Importance of Air Quality Testing of Vapor

[Vocalek]

On a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is the highest, how important is it to the cause of vaping to have scientific testing performed on vapor to determine exactly what chemicals are present?

Use the following assumptions:

• Testing performed by scientist experienced in performing air quality testing
• Scientist has some experience in evaluating the presence of second-hand smoke components
• Data will be evaluated by another researcher who has had articles published previously in a scientific journal
• Said researcher will write an article for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal

 

[instamix]

This is the most important argument in vaping vs smoking in public....

It gets a 5 from me...................................................................

Any rights or lack thereof we have as vapors comes down to this

 

[Vocalek]

Discussion:

It has been brought to my attention that not everyone in the community thinks this type of testing is needed. I wanted to get a sense of how the numbers play out and to hear your thoughts and reasoning on the subject.

I happen to think that we need to have a published study that we can point to and say, "We do know what's in the vapor. Here is the list of what researchers found."

There is some existing research, but those studies have been dismissed as having been commissioned and paid for by e-cigarette companies. Furthermore, none of these have been published in a peer-reviewed journal, and each only looked for a few things. The NJOY study, for example, only looked for Tobacco-specific carcinogens. The Health New Zealand testing looked for carbon monoxide (found none) and for Tobacco-specific carcinogens and contaminants (found harmless traces). But what else is in there? Does the air quality in a room where people have vaped meet OSHA standards for clean air?

If we find out that there is something present that may be harmful, I think it is important for us to know that. Those who were careful not to expose family members to second-hand smoke would like to know whether there is any danger to bystanders from exhaled vapor. If there is a danger to ourselves and others, then knowing that will allow us to address and try to correct the problem.

I believe such a study is vital to combat proposed laws that include vaping in the indoor smoking bans.

 

[Vocalek]

Only 9 responses?

BTW: I'd like to hear from those who don't believe this is an urgent need. What's your reasoning?

 

[GregH]

I happen to think that we need to have a published study that we can point to and say, "We do know what's in the vapor.

I agree 100%. Besides the "they contain antifreeze" line, the second most common quote (usually from some 'medical professional') is that "we just don't know what's in them to know that they're safe". So far, our responses (while valid) have been "it doesn't take a lot of common sense to know these are safer than cigarettes because we DO know what's in those". But if we have a published study to point to, then we can offer proof beyond common sense. And common sense is something our government and those pulling their strings financially are banking on the general public not having much of.

 

[chrisl317]

Maybe the question should have been "Do you think it's important to have exhaled vapor tested for it's contents?"
When I read the poll question, it seemed to indicate a question of testing surrounding air quality that's being inhaled along with the vapor.

 

[CES]

We need any and every kind of hard data we can get. Being able to point to a good peer-reviewed paper that shows the contents of the exhaled vapor is going to be an important piece of the puzzle. And yep, i put my money where my post is- and donated to the study IVAQS research | Vapers Coalition. (hint, hint)

I'm assuming that the exhaled vapor will be 'clean'. but if it's not, we need to know that too.

 

[classwife]

I am comforatbly not worried without it, HOWEVER- I voted urgent so we have some hard facts for the nay-sayers...

 

[7thCabal]

I'm just sick of hearing "it's just water vapor". Has anyone sucked steam before?

 

[chrisl317]

I'm just sick of hearing "it's just water vapor". Has anyone sucked steam before?

I may be old, but, yes, I've sucked steam before. Have you ever had a cold and had to use a vaporizer from being stuffed up? I have.

 

[GregH]

And yep, i put my money where my post is- and donated to the study IVAQS research | Vapers Coalition. (hint, hint)

As did I.

I am comforatbly not worried without it, HOWEVER- I voted urgent so we have some hard facts for the nay-sayers...

Ditto.

 

[Vocalek]

Maybe the question should have been "Do you think it's important to have exhaled vapor tested for it's contents?"
When I read the poll question, it seemed to indicate a question of testing surrounding air quality that's being inhaled along with the vapor.

You're right. The IVAQS study is designed to provide Air Quality results on exhaled vapor. They start with a clean room. They use equipment to simulate the vapor being drawn into lungs and exhaled...all without any humans present. This is a technique and equipment that this lab has used to determine the chemical components in exhaled cigarette smoke.

