Proof that e-cigarettes are safer than cigarettes?

[newklear85]

I know they are. People around me have been asking if E-Cigarettes were safer than cigarettes and I didn't really have any link to show them.

Is glycerin safe when vaped or does it pose a health risk?

E-cig activist sites don't count... I need REAL scientific evidence!

Thanks

 

[Kate51]

Explain the technology of an e-cig, the components of that technology, and then compare to inhaling smoke of burning chemically treated tobacco, paper, and glue.

Chemical Components of Cigarette Smoke

 

[asd]

as far as I know PG is used in inhalers and oxygen tanks

 

[DonnaDo]

It's also used in rescue inhalers for asthmatics!

 

[Kate51]

GO HERE for many many more links to read and learn from; if you go to the Home Page of ECF (E cigarette forum at the top left of this page) is a good place to start.
Assume nothing, question everything.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ated-legal-medical-information.html#post27916

http://tobaccoharmreduction.org/thr2010yearbook.htm

When you run out of reading, here's another great source: your support would be appreciated! Many many articles of interest.

http://www.casaa.org/

 

[Poeia]

With the exception of the flavoring, everything in an e-cig can be found in a tobacco one.
Glycerol (aka glycerine)
Propylene Glycol
Nicotine

List of additives in cigarettes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
List of cigarette smoke carcinogens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So, unless the rest of the chemicals on those lists are somehow better for you than flavoring is, it's a pretty safe bet.

You should, however, avoid flavoring that uses artificial colors.

 

[Andrew_315]

Just find sites regarding fog machines and propylene glycol

 

[Xanax]

With the exception of the flavoring, everything in an e-cig can be found in a tobacco one.

Wouldn't that make it technically sound "unsafe" to ignorant folks?

 

[CaptJay]

Ignorant folks already think its unsafe I doubt telling them it has cake flavoring in it is going to make it worse
Btw PG is also found in children's medicines and hospital nebulizers - and food grade flavorings are also found in children's medicines.
Also bear in mind that the FDA approved Chantix, which unlike cigs, kills people in weeks rather than decades... (the best friend of one of my relatives recently died from taking that that stuff so excuse the bitter tone..)

 

[Uncle JaR]

When people ask me if they are safer, I always tell them that that is a difficult question to answer. Ecigs do not contain a vast majority of the 4000 chemicals, the carbon monoxide, the tar, the glue, and the smoke that analogs have. I find it hard to believe that they could be worse for me, but at this point there cannot be any long term research for the simple fact that they have not been around long term. I can't say that they are better, but I can tell you that I feel better. I can smell, I can taste, I am no longer out of breath with the least bit of exercise. I try not to make any medical claims that work in generalities for others. I simply tell them that all I know for sure is how I feel.

 

[DrZanis]

Thanks for all the information. I cant beleive FDA allows a daily intake of PG yet finds issue with e-cig's

 

[Kate51]

DrZannis, it's hard to believe tobacco cigarettes are still readily available, with all the data accumulated. Seems that perhaps FDA, ALA, ASH, and others are perfectly happy to accept all the data on those and still advocate only Pharma can be trusted to help folks stop smoking. Seems to be a direct correlation not with data, but with the industry of following the money trail!
My daughter stopped Cold Turkey, but when she was in trouble four months later with physiological and physical withdrawal effects, her doctor had no "helping hand" except for a prescription for Valium. Suggesting of course that smoking is a behavioral addiction, not a physical one.
BAD advice.
The doctor's "expertise" was summarily voided by current rote talking points from advocates of stop smoking and little else. As if there is no consequence other than 'mental fixation'. While e-cig users are keenly aware of physical long-term withdrawal. 80% of e-cig users have been successful in stopping smoking long term.
I daresay there is some benefit to smokers who have been unsuccessful by every alternative offered by Big Pharma, still rated at only 15% cessation.

 

[methic2345]

to agree with kate51, my physician advised that I used nicorette lozenges and the gum, this didn't in all honesty help, i quir for about a week with the urge to smoke all the time, for me i feel that smoking analogs was both a physical and behavioral addiction, i.e smoking when i come out of my building and the subway, after coffee and food, and also the feeling of taking in actual smoke and blowing it out...I unfortuantely didnt have the will power to quit cold turkey or with nicotine gums. E-cigs on the other hand have been great, i smoke absolutely no analogs. I treid a newport about 3 weeks after i started vaping, absolutely nasty taste and aftertaste. I also love the fact that my sense of smell and taste are much better now, as well as a more than doubled lung capacity...p.s. my doctor loves that I quite but on the books has no opinion on e cigs b/c of the legislation going on in NY, and the FDA's lack of real studies into the issue

 

[lulubell360]

With the exception of the flavoring, everything in an e-cig can be found in a tobacco one.
Glycerol (aka glycerine)
Propylene Glycol
Nicotine

Uh???

