The dangers of inhaling silica dust

[KiloWatts]

Alright, not to be alarmist, but I'm going to blow the whistle on this to open up some conversation. From the wikipedia page on Silica:

"Inhaling finely divided crystalline silica dust in very small quantities (OSHA allows 0.1 mg/m3) over time can lead to silicosis, bronchitis, or cancer, as the dust becomes lodged in the lungs and continuously irritates them, reducing lung capacities. (In the body crystalline silica particles do not dissolve over clinically relevant periods of time."

This is especially disconcerting considering 100% of the wicks used in commercially available atomizers are silica wicks. You can see a photo of actual silica particulates exhaled from a vaper's lungs in this post over in the modding forum. I realize this thread has been open some time in the modding forum, but after reading most of it, I feel the issue deserves a presence in the Health & Safety forum.

This seems a pretty cut-n-dry danger to me, but it's an easy fix. All we have to do is switch to a different wicking material. I'm hoping we can create awareness here, and see some alternatives in the market.

In the meantime, I will be rewicking my atomizers with cotton from now on. After a few months of vaping only 100% cotton wicks, I'll report some findings.

 

[Judge Dredd]

I'm interested in seeing your findings. Are you going to be looking for specifics like vapor, throat hit, and
flavor differences?

 

[kewlceo]

In the meantime, I will be rewicking my atomizers with cotton from now on. After a few months of vaping only 100% cotton wicks, I'll report some findings.

Hi KiloWatts and thanks for the informative post. Where do you buy your 100% cotton wicks?

 

[KiloWatts]

Any cotton material will do. You can grab 100% cotton gauze, or 100% "rolled cotton" from your local drugstore for a buck. Just make sure it's 100% cotton and nothing else. Make sure you boil it to remove any processing ingredients.

Here's the cotton wicking wiki. wickawikiwicka.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Thanks much for that! Might have to switch to cotton!

 

[KiloWatts]

I'm interested in seeing your findings. Are you going to be looking for specifics like vapor, throat hit, and
flavor differences?

Mostly vapor and flavor. Some are concerned that the "throat hit" is actually caused by the silica, not nicotine. Besides, I'd rather not "hit" my throat with anything. Esophageal cancer is one of the fastest moving of them all.

 

[kewlceo]

Any cotton material will do. You can grab 100% cotton gauze, or 100% "rolled cotton" from your local drugstore for a buck. Just make sure it's 100% cotton and nothing else. Make sure you boil it to remove any processing ingredients.

Here's the cotton wicking wiki. wickawikiwicka.

Great article, I'll follow it to the "t" once I get the material. How about 100% cotton braided wick like this on Amazon?

Mostly vapor and flavor. Some are concerned that the "throat hit" is actually caused by the silica, not nicotine. Besides, I'd rather not "hit" my throat with anything. Esophageal cancer is one of the fastest moving of them all.

Perhaps it does contribute, though when I go below 10mg of nic in my mixtures I lose most of the throat hit, and at 0mg there is no throat hit at all.

Again, thanks for the info!

 

[oplholik]

I have refused to use silica wicks from the beginning. The link the OP provided, is a good thread to read thru for info on other wicking materials.

 

[Cyprus]

Wouldn't Z-Atty Rebuildable Atomizers be another viable option as well? Shouldn't have any harmful particles to worry about in stainless steel mesh.

 

[r77r7r]

Are these also the wicks they use for most clearomisers?

 

[KiloWatts]

As far as I know, all commercially available atomizers/clearomizers are silica wicks.

 

[r77r7r]

Well, how comes it's not out in the open? Usually Rolygate or someone will post a warning? He must be aware of it by now.

 

[oplholik]

Apparently, just not that many of us are that worried about it.

 

[rolygate]

The answer is, there is no evidence at this time. We need some sort of evidence in order to do anything.

It is certainly a valid concern. However, the dose is important: can you inhale enough silica dust to elevate risk for any disease, or for a less serious issue? Nobody knows. Weigh some wicks, use them, weigh them again, calculate the loss, divide that by the # of days in use, then you have the potential loss to air of the silica - that is, if it all makes it into the vapour. We know that not all materials in e-liquid are transferred into the vapour so the same might be true for silica dust.

