What am i Exhaling.

[deewal]

I have now been vaping for almost six months and i'm always asked the question "What is in that thing?"
I can answer that by telling them it's a nicotene inhaler which is liquid vapourised Nicotene and is not tobacco so there is no smoke.
I am then asked "What is it you are exhaling ?" or what's that smoke coming out of your mouth ?
I try to tell them the stock line "It's a harmless water vapour" which is a lie as i don't know what i am exhaling.
People are now asking "if it's Nicotene your inhaling, are you exhaling left over Nicotene ?" and "but all the smoke is not going in your mouth, some of it comes out of your mouth before you breath in,What exactly is it?"

What am i to say which is not a lie?

The Truth ? I don't know what i am exhaling ?
If i cannot give an answer that is the truth i can't vape in Public as people who do not smoke do not wan't second hand Anything if there is a remote chance that what i am exhaling is harmful.
Answers on a postcard......

 

[equazcion]

I saw this being discussed in another thread, though I can't remember where.

My opinion is that you're exhaling the same thing you're inhaling -- a vaporized form of all the ingredients in the e-liquid. Propylene glycol, nicotine, flavorings, citric acid, etc. They're all in diminished forms when you exhale, since some gets absorbed into your throat and lungs, but -- and this is just my non-professional opinion -- they're all still there.

 

[cucurucho]

Most of what you're exhaling is propylene glycol. Dr Laugesen's report claims that over 98% of the nicotine in the liquid is absorbed on inhalation, and that the exhaled vapour is safe for bystanders.

 

[Kate]

This is what Dr Laugesen says:

"... the e-cigarette generates no sidestream smoke from its (artificially lit) tip. Any exhaled PG mist visibly dissipates to vapor within seconds. Non-smoking bystanders do not find the mist unpleasant. The mist is odorless, and those close by quickly realize it does not have the odor of smoke or the irritating quality of tobacco cigarette smoke.
Comments. Inhaled nicotine in cigarette smoke is over 98% absorbed 6, and so the exhaled mist of the e-cigarette is composed of propylene glycol, and probably contains almost no nicotine; and no CO. (see Figure 3.5) Lacking any active ingredient or any gaseous products of combustion, the PG mist or ‘smoke’ is not harmful to bystanders.
The ‘smoke’ or mist is not tobacco smoke, and not from combustion – no flame is lit –..."

http://healthnz.co.nz/RuyanCartridgeReport21-Oct-08.pdf

 

[Myk]

I agree with equazcion. Your body couldn't pick what it takes out of the vapor. You're exhaling the same thing you're inhaling in a lesser dosage.

 

[Chapter8]

Instead of drawing through the cig blow on the other end, thats what...

 

[jacknthemonkeys]

if i am exhaling a good amount of nicotine with an e-cig, it cant be anymore nic then what's exhaled from a medical nicotine inhaler.

 

[deewal]

Non-smoking bystanders do not find the mist unpleasant.

That's not true. My Daughter who is a non smoker and various friends could smell the odour of Tobacco for the first month (which really annoyed me as they thought i was still smoking) until i switched to Apple Flavour. Within two weeks the odour of Tobacco had left my house and they could smell something but were not sure what it was. (my Daughter thought it was an air freshener)
But believe me, a non smoker will smell Tobacco instantly if you are using Tobacco tasting liquid or carts.
I'm still trying to find words that can be understood by an average bus driver/hairy arsed Scottish bobby (they pick you up and take you in for the slightest reason) or Pub owner (who will call aformentioned bobby).

I have'nt finished yet. I'll be Bach.

 

[dc2k08]

Dr Laugesen only studied ruyan's liquid though and that is the kind that mostly disappears on inhale so his assessment for those is probably true enough (being odorless for others). I hadn't realised that all their devices were like this. I thought it was only the cigar.

 

[equazcion]

I'm still trying to find words that can be understood by an average bus driver/hairy arsed Scottish bobby (they pick you up and take you in for the slightest reason) or Pub owner....

I'd make the argument that absolute complete honesty isn't paramount, and can be sacrificed somewhat for the sake of brevity. The goal is to convey the message that what you're breathing out isn't smoke and isn't dangerous. So just say that.

"What I'm exhaling is a harmless vapor. There's no smoke or tobacco here."

Or something like that. I think that's all people are concerned with.

If they press on you could say it's a common food additive that's been vaporized.

 

[EonBlue]

Not that I've run into this much but I think my buzzwords of choice would be "steam" or "fog" because I'm too lazy to explain vapor and those don't sound harmful. "Atomized particles of propylene glycol laced with nicotiana tabacum extract" or something like that might get you a funny reaction if that's what you're looking for (maybe that's just me, he).

I try to make lite of it but my wife doesn't enjoy being outcast for “smoking” in public...so I sneak it at the grocery store or wherever anyway.

 

[equazcion]

"Atomized particles of propylene glycol laced with nicotiana tabacum extract"

... not even sure if I could get that memorized

Good call on using words like "steam" instead of vapor.

 

[Bellinghamster]

Depends on the situation:

Interested smoker: "It's mostly propylene glycol, which is a safe food additive. There's probably a micro amount of nicotine and other stuff in there, but it's "mostly harmless"".

Attacking anti-smoker: "Look, it's just a magic trick, see? I'll put it out on my arm... Bought it in a drugstore for $10"

 

[cass]

That's not true. My Daughter who is a non smoker and various friends could smell the odour of Tobacco for the first month (which really annoyed me as they thought i was still smoking) until i switched to Apple Flavour. Within two weeks the odour of Tobacco had left my house and they could smell something but were not sure what it was. (my Daughter thought it was an air freshener)
But believe me, a non smoker will smell Tobacco instantly if you are using Tobacco tasting liquid or carts.
I'm still trying to find words that can be understood by an average bus driver/hairy arsed Scottish bobby (they pick you up and take you in for the slightest reason) or Pub owner (who will call aformentioned bobby).

I have'nt finished yet. I'll be Bach.

I haven't had anyone tell me they smell tobacco. But there have been a few that say they smell Hookah (which gets me to wondering what they're smoking in their Hookah pipes).
Like you, when I smoke a flavor, most people assume is't an air freshner. Or they just walk into my office and say, "Wow...it's smells really good in here."