Wouldn’t it be nice if the foods with the best flavor provided the best health benefits? Parents would no longer have to try to come up with clever ways to get vegetables into their children’s bellies if a candy bar provided all the nutrients they need. No more turning up their noses at a healthy dinner. No more counting down the spoonsful of vegetables. If only it were that simple.
Many young vapers incorrectly believe that vaping is simply breathing flavored air. With flavors like mango and raspberry, its easy to believe that this “air” can’t hurt them. The truth is, there is nothing simple about the ingredients in the products that are being inhaled through these devices. Let’s take a look at the ingredients in most vape juices and risks that come with them.
Let’s talk nicotine first. Many people (both young and old vapers) believe that if they get the nicotine-free version of the juice, they are in the clear and won’t become addicted to the habit. This may not always be the case. Even the nicotine-free versions are often found to contain some levels of the substance. Because this industry has very little regulation, there is really no way for its consumers to know how much nicotine they are actually getting.
The effects of nicotine include:
- increased heart rate and blood pressure
- narrowing of blood vessels
- increased risk of heart attack or stroke
- mood changes and irritation
- addiction: even with small doses the body will build up a tolerance to the effects of the drug, leaving you wanting more. Over time, many vapers who start with nicotine-free juice end up switching to nicotine products.
Whether or not the juice contains nicotine, it does contain several other problematic chemicals. The two ingredients needed to produce the vapor are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine. While these are considered safe to ingest, the process of converting them to vapor through heat produces cancer causing agents like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Health issues caused by inhaling these chemicals include:
- irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
- wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing
- damage to liver and kidneys
- weakened immune system
These chemicals are also found in the exhaled vapor, so while long term studies have yet to be completed, it is believed that vaping in the presence of others could have similar effects for them as tobacco’s second-hand smoke.
Vitamin E acetate is an ingredient found in vitamins and skincare products. It is also used in vape juices (particularly those containing THC). When inhaled, it poses significant health risks. This is the ingredient that has been linked to EVALI, E-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury. Symptoms of EVALI are: cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and chills. While EVALI can be treated, it often leads to permanent respiratory issues. This is a new disease and its long term consequences have yet to be studied.
Along with heavy metals found in vape juice, the heating of the metals that make up the vape device itself allows them to seep into the vapor that is inhaled. The specific metals concerned with vaping are:
- nickel and chromium: linked to respiratory diseases and lung cancer
- lead: linked to developmental and neurological disorders
- arsenic: a known carcinogen
As you can see, what goes into and comes out of a vaping device is so much more than just flavoring. Please talk about these ingredients and their risks. Going nicotine free is not the “healthy” choice. If you want the healthy option, don’t vape.
