Opinions on vaping around children?

[Kevbro]

I've read and been told several things about "second-hand" vapor. IMO vapor has none of the lingering effects attributed to tobacco smoke. I've been analog free for over 2 weeks now and the stench from the analogs is just about gone.

Now, I don't have children myself, but in general I've never smoked in an enclosed area with children present.

Does vaping change the game? Does anyone have any info, some credible studies on long term vaping, and its effect on air quality for children or other people in a limited space?

Any opinions or credible info on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wv2win]

My daughters an RN Labor and Delivery nurse and her hospital allows vaping in the delivery room, for whatever that is worth. Considering how quickly vapor dissipates, I can't see how there would be any "second-hand" issues, along with the fact that the main ingredients are approved for human consumption. Perception issues, depending on one's outlook, might be a different matter.

 

[sailorman]

I've been vaping within 8' of my parrot for 2 years. Heavily chain vaping. If you don't know, birds are super sensitive to pollutants in the air. I had her tested for components commonly found in the blood and tissues of birds kept in a smoking environment, including nicotine. There was no detectable level of anything, except some pollutants in ambient air from traffic in my neighborhood.

Go to CASAA.org and you can find all the literature regarding this. This topic comes up a few times a month.
Here's a statement that touches on your concern from the American Assoc. of Public Health Physicians.
http://www.aaphp.org/Resources/Documents/20100402AAPHPEcigLegisStatemnt.pdf

 

[Spazmelda]

I don't think there has been a study on the exhaled vapor. I seem to recall seeing something, but I can't find it, so I may have just imagined it.

It is suggested that the exhaled vapor contains water, pg, VG, and trace amounts of flavoring and nicotine. I've seen it stated that 98% of the nicotine is absorbed from an analog cigarette, but I don't know if this can be extrapolated to e-cigs (my guess would be no).

As for my personal opinion, I feel that it is entirely safe to vape around kids. I think any trace amounts of nicotine would be less than they'd get eating certain vegetables. However, I don't vape around my kids, because I didn't smoke around them and I don't want to start modeling smoking-like behavior. I do vape in the house, either in a different room or when they are at school.

ETA: I actually wouldn't mind someone else vaping around my kids, because that someone else is not their mom. Do as I say, not as I do, LOL!

 

[Spazmelda]

Sailorman- that is really cool that you had your bird tested. Glad she was nic free!

 

[Tezcatlipoca]

Go to CASAA.org and you can find all the literature regarding this. This topic comes up a few times a month.
Here's a statement that touches on your concern from the American Assoc. of Public Health Physicians.
http://www.aaphp.org/Resources/Documents/20100402AAPHPEcigLegisStatemnt.pdf

Thank you for this wonderful resource, sailorman! It will be useful to show to people who are curious about vaping. And I'm glad that your bird is well!

 

[Malduk]

I did a math one day, trying to figure out concentration of nicotine in a smallish room from a second hand vape. It was a silly way to lose some time waiting in a line... yeah, its completely harmless.

 

[Spazmelda]

I did a math one day, trying to figure out concentration of nicotine in a smallish room from a second hand vape. It was a silly way to lose some time waiting in a line... yeah, its completely harmless.

Oh, you have my geek senses tingling! I will have to do this tomorrow.

 

[Tiny]

I treat it like smoking when it comes to kids, I won't do it indoors with kids in the house and I try to get out of sight when outside. I agree that the vapor appears to be relatively harmless but I also don't drink alcohol around kids either. I consider both things to be things for adults to do and I prefer to minimize the exposure to kids.

 

[sailorman]

Health New Zealand did an analysis of the nicotine content in exhaled vapor. I'm sure you can find the link on CASAA.org

I think I remember the number, but the upshot was that, with the Ruyan cartridge they used, the vapor was 0.1%, or maybe even 0.01% nicotine by weight. Two questions come to mind. First is, how much does vapor weigh? Second one is, what are the chances of anyone inhaling a significant portion of what you exhale?

Since vapor dissipates and settle fairly rapidly, it seems to me you'd have to lip lock someone for many puffs to subject them to more nicotine than is contained in a tomato.

 

[tica02]

I do have two children, 5 and 8. I never smoked in the house or in the car around them. My son has slight asthma symptoms, mostly at night. I vape in the car and in the house, but not when they are directly next to me. It doesn't bother them, or make him cough. I've read enough about the exhaled ingradients to believe it's safe around my children and pets. Especially compared to smoking. There's more nicotine in tomatoes.

 

[sailorman]

I treat it like smoking when it comes to kids, I won't do it indoors with kids in the house and I try to get out of sight when outside. I agree that the vapor appears to be relatively harmless but I also don't drink alcohol around kids either. I consider both things to be things for adults to do and I prefer to minimize the exposure to kids.

