Is there any chance we're vaping metal or other toxins?

[R. Scott Kennan]

I was wondering the other day, when a coil burns out, or we get a dry hit, or an acidic e-juice breaks down a tank or other plastic component, is there any risk of long term harm? Is there any chance that our devices might contain lead? I know the E-juice itself is safer than tobacco smoke, and that's great, but I'm wondering about the rest. I'd actually rather inhale tobacco smoke than plastic or heavy metals for example.

All of this of course is just me musing. I'm enjoying vaping, I just want to set my mind at ease. I'm not trying to be alarmist.

 

[Ref Minor]

Ask me again in 20 years, can't be any worse than smoking was for you, you always have that to go back to as a fall back option.

 

[Robino1]

I was wondering the other day, when a coil burns out, or we get a dry hit, or an acidic e-juice breaks down a tank or other plastic component, is there any risk of long term harm? Is there any chance that our devices might contain lead? I know the E-juice itself is safer than tobacco smoke, and that's great, but I'm wondering about the rest. I'd actually rather inhale tobacco smoke than plastic or heavy metals for example.

All of this of course is just me musing. I'm enjoying vaping, I just want to set my mind at ease. I'm not trying to be alarmist.

Those issues concern me also. It's the reason I make sure I'm using something that I know very well and have never gotten a dry hit from. I also don't use liquids that are known to have issues in plastic tanks. I have choices......for now.

In my mind, I'm doing something that is multitudes safer than smoking. If it wasn't for vaping, I WOULD still be smoking.
If there are things that concern you, research them. If you're not comfortable in your own mind, don't use them. Learn your equipment so you know how to avoid dry hits.

 

[440BB]

I think you named many of the riskiest possibilities, and they can be avoided for the most part by your choices.

Coil Burn out - really nothing but no vapor, unless you go for very hot setups where it could pop some heat or liquid into your mouth

Dry hits - using a device that delivers liquid well and topping it off. I avoid oxidized steel mesh and cotton as the both of them, subjected to the heat of a dry hit, might be releasing stuff I don't want.

Tank melting/cracking/fogging liquid - I found plenty of good liquids that don't do that. You can of course use a glass tank to eliminate the plastic issue.

It's easy to rationalize any choice, but there's nothing wrong with using some common sense and moderation as a vaper. Suddenly our health is a good thing to think about again as non smokers!

 

[daleron]

I choose not to vape known "tank cracker's" and keep my equipment clean with vodka soaks. If a coil taste's burnt I get rid of it immediately. Be good to your equipment and it'll be good to you

Oh, and welcome to ECF!

 

[R. Scott Kennan]

Believe me, I feel a lot better since I started vaping. I know there are a lot fewer health issues involved. I will use common sense. I want to get some glass tanks, and I'll pay attention to which types of wicks I'm using. So far, none of my juices eat plastic, but I want to get into mixing my own, so I might run into that later.

 

[440BB]

One other thing that comes to mind is about batteries. You can learn a lot about battery safety here on ECF, but I have one specific tip. If anything is wrong with your setup, it most likely will arise when you first fire it up with a freshly charged battery. I always test fire once before vaping after a charge or battery swap.

 

[R. Scott Kennan]

It's easy to rationalize any choice, but there's nothing wrong with using some common sense and moderation as a vaper. Suddenly our health is a good thing to think about again as non smokers!

Yeah, it's like I have a new lease on life (to use a cliche), and I want to make sure I'm doing it right. Vaping almost feels like a cheat code to life. I can do what I want to, but remain healthy. Of course I'd start looking for the negatives.

 

[HughDaHand]

I recently got a little worried about plastic tanks leaching chemicals slowly into the juice. I am no chemist so I figured why not just get some glass tanks just to be safe. Its also nice not to have to worry about if a juice is a tank cracker or not.

I also stay away from delivery devices that are plated brass. Most brass is made with varying amounts of lead in it to help lubricate things during the manufacturing process. I prefer to get items made of stainless steel as it doesn't react with most chemicals out there. I quit smoking to be healthier so I figure why not make vaping as safe as possible

 

[Myrany]

One other thing that comes to mind is about batteries. You can learn a lot about battery safety here on ECF, but I have one specific tip. If anything is wrong with your setup, it most likely will arise when you first fire it up with a freshly charged battery. I always test fire once before vaping after a charge or battery swap.

permit me to add one thing to this

Test fire it with the ends (where most of the venting happens) are not pointed at your own body

 

[R. Scott Kennan]

permit me to add one thing to this

Test fire it with the ends (where most of the venting happens) are not pointed at your own body

Really? Have there been violent explosions?

