[h=1]Gizmodo = Misinformation[/h]
Some E-Cigarettes put out tobacco-like Levels of Carcinogens
Thats what the fear-peddling title of a recent Gizmodo article would have you believe. In all actuality, countless websites and news-sources have published almost this same exact article. I chose to focus this criticism on Gizmodo primarily because they are (or were until I read this tragically misinformed article) one of my favorite Internet news sources. The article goes on to suggest (without sourcing said suggestion) that the vapor produced by the more expensive, direct-drip (rda) models of E-cigarettes contains cancer-causing formaldehyde. I reiterate that this claim is not sourced anywhere in the article. The article mentions a study made by the Nicotine and tobacco Research journal. Now, Im not saying that there is no such study, but I am still unable to find this mythical scientific experiment, days later. Ive found more than a few references to it, but never the actual account of the experiment itself. Im guessing that Gizmodo couldnt find it either, since the study is neither sourced nor linked in any way. In fact, the only attempt at sourced material in Gizmodos article is to a NY Times story that also refuses to source the various studies being discussed by the author. This sourcing of non-sourced sources goes on in an infinite circle, landing nowhere within a hundred miles of an actual recording of a real scientific study.
However, just in case were dealing with some sort of highly-classified, 007, top secret scientific study here, lets examine the claim itself to see if it could possibly be true. The nicotine liquid used in electronic cigarettes contains four ingredients (and occasionally caffeine); pure, unadulterated nicotine (diluted to the desired strength), propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and flavorings (generally suspended in propylene glycol). Every E-juice company Ive come across is VERY open about disclosing exactly which ingredients are used in production. There are no 4,000 other ingredients. And these four ingredients have been selected specifically because of their non-toxic natures (aside from the nicotine, of course, which as stated above is highly diluted before being bottled for sale to the public). We know that the occurrence of formaldehyde requires combustion of carbon compounds like gasoline, tobacco leaves, forest fires, etc. In addition to this, we also know that heated propylene glycol simply vaporizes. The heat doesnt change the chemical makeup of the glycol, which is why it has been so widely used in so many industries. It is stable, and it is safe. Again, If vegetable glycerine changed to formaldehyde when heated, then wed all be dying of more than just excessive cholesterol from eating deep-fried foods. Nicotine also remains unchanged when heated, which is the exact reason why second-hand smoke still retains nicotine upon combustion. To be fair, exhaled vapor also retains some nicotine, although not to the extent of tobacco smoke... (Click here to read the rest of my article.)
