New Post has been published on Top Dog Vapes Blog
New Post has been published on http://www.topdogvapes.net/dangers-e-liquid-ejuice-2/
The Dangers Of E-Liquid (Ejuice)
The Dangers Of E-Liquid (Ejuice)
by Chris Rowe
On March 23, 2014 the New York Times released an article that spread around many social media sites like fire in a drought ridden forest… (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/business/selling-a-poison-by-the-barrel-liquid-nicotine-for-e-cigarettes.html?_r=2)
I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words on behalf of the vaping community, and especially those of us who manufacture and distribute E-juices.
First of all, the article to me was 1% genuine concern for public safety and 99% typical mass media panic making politics. Fear is a great motivator and the media outlets have turned fear mongering into a science. However some of what is in the article is true, which is why I felt the need to write about Ejuice and Ejuice safety.
FDA REGULATIONS & MIXOLOGY:
There is really not a lot of regulation on Ejuice. There is some regulations on the products of which Ejuice is made from. Let’s first discuss what Ejuice is made of..
Overall the ingredients for Ejuice is: Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, Flavor, Nicotine(Optional), and Water (Sometimes). These are the basic Ejuice ingredients and they do vary in degree to amount of each depending on the juicer’s blend or recipe.
Propylene Glycol is used a lot on the pharmaceutical realm. It is a known solvent and often used to deliver and maintain consistent dosage of medicines, it’s recognized as safe by the FDA and the body metabolically breaks it down with little to no issues. It is usually the alcohol alternative liquid base found in most cake and food flavorings. (WARNING: People can be allergic to this substance!) (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListing&id=262)
Vegetable Glycerin is used as a carbohydrate in many areas of food and pharmacology. It is used in sweeteners, cosmetics, and personal lubricants. It is also a primary ingredient in many types of fog machines used at parties. This too is recognized as safe by the FDA. (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListing&id=142)
Flavorings are used to make the Ejuice taste like how we want it to. These are varied and can be made with synthetic flavorings or natural using extracts. Often the raw concentrated flavorings contain small amounts of alcohol but primarily use a Propylene Glycol base. Sometimes you can find flavors cut with water or Vegetable Glycerin. Reputable Ejuicers buy their flavors stock from an FDA regulated source.
Nicotine is an OPTIONAL additive for people who enjoy it. It is a stimulant much like caffeine but the compound is bit different. According to the FDA it is a toxic substance and in proper amounts can make a person ill or even kill them. It does not take much to overdose if dosage is non-consistent or blatantly wrong. A tablespoon of up to 24mg can make children and adults very sick, and younger children are at risk of death. Drinking a tablespoon of higher amounts can kill even an adult. (http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9926222)
Water is pretty self-explanatory…..
Reputable Ejuice manufacturers will only use Food Grade or better products and will take universal precautions when manufacturing their product.
WHERE THE ARTICLE FELL SHORT:
The article was deceptive because it felt, at least to me, that they were trying to make it sound all around toxic, when in fact it was the nicotine that is toxic.
Some flavors can be a bit strong, but not deadly. There is a product known as a tincture, where the ejuicer will take a substance, in this case we will say it’s a pound of pipe tobacco, and using a specific process will extract the flavors from the tobacco in essence making a concentrated tea. I have never used this and I cannot vouch for its safety.
The article also failed to mention that if I decide to not add nicotine, or I purchase nicotine free Ejuice, I could in theory open the bottle and drink the Ejuice with no real medical problems. I might feel sick to my stomach due to the strong flavors and very odd texture of Ejuice, but there would be nothing chemically there to harm me. It would be similar to drinking a bottle vanilla flavoring for use in cake.
The propaganda like writing style was meant to drive fear into people as there are many states who have legislative bills open to vote soon on the legalities and regulations of Ejuice. WHAT DO I THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS?
I know MANY ejuicers and vape “Alchemists” out there. I don’t anyone who isn’t against a little bit of regulatory guidelines to assure safety and a standard of practice when making Ejuice. Where we have issues is if the government decides to turn over all Ejuice manufacturing to fortune 500 industries and tobacco companies.
My background is in the perfume industry which is very similar to the Ejuice manufacturing industry, except when I make perfumes, soaps, and shampoos I had to follow a strict guideline set forth by the government. In moderation it is a wonderful thing to have for our safety. CONCLUSION
I am a HUGE proponent of personal freedom. I believe we have the right to vape and make Ejuice. I also believe that with that freedom should come an obligation of responsibility.
It’s really just plain old fashioned common sense…. NEVER let a child have access to your Ejuice. Would you let a child eat a pack of smokes or a can of chew? Would you let your kids have access to a chemical closet with toxic caustic liquids? This is why many of the Ejuicers are putting “KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN” on their bottles, which in my opinion is only right, and it’s easy!
I know most of the Ejuicers that I speak with all sell their products in bottles with a childproof lid. If your supplier does not sell their Ejuice with a childproof lid then please recommend them to, or purchase your own and transfer the liquid (With gloves) into a bottle that does.
Another option is buying 0mg Nicotine Ejuices. This would be a wise decision for someone who is seriously worried about the risk of overdosing. Please also keep in mind that Nicotine is not only water soluble it is also transdermal and will break the blood barrier so if you spill nicotine you should wear gloves when cleaning it up. It really doesn’t take much to be a problem.
Children should not be allowed to vape, and likewise over vaping can cause issues with overdosing as well. Albeit rare to kill an adult, over-vaping can be very uncomfortable with vertigo, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and cramping.
Please be wise, and use common sense. We also need to let people know the truth behind Ejuice, and we have to stop saying it’s completely safe. What we need to say is “Without added nicotine it’s very safe”, or what I prefer to use is, “It’s much safer than cigarettes!”
I will write more articles on this as I get more questions on the subject, also feel free to share this article with all of your friends so that they can understand with an unbiased mind the facts of Ejuice.
-Chris Rowe