It would be good if they can specify exactly what substances were filtered out by the artificial lungs. That way we'd know what we users are getting, as well.

 

[DC2]

To me it is far more important to test what goes into the lungs, not what is exhaled afterwards.

If you assume that nothing dangerous would be exhaled that wasn't inhaled, you could kill two birds with one stone.
Determine what is inhaled, and if it's nothing harmful, then what is exhaled is exonerated by default.

But yeah, I voted very important.

 

[Sandybeach40]

I agree that this is a great first step.

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I am disappointed to see how little vendors have contributed to this testing. I can see now why the E Cigs in general are on a predetermined path of self destruction. To be perfectly honest this funding should not come at all from the consumers. It should be paid for by the people who want to make money not me.

The only company I can see that has donated money that I have made a purchase from is Cignots. Where is E Liquid planet or Johnson Creek. JC made over a million dollars last year and there not donating. I'm done with JC.

I have made a note of who has donated money and I pledge to at least try there juice one time and only buy attys from them.

 

[Vocalek]

In all fairness, some vendors have preferred to remain anonymous. So don't jump to conclusions just because you do not see a company's name listed. You might want to contact the companies you do business with directly and 1) ask them whether they have donated and 2) urge them to do so. If everyone did this, we could probably raise the required funds within a week.

Having consumers support some of this effort from their own pockets helps to counter accusations that the test results have been "bought and paid for" by those with a financial interest. We consumers may not have our financial success riding on proving that vapor is not dangerous. We consumers have other things at stake:

• Being allowed to remain comfortably indoors instead of being banished to the outdoor smoking section to use our devices.
• Keeping sales of the product legal so that we don't have to resort to a black market or relapse to smoking
• Saving our health and our lives

 

[GregH]

Having consumers support some of this effort from their own pockets helps to counter accusations that the test results have been "bought and paid for" by those with a financial interest. We consumers may not have our financial success riding on proving that vapor is not dangerous. We consumers have other things at stake

And those accusations will be made. That's one of the few guarantees we have. If every member of the ECF donated the cost of one atomizer, then there would be enough money to perform this study several times over with no donations required from those who have a financial interest in the outcome.

 

[StormFinch]

Ack! I think I hit the wrong radial when I voted! If so, forgive me for throwing off the poll, insomnia is not your friend.

What I meant to get across is, on a personal level I really don't care if studies are done or not since I know just from my own health that the vapor is myriads better than smoke. However, I do agree that we need something we can hold up and say "See!" or we're just going to be relegated to the smokers' area at best and denied the legal use of e-cigs at worst. Needless to say, if I voted correctly it would be Urgent.

 

[PaulB]

The only thing that made me vote "Moderately Important" is cynicism about whether positive data could actually be used to make a case for expanded public vaping to those already mindset to oppose it.

 

[pianoguy]

We need any and every kind of hard data we can get. Being able to point to a good peer-reviewed paper that shows the contents of the exhaled vapor is going to be an important piece of the puzzle. And yep, i put my money where my post is- and donated to the study IVAQS research | Vapers Coalition. (hint, hint)

I'm assuming that the exhaled vapor will be 'clean'. but if it's not, we need to know that too.

Amen, couldn't agree more.

 

[Sandybeach40]

In all fairness, some vendors have preferred to remain anonymous. So don't jump to conclusions just because you do not see a company's name listed. You might want to contact the companies you do business with directly and 1) ask them whether they have donated and 2) urge them to do so. If everyone did this, we could probably raise the required funds within a week.

Having consumers support some of this effort from their own pockets helps to counter accusations that the test results have been "bought and paid for" by those with a financial interest. We consumers may not have our financial success riding on proving that vapor is not dangerous. We consumers have other things at stake:

• Being allowed to remain comfortably indoors instead of being banished to the outdoor smoking section to use our devices.
• Keeping sales of the product legal so that we don't have to resort to a black market or relapse to smoking
• Saving our health and our lives

Your right. I think the vendors I buy from are members of the clubs that have donated to the research. Im almost certain that ELP has donated to the research. I hope so because Essence is so so good I dont know if it would be possible to really boycott them.