Caridwen suggested I post here on this. I'm wondering about pharma grade vs. food grade VG. Pharma as I understand is more pure, but is synthetic. What processes/chemicals are used in creating this? I avoid PG because I do not want to inhale a petrochemical, as safe as studies may show it to be. I currently use Essential Depot's VG, which is food grade but also non-GMO and "all natural." I'd like to know why pharma is recommended over food grade- what are the potential contaminants in food grade?
Pharma grade VG vs. food grade (Rolygate?)
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Both glycerine and PG are sold in four grades:
Pharmaceutical Grade
Food Grade
Agricultural Grade
Industrial Grade
The difference in grades is the purity, that is, the degree of contamination. In theory only pharma grade is 'safe' for inhalation, because that is both the purest and what is licensed for inhalation. Of course, it could be argued that inhaling anything will be safer than smoking, and that is probably true. However people need the information in order to make a decision. It is also true that e-liquid vendors don't tell the customer what grades they use, or provide any proof, or provide current full analyses of their finished retail product - so in effect, knowledge of the issues may not be of any practical use.
A consumer could perhaps choose the most expensive product, in the hope that the margin on sales allows a manufacturer to test the products. Or they could buy their supplies from a vendor who appears to exercise proper caution in their affairs.
The truth of the matter is that, at this point in time, it is either difficult or impossible for consumers to know exactly what they are inhaling. This is part of the reason why the prohibitionists have a valid argument concerning the ingredients; if the trade don't want to address this issue, they leave themselves open to regulation or restriction. Statements about 'high quality' are meaningless - we need the proof.
So realistically, you can vape what you like, since there is no real way of ensuring proper control of what you consume. If you can access a supply of pharma grade materials, and if you are given proof of this status, then it is correct to say that risk is minimised.
As regards petrochemical vs organic feedstock (the stuff the end product is made from), then people can choose what they like. There are arguments both pro and con. For example:
- A 100% pure product can probably only have a synthetic origin. Unless you believe in the homeopathic theory (that the original presence of a compound can still have a physical effect on the consumer even after it has been removed to leave a 99.9999% pure material), then a pure synthetic material that is (for all practical purposes) 100% pure glycerine should have no effect other than that caused by glycerine.
- An 'all natural' glycerine might have some percentage of animal origin, as there are at least five ways to produce glycerine.
- A VG glycerine (in the true sense of the word - produced entirely from vegetable feedstock) could still have numerous issues:
a. As it will be produced from a variety of vegetable origins including coconut oil and palm oil, there may be allergy issues for some people.
b. As it may contain jatropha plant esters then it may present some degree of risk of consumption of carcinogens (because some VG may come from biodiesel production, and jatropha plant material can be used for this).
From my personal perspective, a pharma grade that is synthetic is my preferred option. For example the Dow Optim brand is advertised as 100% pure synthetic. This is just my opinion because there is zero research on this issue. Getting hold of it is another question entirely, though we know from the community that 4-gallon drums are available for purchase in the USA.
Also there is another complication: the appellation of 'Glycerine, USP' and all the issues with that. Let's not go there at this time
This leaves us with the options laid out at the start: choose an expensive product and/or one from a reputable vendor, in the hope that they need to protect their reputation by supplying materials that do not turn out to be contaminated. Right now that seems the only practical option for the average person concerned about quality issues.
Ex-smokers are probably entirely justified in vaping anything and not worrying too much. Those who care enough will go the extra mile to find something they believe optimal. At present this is a personal decision and there is just no way to improve on that.
One day a vendor will realise there is a marketing advantage to selling a luxury product line, and proving (not just saying) that their products are of the highest possible quality. My fear is that vendors have tried to do that, then found it was not possible to publish the results of tests due to 'issues'.
Pharmaceutical Grade
Food Grade
Agricultural Grade
Industrial Grade
The difference in grades is the purity, that is, the degree of contamination. In theory only pharma grade is 'safe' for inhalation, because that is both the purest and what is licensed for inhalation. Of course, it could be argued that inhaling anything will be safer than smoking, and that is probably true. However people need the information in order to make a decision. It is also true that e-liquid vendors don't tell the customer what grades they use, or provide any proof, or provide current full analyses of their finished retail product - so in effect, knowledge of the issues may not be of any practical use.
A consumer could perhaps choose the most expensive product, in the hope that the margin on sales allows a manufacturer to test the products. Or they could buy their supplies from a vendor who appears to exercise proper caution in their affairs.
The truth of the matter is that, at this point in time, it is either difficult or impossible for consumers to know exactly what they are inhaling. This is part of the reason why the prohibitionists have a valid argument concerning the ingredients; if the trade don't want to address this issue, they leave themselves open to regulation or restriction. Statements about 'high quality' are meaningless - we need the proof.
So realistically, you can vape what you like, since there is no real way of ensuring proper control of what you consume. If you can access a supply of pharma grade materials, and if you are given proof of this status, then it is correct to say that risk is minimised.
As regards petrochemical vs organic feedstock (the stuff the end product is made from), then people can choose what they like. There are arguments both pro and con. For example:
- A 100% pure product can probably only have a synthetic origin. Unless you believe in the homeopathic theory (that the original presence of a compound can still have a physical effect on the consumer even after it has been removed to leave a 99.9999% pure material), then a pure synthetic material that is (for all practical purposes) 100% pure glycerine should have no effect other than that caused by glycerine.
- An 'all natural' glycerine might have some percentage of animal origin, as there are at least five ways to produce glycerine.
- A VG glycerine (in the true sense of the word - produced entirely from vegetable feedstock) could still have numerous issues:
a. As it will be produced from a variety of vegetable origins including coconut oil and palm oil, there may be allergy issues for some people.
b. As it may contain jatropha plant esters then it may present some degree of risk of consumption of carcinogens (because some VG may come from biodiesel production, and jatropha plant material can be used for this).
From my personal perspective, a pharma grade that is synthetic is my preferred option. For example the Dow Optim brand is advertised as 100% pure synthetic. This is just my opinion because there is zero research on this issue. Getting hold of it is another question entirely, though we know from the community that 4-gallon drums are available for purchase in the USA.
Also there is another complication: the appellation of 'Glycerine, USP' and all the issues with that. Let's not go there at this time
This leaves us with the options laid out at the start: choose an expensive product and/or one from a reputable vendor, in the hope that they need to protect their reputation by supplying materials that do not turn out to be contaminated. Right now that seems the only practical option for the average person concerned about quality issues.
Ex-smokers are probably entirely justified in vaping anything and not worrying too much. Those who care enough will go the extra mile to find something they believe optimal. At present this is a personal decision and there is just no way to improve on that.
One day a vendor will realise there is a marketing advantage to selling a luxury product line, and proving (not just saying) that their products are of the highest possible quality. My fear is that vendors have tried to do that, then found it was not possible to publish the results of tests due to 'issues'.
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