That's the "modeling" theory and you're more than entitled to believe it and act accordingly.

In my experience, and there is tons of data to back this up, the more you hide something from kids, the more they're attracted to it. Behaviors that are hidden take on an air of "forbidden fruit". This has been especially well documented with behaviors involving nudity and alcohol. Countries with very low legal drinking ages have a much lower incidence of alcohol abuse. In my own family, my father, who was raised in Italy until he was a teenager, was given wine from the time he was a toddler. It wasn't very strong wine, but it was wine and it was cheaper than milk. After he was in the U.S., he was practically a teetotaler. Through my whole life, I think I saw him drink twice, once at my sister's wedding and once on a vacation. It just held little attraction to him. It was old news.

His younger brother was born here. He's been a heavy drinker since he was about 16. In fact, out of 6 children, the four raised in Italy almost never drink. The two raised here, where alcohol was kept under wraps and the drinking age enforced, are both big drinkers.

If you can hide the fact that you vape/smoke/drink/gamble, etc. at all, then that strategy might work. But if a kid knows what you do and that you're merely hiding it from him, it becomes immensely more attractive to him. It becomes something that makes them "grown up" because it's so special and secret that only grown ups can even see it, let alone partake in it.

 

[Tiny]

If you can hide the fact that you vape/smoke/drink/gamble, etc. at all, then that strategy might work. But if a kid knows what you do and that you're merely hiding it from him, it becomes immensely more attractive to him. It becomes something that makes them "grown up" because it's so special and secret that only grown ups can even see it, let alone partake in it.

I have no problem if someone wants to do it around their kids. My children are grown and are capable of making their own decisions now, so my only exposure to children are those of friends and relatives. I figure that they should have the opportunity to expose their children to what they want.

 

[lotsoffish]

I look at it this way. If kids grow up around vaping they won't think anything of it, if they later find out you were vaping "discreetly" they WILL think there must be something to it, and try it the first chance they get.

 

[lotsoffish]

That's how I was anyway.

 

[danwelsh]

Health New Zealand did an analysis of the nicotine content in exhaled vapor. I'm sure you can find the link on CASAA.org

I think I remember the number, but the upshot was that, with the Ruyan cartridge they used, the vapor was 0.1%, or maybe even 0.01% nicotine by weight. Two questions come to mind. First is, how much does vapor weigh? Second one is, what are the chances of anyone inhaling a significant portion of what you exhale?

Since vapor dissipates and settle fairly rapidly, it seems to me you'd have to lip lock someone for many puffs to subject them to more nicotine than is contained in a tomato.[/QUOTe

haha i like that last line

 

[sailorman]

I have no problem if someone wants to do it around their kids. My children are grown and are capable of making their own decisions now, so my only exposure to children are those of friends and relatives. I figure that they should have the opportunity to expose their children to what they want.

The way I figure it is if they want to shelter them from what grownups do, then keep them away from grownups. Don't expect adults to restrict their behavior to only that which is appropriate for a child. This isn't a G rated world. It's up to the parents to teach children what behaviors are suitable for adults and not children, and especially why that is the case. It's not up to all the adults to act like children when they find themselves in the presence of children. Obvious offensive behavior excluded.

I can't think of a single bad habit I ever had, and I've had lots of them, that I got by modeling the behavior of adults who I was exposed to as a child. In fact, I can think of some behaviors and habits I never succumbed to precisely because I observed them in adults when I was a child.

 

[sailorman]

I look at it this way. If kids grow up around vaping they won't think anything of it, if they later find out you were vaping "discreetly" they WILL think there must be something to it, and try it the first chance they get.

BINGO!! If it wasn't a lot of fun, why would you hide it? That was my attitude growing up.

 

[Tezcatlipoca]

There's more nicotine in tomatoes.

I agree.

 

[MiltyBuilt]

I started using ecigs about 1 year ago. I wish these were around when I had my 2 daughters! I was unable to quit while I was pregnant, so I know my kids have a likelyhood to smoke now that they are grown. If I had had these, I believe that they would have been less likely. The chemicals in cigarettes are what causes cancer, not nicotine! Nicotine is an addiction, just like caffiene in coffee! The vapor ecigs produce dissipates very quickly but the nicotine or vapor doesn't affect things like asthma in children. I understand I'm no doctor or researcher, but I can go by my own health, my daughters' health, & MY Dr.'s comments OF our health!
The public won't be able to confirm this until long term studies are done. The pharmacuetical companies don't want this to happen, thats why they are paying politicians (mostly republicans) & lobbyists to push through regulations &/or the outlawing of all ecig circumstances.
Please add your voices to opposing any regulation or outlawing of vapor-based nicotine products or use of same!
Forgive my poor use of english or spelling. I wrote this in haste, as I am very passionate on the subject!