Or, place a filter in the driptip (RYO filters are good for this, if you drill out the bottom end of a driptip), and collect some samples.

Yes, I know how to investigate this; but at this time I'm not convinced the dose is potentially high enough to be problematic. However if someone can show otherwise then I have no problem changing my view.

I like facts, until they are there in your hand, it's just speculation. As an engineer I only believe in things that can be measured and repeated. Seen too much myth and hearsay... Show me

OK, let's say you get your results, and it's 1 nanogramme per day silica transfer to vapour. What does that mean in terms of risk? OK, there's the next problem...

[edit]
Having said all that, there is no harm at all in going to cotton wicks - why not, if you want to. A happy vaper is a healthy vaper......... with luck.

 

[kewlceo]

Having said all that, there is no harm at all in going to cotton wicks - why not, if you want to. A happy vaper is a healthy vaper......... with luck.

As your sig says, "you don't know what you've got till it's gone," so the cotton wick material (boiled in water for 10-20 mins) might be a good idea for any concerned.

 

[rolygate]

Agreed. The main issue would be in atomisers and cartos. How to fix those I don't know. This means, if you want to go cotton, then you are looking at rebuildable CE's and RTA's only?

Are there any other options?

 

[kewlceo]

Agreed. The main issue would be in atomisers and cartos. How to fix those I don't know. This means, if you want to go cotton, then you are looking at rebuildable CE's and RTA's only?

Are there any other options?

Very good point about rebuildables. Also, it seems that as long as the atomizers/cartos with silica wicks are not dry that it wouldn't be much of an issue anyway?

 

[rolygate]

I only use atties and occasionally RTA's. The 510 atomisers have tiny wicks so I guess this is why I didn't consider it an issue. They do lose mass though, over time. Even if always sopping wet (using a bonut/dripshield system, they take a lot of liquid and don't dry out, you put in maybe 8 drops or so). I'm not a heavy-duty vaper anyway, so a small reservoir is OK.

But the clearos have monster wicks in comparison so I can see what the issue is now - if they lose 50% of their volume, that might be a significant amount.

Cartos - not sure how they could take a new solid wick. Probably not possible, they use a silica woven material tube around the coil (if vertical).

RTA's - well I guess there will always be a debate about the best wicks in those, from SS mesh to pyrex tubes to bamboo sticks?

I need to do a better job with mine anyway, I cannot get anything like as good a vape from an RTA as from a plain old (high quality) 510 atty. Need to experiment more with wicks or whatever. The vapour I get is too dry for my taste, with very subdued flavour compared to a dripped 510 atty. I like a rich, creamy, moist vape with high flavour. If I could get that from an RTA I'd be a very happy bunny.

Maybe I just need to try a cotton wick??

 

[kewlceo]

Maybe I just need to try a cotton wick??

Inquiring minds would love to know your opinion.

 

[Koman]

I only use atties and occasionally RTA's. The 510 atomisers have tiny wicks so I guess this is why I didn't consider it an issue. They do lose mass though, over time. Even if always sopping wet (using a bonut/dripshield system, they take a lot of liquid and don't dry out, you put in maybe 8 drops or so). I'm not a heavy-duty vaper anyway, so a small reservoir is OK.

But the clearos have monster wicks in comparison so I can see what the issue is now - if they lose 50% of their volume, that might be a significant amount.

Cartos - not sure how they could take a new solid wick. Probably not possible, they use a silica woven material tube around the coil (if vertical).

RTA's - well I guess there will always be a debate about the best wicks in those, from SS mesh to pyrex tubes to bamboo sticks?

I need to do a better job with mine anyway, I cannot get anything like as good a vape from an RTA as from a plain old (high quality) 510 atty. Need to experiment more with wicks or whatever. The vapour I get is too dry for my taste, with very subdued flavour compared to a dripped 510 atty. I like a rich, creamy, moist vape with high flavour. If I could get that from an RTA I'd be a very happy bunny.

Maybe I just need to try a cotton wick??

A cotton wick...that should do the trick!