Before knowing the truth we need to understand the composition of electronic cigarette oil.
The main ingredients of vape oil?
Vape oil is composed of these four main ingredients: glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), flavoring and nicotine.
Glycerin (VG)
VG, a common drug and food additive (commonly used to make cakes, chocolate and other sweets), has no side effects on the human body, is colorless and tasteless, very hygroscopic, but relatively viscous, so it will slightly increase the difficulty of cleaning the atomizer and reduce the speed of oil conduction of the core (relatively easy to dry burn/paste). . So the USP food grade vegetable glycerin used in regular e-liquids has 99.7% purity + 0.3% water.
Propylene Glycol (PG)
Also known as PG, it is used to dilute the viscosity of VG. It is hygroscopic, slightly sweet, colorless and odorless, and similar in fluidity to water. PG is described by the FDA as "generally safe for humans" (ingestion only) and is a common drug and food additive, with good oil conductivity, and produces a "small amount of smoke" and a "throat hit" similar to smoking. "throat hit".
Although PG is generally safe, a small number of people may have minor allergic symptoms, such as throat discomfort, phlegm, dizziness, etc. These side effects are relatively short-lived and mild.
However, the FDA's statement is actually "Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)", which is defined as "ingestion", and other methods such as inhalation, injection, or topical application are not within the scope of GRAS! Therefore, the safety of the aerosol produced by atomizing the e-cigarette oil is not covered by the FDA guarantee.
Synthetic or Natural Flavors
In addition to tobacco flavors, a variety of natural edible flavors can be used to create complex and varied flavors, such as fruit, desserts, drinks, and other flavors.
Nicotine
Nicotine is an addictive substance. Compared to tobacco, the amount of nicotine in tobacco oil has been proven to be within the safe range for human intake. Of course, there are also nicotine-free tobacco oils available on the market.
Knowledge points about PG and VG
PG is short for Propylene Glycol, which is the Chinese name for propylene glycol. Propylene Glycol has no odor or color and is less viscous than VG. It is used to provide a "sore throat" when nebulizing, which some users claim is similar to the sensation experienced when smoking. It also carries flavors more effectively than VG, making it the most common suspension for flavor concentrates and nicotine.
VG is short for Vegetable Glycerin, which is the Chinese name for vegetable glycerin. It is a natural chemical that is derived from vegetable oils and is therefore safe for vegetarians. It is commonly used in e-cigarette vaporizers to give the vapor a "thick" feel when atomized. VG has a slightly sweet taste and is much thicker than PG. Vegetable glycerin provides a much smoother throat than glycerin, making it more suitable for Sub-Ohm atomizers. Although nicotine and flavorings are usually suspended in PG, some suppliers offer VG alternatives to achieve a 100% VG blend.
8 Tips on PG and VG.
PG and VG are odorless liquids that can be combined with flavors and nicotine to make e-cigarette oils.
Both PG and VG technically belong to the chemical class of alcohols (which, despite their name, do not intoxicate), they are classified as sugar alcohols and are included in many consumables
They produce vapors when heated and can therefore be inhaled.
That PG and VG are not fats and oils and do not cause any of the medical problems that inhalation of actual fats and oils would cause (e.g., lipoid pneumonia).
The different ratios of the two liquids will give the vape oil a different consistency and a slightly different taste
They have a distinct oral and throat sensation when used.
Most modern e-liquids use a combination of the two liquids, although the ratios may change significantly
Some e-cigarette devices can only be used with a certain ratio of PG and VG.
The 8 truths about e-cigarettes and whether they are harmful?
Based on long-term scientific research on e-cigarettes, in 2018, the UK began allowing the sale of e-cigarettes in hospitals and providing e-cigarette lounges for patients in order to encourage addicted patients to switch from traditional tobacco to e-cigarettes and eventually quit smoking.In 2019, the global tobacco industry regulator STOP (Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products) report had ranked the UK as the best country to act on tobacco control.
On March 5, 2020, the UK health system released another "8 Truths About E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes are not absolutely harmless, but they are far less harmful than cigarettes. Our advice remains that smokers are better off switching to e-cigarettes altogether, but if you're not a smoker, then don't try e-cigarettes.
This article clarifies some of the most common misconceptions surrounding e-cigarettes and provides basic facts and claims.
1. Regular nicotine e-cigarettes have nothing to do with lung disease in the United States
Last August, cases of severe lung injury began to appear across the United States. In the following months, 68 people across the U.S. died from this lung injury, but the cause of the disease could not be immediately identified at that time.
