I have a friend, older retired gentleman that I used to work with.
He spent many, many years as a chemist for a very well know and prominent company, worked on patents, setting up plants and factories. All kinds of stuff. He's really smart, and he is my go to guy whenever I have questions about chemical type things.
Anyways I was telling him about me starting on e-cigs and having quit smoking, he was very supportive. I then told him about some of the "controversy" surrounding the ingredients used in e-juice (the whole anti-freeze thing and all). I asked him his opinion in two emails. I liked how he explained and asked if he would mind if I shared his views. He said go for it.
Now these are just his personal opinions, thats all. Just thought I would share it though.
First I asked what he knew of PG and VG and he wrote me the following
"Fear Mongering Poppycock"
John,
Let me explain. Water, that you drink and is also used in antifreeze
solutions and a whole host of undesirable chemical components is composed of
1 hydrogen atom and 1 hydroxyl group (OH). Ethylene glycol has 2 carbon
atoms and 2 hydroxyl groups, propylene glycol has 3 carbon atoms and 2
hydroxyl groups, dietylene glycol is composed of 4 carbon atoms, 2 hydroxyl
groups and an ether linkage (ether linkage is a single oxygen atom in the
middle of the 4 carbons). Glycerol is composed of 3 carbon atoms and 3
hydroxyl groups.
The reason I'm telling you all this is so you get the picture that all the
glycols, glycerols, etc. are just combinations of carbon with various
numbers of hydroxyl groups attached.
Most of these compounds are used in food, anti humectants, emulsifiers,
cosmetics, paints, adhesives, antifreeze solutions, liquors, medicines, etc.
As a matter of fact, this family of componds is probably used more than any
other in producing many of the things we eat, breathe as in vaporizing
solutions, etc. Glycerol for example is used in infants ear canals to
remedy ear aches; it is also used in the manufacture of dynamite.
The reason the glycols are used so frequently is because they are highly
polar (neg. charge) and therefore soluble in water. That is why propylene
glycol or glycerol is used in the ecigs to readily combine with water vapor to
produce the fake tobacco smoke. Which is why they are also used in
antifreeze solutions to raise the boiling point of water and is readily
soluble in water.
Bottom line is you have nothing to fear with propylene glycol or glycerol
for another reason; you are exposing yourself to miniscule amounts.
Actually, I can see no reason at all for concern even over continued use.
Then in my second email I found a list of ingregients another member posted, apparently from a label on one of his e-juice bottles, then I asked my friend what he thought, here is the list I sent and his responce
tobacco essence oil 5%
tobacco leaf oil 5%
Nicotine (from leaf tobacco) 3%
2,3,5 Trimethylpyrazine 1%
2,3,5,6 tetramethylpyrazine 1%
2,5 Dimethylpyrazine 1%
Acetypyrazine 1%
Methol butyic acid 1%
Terp ineol 1%
Ethyl maltol 1%
Guaiacol 1%
Acetyl pyridine 2%
Octalactone 1%
Pure Water 10%
Propylene Glycol 65%
Glycerol 20%
The pyrazines are in for flavor, i.e. peppermint, etc. A formulator aften juices up his formula so it appears unique and possibly patentable and discourage copycats. Most of the small .... is for flavor, densifiers, etc. no real concern.
Like I said, just thought some here would find this of interest. Just the personal opinion of an individual that spent a few decades working as a chemist.
He spent many, many years as a chemist for a very well know and prominent company, worked on patents, setting up plants and factories. All kinds of stuff. He's really smart, and he is my go to guy whenever I have questions about chemical type things.
Anyways I was telling him about me starting on e-cigs and having quit smoking, he was very supportive. I then told him about some of the "controversy" surrounding the ingredients used in e-juice (the whole anti-freeze thing and all). I asked him his opinion in two emails. I liked how he explained and asked if he would mind if I shared his views. He said go for it.
Now these are just his personal opinions, thats all. Just thought I would share it though.
First I asked what he knew of PG and VG and he wrote me the following
"Fear Mongering Poppycock"
John,
Let me explain. Water, that you drink and is also used in antifreeze
solutions and a whole host of undesirable chemical components is composed of
1 hydrogen atom and 1 hydroxyl group (OH). Ethylene glycol has 2 carbon
atoms and 2 hydroxyl groups, propylene glycol has 3 carbon atoms and 2
hydroxyl groups, dietylene glycol is composed of 4 carbon atoms, 2 hydroxyl
groups and an ether linkage (ether linkage is a single oxygen atom in the
middle of the 4 carbons). Glycerol is composed of 3 carbon atoms and 3
hydroxyl groups.
The reason I'm telling you all this is so you get the picture that all the
glycols, glycerols, etc. are just combinations of carbon with various
numbers of hydroxyl groups attached.
Most of these compounds are used in food, anti humectants, emulsifiers,
cosmetics, paints, adhesives, antifreeze solutions, liquors, medicines, etc.
As a matter of fact, this family of componds is probably used more than any
other in producing many of the things we eat, breathe as in vaporizing
solutions, etc. Glycerol for example is used in infants ear canals to
remedy ear aches; it is also used in the manufacture of dynamite.
The reason the glycols are used so frequently is because they are highly
polar (neg. charge) and therefore soluble in water. That is why propylene
glycol or glycerol is used in the ecigs to readily combine with water vapor to
produce the fake tobacco smoke. Which is why they are also used in
antifreeze solutions to raise the boiling point of water and is readily
soluble in water.
Bottom line is you have nothing to fear with propylene glycol or glycerol
for another reason; you are exposing yourself to miniscule amounts.
Actually, I can see no reason at all for concern even over continued use.
Then in my second email I found a list of ingregients another member posted, apparently from a label on one of his e-juice bottles, then I asked my friend what he thought, here is the list I sent and his responce
tobacco essence oil 5%
tobacco leaf oil 5%
Nicotine (from leaf tobacco) 3%
2,3,5 Trimethylpyrazine 1%
2,3,5,6 tetramethylpyrazine 1%
2,5 Dimethylpyrazine 1%
Acetypyrazine 1%
Methol butyic acid 1%
Terp ineol 1%
Ethyl maltol 1%
Guaiacol 1%
Acetyl pyridine 2%
Octalactone 1%
Pure Water 10%
Propylene Glycol 65%
Glycerol 20%
The pyrazines are in for flavor, i.e. peppermint, etc. A formulator aften juices up his formula so it appears unique and possibly patentable and discourage copycats. Most of the small .... is for flavor, densifiers, etc. no real concern.
Like I said, just thought some here would find this of interest. Just the personal opinion of an individual that spent a few decades working as a chemist.
I always like to hear things like this...FDA..would cut this apart to try to figure out loop holes to see where it is incorrect...but I am glad someone has taken the time to address some of these things...good job!!!!!
