The whole formaldehyde thing

[lefty23]

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow, and he had asked that I try to quit vaping and switch to nicotine gum because ecigs create formaldehyde in the lungs, which is terrible for you. I know many of you have dealt with this BS, so here's a short, easy-to-read article by a doctor explaining exactly why these studies are ridiculous and misleading. There is much more in-depth stuff out there, but for something by a medical professional that is still very scientific but still easy enough to approach that people will actually read it, I think it's pretty darn good.

The deception of measuring formaldehyde in e-cigarette aerosol: the difference between laboratory measurements and true exposure

 

[T4T3Z0R]

Yup anyone who has been paying attention to the health aspects of vaping knows of Dr.F. really the most damning thing to the study is the study itself. The title of the study is misleading because in the first, they never found or measured for formaldehyde. They measured formaldehyde hemiacetal which, while an unknown, does render the formaldehyde contained within the compound inert.

 

[tj99959]

We learned a long time ago that "dry hits" are a bad thing, and should be avoided. That study simply confirmed what we already knew.

Also the study did not produce any formaldehyde. It only produced the elements, that through an unrelated process produce formaldehyde.

 

[GaG8tor]

Just got a dry hit myself.

 

[ReigntheGamer]

Luckily my MD was cool with it and gave me a reply I would expect from a professional,"It's great your off cigs if eventually you quit vaping as well."

I was in complete agreement while I know vaping is better for me I know the best for me would be neither. And seeing as I smoked for 22+ years I don't feel a pressing need to give up vaping just yet and I'm cool with that but one day, sure.

 

[crxess]

Shouldn't you be printing this off for your Dr. ?

 

[italiandude1979]

I just bookmarked that article. For the next person i meet that says vaping is bad for you because it has formaldehyde.

 

[EBates]

I would have to say: Find yourself a DR that knows something outside of pushing the latest pharma 'Miracle Cure'.

 

[NancyR]

Formaldehyde is found naturally in a wide range of fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meats. An apple, for example contains up to 22 parts per million (ppm) of formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is also a normal product of the human metabolism
Formaldehyde is exhaled in human breath at low levels (1-3 parts per billion) and released by living organisms; thus, low amounts of formaldehyde are alwasy present in the air we breathe. All wood naturally contains small amounts of formaldehyde.

http://www.awc.org/pdf/formaldehydefactsheet.pdf

So going off that if your doctor wants you to stay away from formaldehyde, ask him/her if they also want you to give up fruits, veggies, meat and breathing.

 

[ReigntheGamer]

"We all gotta die Doc I'm getting a head start hoping to lower my families funeral bill."

Say that with the straightest face you can manage and please do youtube it.

 

[GinnyTx]

turn it down! (I'm going to cut and paste this) *lol*

I used this article to inform my friends/family after that study came out in NEJM (some being in the medical field too and were being alarmists)
New E-Cig Study Hypes Formaldehyde Fears Based on Faulty Experiments - The American Vaping Association

 

[BigEgo]

What kind of doctor is it? I wouldn't trust a GP's advice on matters like this. Chances are he has not read the study himself, he has not read any rebuttals to the study, and chances are he has no idea how e-cigs work.

If he had read the study he would know that the e-cigs at normal voltages produced no formaldehyde. He would also know that the higher levels of formaldehyde were detected at 5v (which is probably around 15 watts) on a cheap clearomizer. Have you ever tried to take a puff from a CE5 clearo at 5v? He would also know that even the authors of the study themselves said unequivocally that it is not their position that e-cigs are worse than cigarettes.

Sadly, until much more research is done, we are going to have to keep up with the scientific literature ourselves. You can't trust a clinician to have done the homework for you. I guarantee you that he got his information from CNN or NBC news or perhaps read a short paragraph in some medical journal.

This study would be like taking an analog, putting it in a smoking machine BACKWARDS, and then alarming the world about all of the nasty chemicals found in high concentrations. Do you remember those times that you put a cig in your mouth backwards, lit it and took a puff (and then almost threw up?) It's equivalent here.

What we need are studies with REAL HUMAN participants.

 

[lefty23]

While I appreciate your responses, I believe a few of you may have misunderstood the goal of the initial post. I am well aware of the flaws (that being an understatement) of the study, and have read aforementioned response to it as well. To be clear, I do not have, nor ever did, any intention of no longer vaping; I was just at the site to print it up so I could bring it in to my general check-up appointment in order to instigate a well-informed discussion on the subject with my doctor (he is actually both an excellent doctor and over-all good guy) and figured while I was there I would post a link to make life a bit easier on anyone else interested in having a similar discussion (whether it be with a stranger, friend, or loved one) as I found it helpful myself. Again, that's not to say any of your responses were in any way wrong, you are all absolutely correct, and I probably should have been a bit clearer in my initial post. Glad to see so many of you are already familiar with the article (not that I'm surprised), we can never have too much ammunition (that's the benefit of having truth on your side).

 

[LMS62]

Although I had informed my GP many months ago that I no longer smoked, I intentionally did not mention that I vape. I did this because I didn't want to get into a possible debate about it, and I personally did not feel it was relevant to my current health.

 

[Alien Traveler]

turn it down! (I'm going to cut and paste this) *lol*

I used this article to inform my friends/family after that study came out in NEJM (some being in the medical field too and were being alarmists)
New E-Cig Study Hypes Formaldehyde Fears Based on Faulty Experiments - The American Vaping Association

I would not supply this as a reading for a doctor. It is publication from association of vaping businesses - they are interested in increasing their sales (just as BT).

I would rather suggest blog of Dr. Farsalinos (link was already given).

 

[Alien Traveler]

What kind of doctor is it? I wouldn't trust a GP's advice on matters like this. Chances are he has not read the study himself, he has not read any rebuttals to the study, and chances are he has no idea how e-cigs work.

If he had read the study he would know that the e-cigs at normal voltages produced no formaldehyde. He would also know that the higher levels of formaldehyde were detected at 5v (which is probably around 15 watts) on a cheap clearomizer. Have you ever tried to take a puff from a CE5 clearo at 5v? He would also know that even the authors of the study themselves said unequivocally that it is not their position that e-cigs are worse than cigarettes.

Sadly, until much more research is done, we are going to have to keep up with the scientific literature ourselves. You can't trust a clinician to have done the homework for you. I guarantee you that he got his information from CNN or NBC news or perhaps read a short paragraph in some medical journal.

This study would be like taking an analog, putting it in a smoking machine BACKWARDS, and then alarming the world about all of the nasty chemicals found in high concentrations. Do you remember those times that you put a cig in your mouth backwards, lit it and took a puff (and then almost threw up?) It's equivalent here.

What we need are studies with REAL HUMAN participants.

Do not blame a doctor. Doctor is not a researcher, doctor should be conservative in suggestion and follow widely accepted in medical practices routines. Doctor should follow principal Primum non nocere - start with not doing harm.
Blame bad research. Unfortunately current trend in science is to produce as much papers by as much people as possible (including idiots).

 

[perkidan]

Hell, my cardiologist almost hugged me when I told him I got off the cigars and started vaping. He also has agreed that a low carb diet would be good for me...two things most Dr.'s condemn.

 

[Rizzyking]

I came on here after getting back from the hospital where I got lectured off a smoker about the "formaldehyde" as well as "your inhaling battery acid" and "those things are more carcinogenic then tobacco" I did try to explain to her but totally closed mind no interest at all in hearing anything but what she believed. I empathise with you Lefty and hope it goes well mate but sometimes it's best to nod yes and smile and if you get caught out in future human frailty is a funny thing.