 

[wheezal]

hrmmm...if i get an iron tank, mebbe i can cure my anemia by vaping! imma genius!

the jury is still out on what hidden items may be in vaping, especially since suppliers self-regulated and not required to post ingredients. that being said, short of finding out that we're inhaling massive amounts of alien genetic code in a worldwide conspiracy to terraform our population and planet into a habitable resource world for an invading alien species....it's still WAY safer than smoking.

i think i may have had too much sugar today.

 

[Robino1]

Really? Have there been violent explosions?

One that has harmed someone and that was because he stacked batteries or some such foolish thing. Most battery fails have been user error. Read up on battery safety before trying to mod things. Always use the recommended batteries and the chargers recommended for your battery or device.

It all boils down to common sense.

 

[440BB]

Really? Have there been violent explosions?

That has happened a couple times among a million plus vapers. It is typically caused by using inappropriate batteries versus rechargeable lithium ion or IMR/hybrid chemistry. Most likely something just won't fire or will get hot rather quickly if there is a short. I've only had a couple get hot when the silicone insulator on my device was damaged. Just erring on the side of caution here. ECF helped push manufacturers to provide some venting (holes) to minimize the risk of pressure from a shorted unprotected battery.

Getting high quality protected batteries, regulated devices or IMR/hybrid safer chemistry batteries is what every vaper should do.

 

[wheezal]

One that has harmed someone and that was because he stacked batteries or some such foolish thing. Most battery fails have been user error. Read up on battery safety before trying to mod things. Always use the recommended batteries and the chargers recommended for your battery or device.

It all boils down to common sense.

keep in mind, battery safety applies to everything that uses rechargeable batteries, not just PV's. Dell and Sony were setting peoples cars on fire a few years ago with laptops. The technology involves dangerous chemicals most likely extracted from the sun or from a deal with evil ogres in the Earth's core or something, i'm not an expert.

but either way, use proper equipment and care with PV batteries, cell phone batteries, laptop batteries....umm...i'm sure there's other stuff that uses batteries but my brain hurts.

 

[Robino1]

keep in mind, battery safety applies to everything that uses rechargeable batteries, not just PV's. Dell and Sony were setting peoples cars on fire a few years ago with laptops. The technology involves dangerous chemicals most likely extracted from the sun or from a deal with evil ogres in the Earth's core or something, i'm not an expert.

but either way, use proper equipment and care with PV batteries, cell phone batteries, laptop batteries....umm...i'm sure there's other stuff that uses batteries but my brain hurts.

With those other devices we trust the manufacturer is doing their part in putting the right battery in them. It's not like with vaping where we buy batteries and insert them ourselves. Or buy batteries from one place and the charger from another.

With a laptop or cellphone, the battery is already in there and the device comes with its own charger in the package. Many of us only know of the regular batteries that we buy for kids toys and stuff like that. We've never dealt with AW IMR 18650, just to name one. Or even eGo type batteries.

I still don't know much about batteries, I just buy the recommended ones and the charger that is recommended for the battery from the place I purchased my PV from. I do know enough, from reading on ECF, that you do need to know things if you choose to buy outside of the site that you purchased your PV from. Which is another reason I do not purchase anything outside of my comfort zone. I like simple and sweet

I do not charge overnight, even though my charger is supposed to quit charging after the battery is full. Not worth the risk if something malfunctions. We all know that there is nothing on this earth that is 100%.....except dying.

 

[440BB]

We all know that there is nothing on this earth that is 100%.....except dying.

The jury's still out...

 

[wheezal]

With those other devices we trust the manufacturer is doing their part in putting the right battery in them.

true, but my point is that basics of battery technology and chemistry are pretty universal. Lithium Manganese or Lithium DiOxide or even older Nickel Batteries still run on a form of galvanization. and when introducing current into a rechargeable battery filled with dangerous chemicals, its best to take care.

it just becomes more important when customizing and plugging in ones own batteries to ensure proper safety and using compatible hardware.


my other point was to be witty and irreverent....but i think i nailed that...boosh!