Based on the fact that this particular lung disease outbreak affected only a specific population and that the rate of new cases quickly turned around, we wrote to the medical journal The Lancet and explained that a "bad" batch of illegal marijuana e-cigarette products may have been the culprit.
However, in response to this particular lung disease outbreak, regulators around the world began requiring markets to take nicotine e-cigarettes off the shelves, while cigarettes remained available. This greatly deterred smokers who wanted to switch to e-cigarettes.
Since then, U.S. authorities have gradually acknowledged that vitamin E acetate added to e-cigarette products (vitamin E acetate) was the primary causative factor in this lung disease. British regulatory provisions, electronic cigarettes containing nicotine may not contain vitamin E acetate.
2, Switching to e-cigarettes can improve blood vessel health
A controversial study published by the Journal of the American Heart Association had said that e-cigarette users were at no different risk of heart disease than smokers - the report has recently been withdrawn by the Journal of the American Heart Association because the study did not take into account that almost all e-cigarette users are still current cigarette users, or were.
Regarding the effects of e-cigarettes on the heart, a randomized controlled trial published in December 2019 evaluated the vascular effects of smokers who switched to e-cigarettes and came up with the following results.
Those smokers who switched entirely to e-cigarettes experienced significant improvements in vascular health, almost approaching healthy 'control' levels. Future studies on a larger scale and over a longer period of time will further enhance the confidence of e-cigarette users.
3. E-cigarettes are far less harmful than cigarettes
Only one-third of adults in the UK know that smoking e-cigarettes is far less harmful than smoking. However, the fact is that the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) study found that the harm of e-cigarettes is far less than that of traditional cigarettes.
A 2015 independent report by the UK Department of Public Health concluded that "while smoking e-cigarettes may not be 100% safe, e-cigarettes do not contain most of the chemicals that can cause cigarette-related disease, and the chemicals they do contain are very limited in their harmful effects."
More research is needed on the 'relative harms' of e-cigarettes. Last month, the UK Department of Public Health commissioned an international panel of experts to write one of the most weighty reports in the e-cigarette series.
The team, which consists of authors of previous reports and other international experts, is beginning an extensive systematic review (including a safety review) to make the most authoritative assessment in 2022.
4, It's not nicotine that causes cancer it's cigarette smoke
Forty percent of smokers and ex-smokers incorrectly believe that nicotine causes cancer, while evidence shows that nicotine is the least harmful to health. Although nicotine is the cause of addiction in smokers, but the thousands of other chemicals contained in the combustion process of cigarettes is the culprit of all the harm.
5, Electronic cigarettes can assist in quitting smoking and the effect is significant
In February 2019, the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded a large-scale clinical trial. The clinical trial, which involved nearly 900 participants, found that e-cigarettes were twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in helping smokers quit.
An independent study by University College London (UCL) found that e-cigarettes help 50,000 to 70,000 cigarette users in the UK quit smoking each year.
6, E-cigarettes do not have secondhand smoke problems
Evidence shows that exposure to second-hand cigarettes is harmful to health, which is why British law prohibits smoking cigarettes in enclosed public places and workplaces. However, these laws do not include e-cigarettes, organizations can develop their own regulations on e-cigarettes.
The main ingredients of e-cigarette liquid are nicotine, propylene glycol and glycerin, as well as various flavorings. Unlike cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not emit sidestream smoke into the atmosphere and only release aerosols (aerosol).
A 2018 report by the UK Department of Public Health found that smoking e-cigarettes has not been found to be harmful to the health of those around them, and the evidence will be reviewed again by the UK Department of Public Health in the 2022 report. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be allergic to a range of environmental irritants and DPH has advised organisations to take this into account and adjust the regulations where appropriate.
7, UK teen smoking rate will not rise due to e-cigarettes
The latest report found that there is no evidence yet that e-cigarettes have led to a rise in teenage smoking. The survey shows that the proportion of e-cigarette users among young people is extremely low, and these users are basically those who already smoke cigarettes. It is also important to note that smoking rates among young people in the UK are continuing to decline.
A 2019 study has lifted concerns that e-cigarettes may be causing smoking rates to rise again. Public Health England will continue to monitor trends in e-cigarette and cigarette use among young people. We have recently conducted a new study - that is, looking at the difference in the role played by the addition of flavourings on e-cigarette smoking among young people and the switch to e-cigarettes among adults.
8. Improving e-cigarette regulations is important
The UK has developed comprehensive e-cigarette regulations. According to the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, e-cigarette products containing nicotine are required to meet minimum quality and safety standards, as well as packaging and labeling requirements, and to provide consumers with the necessary information to make informed decisions.
In the UK, advertising related to e-cigarettes has been severely restricted and manufacturers are required to report all product details to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.