,000 potentially harmful chemicals added. I am told vaping removes these threats. I assume this makes it 'better' all round. But it's just an assumption at this stage, I don't know.
No ones "knows" for a fact that vaping is ultimately safer than smoking. They assume it.
There is absolutely no doubt that when we stop sucking scalding smoke and scorching tar into our lungs that we stop the ongoing damage from doing the same. And we immediately see & feel that relief...and that may indeed save MANY lives. Less hot smoke & tar = less lung compromise and increased oxygenation of the blood. Increased plasma oxygen = less heart compromise and all manner of benefits. There are countless reports on ECF/net of people successfully reversing COPD, getting off inhalers, and improving their health from switching to vaping. This is a very good thing, and no one needs a study to prove it.
But we've added the hygroscopic/humectants (VG or PG), that suck/draw water to themselves...and most all of have sensed the various dehydration effects that are noticeable. Just because a symptom seems to go away, doesn't mean the effects aren't still happening; symptoms can dissipate because the body has adjusted it's actions in attempt to correct the problem - but that doesn't eliminate the problem. Most vapers are far more dehydrated than when they were inhaling smoke & tar. But now we're inhaling VG/PG, so the VG/PG is going directly into our bloodstream via the lungs. What's the long term effects of this in our lungs? Unknown. What's the long-term effects of a chemical 'drawing water to itself' (hence out of our bloodstream cells)? Unknown. Example: we know it's lessened our urine output, and even after a year of vaping, it hasn't bounced back completely (and we both drink around a gallon of water daily). Long term effect on kidneys and other organs? Unknown.
Then there's the thousands of unknown chemicals in the flavors that are also going directly into the bloodstream. In tobacco, we understand (from compiling data from all over the place, so these numbers might be off)...that around 500 of the 4,000 chemicals are from chemical additives (but that's a list from which manufacturers choose - not all of the 500 go into every brand of cigarette). And the majority of chemicals are 'naturally occuring' in the tobacco and chemicals created from burning it. In past eras (before the chemical additives), people smoked but rarely developed cancer from it. Could it just be the additives? Unknown
But the 300-500 chemicals that make up each individual flavor are not "natural" (although some may have started as something natural, like beavers .... glands that are chemically processed into 'powder in vials'). There's no way to know the effects of mainlining these chemicals (that are only tested for ingestion). There's definitely no way to know their effects when the chemicals are unknown.
Then there's all the "additives" (like Vape Wizard, Smooth, Magic Mask), which are chemicals that temporarily alter the action of our taste receptors, being mainlined into our bloodstream. What are the short & long term effects, and what do those 'alter temporarily' as they circulate throughout our body? And what might this cause long term? Unknown. And who knows about long-term inhalation of the other additives?
Then there's the nicotine, and it's effects.
And then we put it all in a bottle and vape it...and next there's the myriad of possible chemical reactions and new chemicals being formed, and all their effects. Uknown chemicals; unknown actions; unknown results.
There's no short term study focused on only one or two aspects (or a handful of individual chemicals) that can possibly expose the long term effects of everything together. And no one that knows anything about the physiology of the human body could claim otherwise. (well they could/can, and probably will).
And there's no short term study that can possibly reveal or adequately predict long term effects. NONE
Do we "know" vaping is not safer than smoking? Nope. We do know there's immediate benefits from the cessation of sucking down scorching tar & smoke.
We also know that the 3 major "bad boys" (diacetyl, acetoin, acetyl proprionyl) are three of the hundreds/thousands of chemicals that are GRAS in our flavors (Generally Recognized As Safe - for ingestion)...and the ONLY REASON we have any valid/up-to-date safety information on those three for 'inhalation' is because of the popcorn factory exposure that cost people their health, lives & lungs. But who is going to discover the possible inhalation risks of the hundreds/thousands of others we vape that are GRAS? Are there others that are just as bad, but cause no noticeable symptoms in the lungs/airway? or others that merely weaken/stress the body and/or trigger other diseases? or cause diseases/syndromes that can not be traced back to the chemicals? We don't know the effects, but we do know we ARE the lab rats.
We've assisted almost twenty people to switch to vaping; we help people learn to DIY; we didn't heed our 'red flags' and we've overused the flavorings in many of our recipes. But we've always told people the truth - that there is obvious potential for harm in long term vaping; it relieves many symptoms caused by smoking, and that it's probably the fastest, best & safest way to get off the cigs and eliminate nicotine addiction that is known. We also warn people that vaping can become an even more difficult addiction to break...it's more fun; it's more tasty; it's more satisfying socially; we get to buy fun bling, gizmos & paraphenalia; it doesn't trash our home, clothes & cars; and we're no longer reeking/smelly social pariahs that people accuse of killing them with our second hand smoke. And you know what? Everything we've said (and you can be assured, we are FAR more emphatic when we're in person), hasn't stopped one person from successfully switching to vaping!
One thing is absolutely true - no one knows if vaping is safer than smoking long term. And we don't care what their credentials may be, or what short-term studies they can quote. Anybody that says they know vaping is safer long term than smoking...is, well, a person that is saying what they can't possibly prove.
Vape Safe!
