Vaping Facts

[dmbadillo10]

Heya stakers and stakettes.

Just wanted to share some FAQs regarding vaping here, which i've read on vaping.com.

So if you are a fellow vaper, kindly go through the information below.

Credits to ALASTAIR COHEN, From vaping.com for the facts written here.

Is Vaping Safe?

Nobody can say whether vaping is safe on a long term basis. Since this has only been done for like a decade now, there’s really no testimony coming from a “long-time” vaper that can be used as a basis if this is really safe in the long run. (Just like a strategy when you roll dice. Hahaha.)

E-Juice and its content

E-juice (or vape juice) is the liquid used in a vape device, which is heated to produce vapors. Generally, e-liquids consist of only a few ingredients - glycerin, propylene glycol, water, nicotine, and flavorings.

Even with this simple composition, e-Juices  are also surrounded by myths. For example, there are many articles floating around social media that seem to link e-juices to a rare condition called “Popcorn Lung”. This supposed ‘link’ between the two is based upon a study where 51 (of the many thousands of) e-juices were tested, and it was found that some of them may have contained diacetyl - a chemical that was once used in food production factories to give foods (like popcorn) a buttery flavor.

Here’s the misconception - the vast majority of e-juices  brands do not use diacetyl in the production of their e-juices. Millions of bottles of e-juices are sold every day, and to date, there has never been a single case of even the mildest condition of popcorn lung that could be traced back to vaping.

Is Vaping Addictive?

There’s a popular show called “My Strange Addiction” that documents people who are addicted to the craziest things -- eating couch cushions, licking deodorant and sniffing Vaporub, among other things. If that show proves anything, it proves that doing anything can be addictive.

The real question here is whether nicotine (and specifically, the nicotine used in e-liquid) is addictive. Generally, nicotine is believed to be addictive. On the contrary though, research studies on the addiction of nicotine were usually tied to its presence in cigarettes. Since the combustion process in cigarettes produces thousands of chemicals, it is difficult to isolate nicotine as the sole addictive factor. The truth is, right now it can’t be concluded whether nicotine is truly addictive or not; however, many vapers have reported success in reducing their nicotine vaping levels down to zero nicotine over time.

Is Vaping Cheaper Than Smoking Cigarettes?

This depends on how often you vap or how often you buy vape products. Premium e-juices are somehow expensive, but it is worth the money versus buying smoke.

Do You Inhale/Absorb More Nicotine When You Vape?

Here’s another question that really can’t be answered definitively without a highly-controlled scientific study; yet, many sources attempt to definitively answer this question without any evidence to support it. Here are some variables that would need to be controlled in such a study:

Nicotine levels: E-liquids are categorized by nicotine levels, so it is easy to know exactly how much nicotine is contained in each bottle of vape juice. Cigarettes on the other hand, have varying nicotine levels making it much harder to know exactly how much nicotine you are exposed to when smoking. Due to these varying nicotine levels, it is difficult to say whether more or less nicotine is absorbed when you vape. However, what is known is how much nicotine is used in your vape juice, while you’ll probably never know how much nicotine exists inside of a single cigarette.

Puff/Pull duration: For both vapers and smokers, nicotine absorption is highly dependent upon how long the individual pulls in vapor or smoke. The longer the pull, the more nicotine that will be absorbed. Without considering and controlling this factor, it is impossible to compare the level of nicotine absorption during a session of smoking versus a session of vaping.

Frequency of puff/pull: Also, the way that vapers vape is often different than the way that smokers smoke. Smokers often take long pulls with more time between each. Vapers on the other hand, often take shorter pulls, but more frequently. The frequency of pulls during a session is critical to running a controlled test that compares nicotine absorption levels.

Intensity of Vape: Some people like small low-wattage devices and some people love high-wattage sub-ohm vaping. The amount of vape delivered on each pull will also play a role in how much nicotine is delivered and thus absorbed in the body.

Individual absorption rate: People are different, and their bodies work differently. Even with the same controlled measures, one person may absorb nicotine in a different manner than another person. Body weight, height, gender - many factors can play a role in how an individual will absorb nicotine.

Do Vaping Devices Explode?

There have been incidents in the past of devices exploding during usage, but these isolated incidents have mostly been due to user error. These incidents are frequently brought up when people ask “is vaping dangerous?”. When purchasing a device, it is important to buy a high-quality product and avoid knockoffs (which are made typically made with inferior parts). Buying a knock off e cigarette can be one of the dangers of vapor smoking. Also, it is important to understand the different type of mods - personal vaporizers and mechanical mods.

Personal Vaporizers: Also known as PVs, Personal Vaporizer mods contain advanced circuit boards that regulate the mod for safety. A high quality personal vaporizer mod from a reputable company will rarely ever face explosion issues.

Mechanical Mods: Also known as Mech Mods, these mods are much simpler in construction and do not have circuit boards to regulate the mod. Instead, these mods are user-regulated and it is up to the user to make sure that all components are properly working before firing up the device. While PVs have the ability to spot inconsistencies and refuse to fire until fixed, mech mods will fire even if one of the mod’s components is malfunctioning. Most vaping accidents happen because users do not take the proper measures when using a mechanical mod. Before using a mechanical mod, make sure that you are familiar with its components and that everything is properly installed and functional.

Can You Vape Anywhere?

I would say no. As a vaper, you should be responsible enough not to vape where it is not allowed to smoke.

Who are the Vapers?

Sometimes vapers are put into a “box” - as if there is a certain ‘type’ of person who vapes, or as if vapers share the same “look” or “lifestyle”. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Vaping has caught on in many regions around the world and are now used by all types of adults - from those in the party scene to the corporate office; and everything in between. According to our research, there are over 20 million vapers worldwide - from every area, and in every walk of life. What type of people vape? The type who enjoy it!

What Is Your Truth About Vaping?

The truth about vaping is that many things are misinterpreted and misrepresented. What might be presented as a “fact” is usually based upon someone’s personal judgment about a report or study they read about resulting in a lot of bad “facts” about vaping. When it comes to vaping, “facts” are usually not independent of a person’s individual bias towards it. What’s the best thing that you can do? Don’t hold on to someone else’s assumptions. Research the studies that exist out there about vaping, nicotine, and vaping vs smoking, see what the data says and form your own opinion!

There are a ton of misrepresented “vaping facts” out there -- what other “vaping truths” do you think need to be fact checked? Tell us about it in the comments below!