 

[methic2345]

glycerine: has many many uses, and is a hygroscopic that can loosen up nasal congestion, used for numerous skin related issues, calluses inflimmation, skin moisturizer, it also is said to eliminate a lot of bacteria by absorbing the water they contain, ppl use it as a mouth wash, also used in most food products and toothpaste as a bonding agent and sweetener...a good reason ppl get dry mouth from vaping

Propylene glycol: used in medical applications asthma inhalers, injectable medications, smoke machines, antifreeze and hydrolic equipment, widely used as a food additive...also does cause allergic reactions in some ppl, so that soar throat can be attributed to this if the problem doesnt go away after about a week, I studied this in college chemistry, it actually metabolizes like sugar creating energy, not sure if those properties are continued wen vaping.

nicotine: shown to be more addictive than ...... or ......., releases dopamin into ur neurotransmitters, creating feeling of either a stimulant or relaxer...ur brain actually becomes used to the nicotine and adjusts to it meaning over time u will need more to feel the same efffects, similar to most narcotics...p.s. in pure form nicotine is deadly through jsut skin contact, full chemical suits and ventilation hoods in labs are used wen handling pure or near pure nicotine.
hope the info helps lulubell....i left out a few things about all three but i would end up writing a masters thesis paper on a forum reply lol.

 

[methic2345]

o yea both PG and VG have antibiotic qualities...which can result in either wiping out or causing hallitosis....without certain bacteria the ones that produce bad breath can grow out.

 

[lulubell360]

Methic, very good explaination of each chemical. I believe I was just reiterating what Xanax said. I missunderstood it to be e cigs had EVERYTHING analogs do including all the bad stuff & the only difference was flavoring. I get it now. I think.

 

[DaveP]

I'm a newbie but I've spent hours and hours reading here and researching google links to various tests and evaluations. Based on what I've read I'm inclined to believe that the E-cig, while not advisable for non-smokers to try, is the best vehicle for quitting smoking I've found. Vaping is probably not as safe as not smoking or vaping anything at all, but so many people have quit or cut down on their analog habit that it has to be beneficial for the intended purpose. Many of the ingredients are found in FDA approved nicotine replacement methods, including trace amounts of nitrosamines present because the nicotine is derived from tobacco leaves. The trace amounts have been found not to be a cancer risk in reports, depending on who you ask.

Of course, if the FDA were to be asked to determine the public safety risk of automobile exhaust, what do you think they would say in their report?

I think that the most comprehensive research to date was done by Health New Zealand. Link is below.

Health New Zealand analysis
http://www.healthnz.co.nz/RuyanCartridgeReport30-Oct-08.pdf

FDA analysis here
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ScienceResearch/UCM173250.pdf

FDA official report here
FDA and Public Health Experts Warn About Electronic Cigarettes

 

[Kate51]

Just a fine point about glycerin and glycol, both are humectants (absorb moisture) and are both antibacterial.
The 'humectant' (water absorbing) property makes it vital that you increase your daily intake of water H2O. If the mucosa tissues in the mouth, thoat, nose and lungs become coated with either substance it causes drying of the mucosa by keeping moisture away from those tissues. Drinking more water keeps those tissues properly hydrated from within, drinking water does help remove particulate film also, but of course you can't wash it from your nose or lungs. Only proper hydration naturally removes particles by formation of mucous and action of the cilia, which become damaged from smoking tobacco.
Something that bothers e-cig users is excessive dryness, which causes inflammation and subjects tissues to irritants (no protective moisture).
The reason both of these compounds are used in tobacco cigarettes is to ...... formation of mold and regulate humidity of the tobacco. Proper humidity for burning of tobacco is 11-13% moisture.
That's too low for mucosa membranes for proper function!

 

[methic2345]

kate great point, also keep in ming VG is a dirrhetic, so if ur having a little toilet troubles wen starting it might be a cause since there is so much more gtycerine, i noticed this after using it in my shesha for my hookah...seeing the antibacterial properties the next bet is that the FDA will say that it ......s the lungs ability to fight infection...leadiing to pneumonia...theres always something, even tho smoking cigarettes the surgeon general basically writes u "these will kill you", but hey they still sell those everywhere.