There have always been many rumors about electronic cigarettes circulating on the Internet. Recently, there is another hot topic in search of #how vapes pretend to be innocent#, which has aroused more people’s worries and doubts.
But are e-cigarettes really as rumored?
In response to some common rumors, we have compiled relatively complete truths and details. I hope this article can serve as a reference for your rational judgments.
Q1: I heard that e-cigarettes contain more chemical substances and are more harmful?
Truth and details:
Generally, the main components of regular pods are: glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine, and flavors. Except for nicotine, all other ingredients are food raw materials.
Q2: It is said that e-cigarette pneumonia has ever been prevalent in the United States?
Truth and details:
In July 2019, a mysterious pneumonia broke out in Wisconsin, USA. Subsequently, the disease swept across many states in the United States. The incident was initially because the patients had used electronic cigarettes and were mistakenly thought to be related to electronic cigarettes, which caused great panic.
According to follow-up investigations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was found that the electronic cigarettes used by the patient came from the street or from an unknown source. The atomized liquid contained cannabis extract-tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC) and its thickener vitamin E acetic acid. It is speculated that it may be that vitamin E acetate has surface activity and destroys the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.
Since the regular vapes will not add hydrogen cannabinol and vitamin E acetic acid. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has withdrawn its false accusations against regular electronic cigarettes.
The false allegations against regular e-cigarettes have been withdrawn
Q3: I also heard that long-term use of electronic cigarettes will cause popcorn lungs?
Truth and details:
According to NBC News:
In September 2019, a Canadian boy entered the intensive care unit for improper use of an electronic cigarette. After the researchers performed a lung scan on the teenager, they found that his symptoms were not consistent with the mysterious pneumonia that was circulating at the time, but were more similar to the “popcorn lung” symptoms discovered in 2000.
The scientific name of “popcorn lung” is “bronchiolitis obliterans”, which is an irreversible obstructive lung disease that causes narrowing and obstruction of bronchiole due to inflammation or fibrosis. As early as 2000, 8 popcorn workers suffered from this disease. The investigation believes that they may have contracted this disease because they have been exposed to high concentrations of diacetyl gas for a long time.
According to the hospital’s understanding, in the five months before the Canadian boy fell ill, he inhaled a lot of pods with flavors such as “cotton candy” and “green apple”, which may cause excessive inhalation of diacetyl. At the same time, the boy added THC (the cannabis extract mentioned in the previous explanation) by himself while using the electronic cigarette.
At present, diacetyl has been completely banned in the United States and the European Union for use in electronic cigarette liquids. Regular electronic cigarette brands will not use diacetyl or tetrahydrocannabinol as an additive component of the e-liquid.
Q4: I heard that some studies have detected that the e-liquid contains formaldehyde?
Truth and details:
First of all, the e-liquid does not contain formaldehyde. Only when the atomizer is used, the heating coil heats up, and with the participation of oxygen, a part of the propanol undergoes a chemical reaction to generate a very small amount of formaldehyde.
How much is the trace amount? First of all, we should know that a small amount of formaldehyde can be quickly metabolized into formic acid in the human body, which is eliminated from the respiratory system and urine. For example, the daily intake of formaldehyde through food by adults is 1.5 to 14 mg, while 0.2mg is taken from daily drinking water, which has no effect on health. According to the TCT general test, the amount of formaldehyde ingested by MOTI’s 100 puffs is 0.00809 mg.
Q5: What is TCT general test? Is it convenient to publish the test report on formaldehyde?
Truth and details:
TCT is a laboratory accredited by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment.
At the beginning of the establishment of the MOTI brand, in a responsible attitude to consumers, MOTI invited TCT to test the French Afnor standard “XPD90-300-1” and “XPD90-300-2″, which are the most recognized internationally. XPD90-300-3”, respectively test the overall test, e-liquid test and atomization smoke of MOTI products, and at the same time, according to CORESTA RECOMMENDED METHOD N°81 and standardization XP D90-300-3, MOTI nicotine transmission stability was tested. At the same time, with reference to CEN (Europe) European product standards and ISO (global) international product standards, a physical examination was performed on MOTI’s vapes.
Test results of the amount of formaldehyde contained
According to the report given by the TCT General Test, the amount of formaldehyde (formaldehyde) ingested by 100 puffs of MOTI products is 8.09 micrograms (ie 0.00809 mg).
Q6: But… there are other test reports saying that a large amount of formaldehyde has been detected?
Truth and details:
This experimental data was first seen in a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine, but the premise is dry burning.
The so-called dry burning refers to the phenomenon that the heating coil continues to heat up after the e-liquid is exhausted when the high-power electronic atomizer is used, causing the machine’s e-liquid tank to burn. But in reality, users can easily distinguish dry burning.
According to the 2016 experimental data of the Greek scientist Konstantinos Farsalinos, when the voltage is below 4.0v, the release of aldehydes is extremely small ⁵, which is also relatively consistent with the test report of MOTI in the TCT test. Generally, the atomizers for changing pods are of low power and voltage, and the formaldehyde hazard of qualified vapes is extremely low.
About the relationship between formaldehyde and voltage
Q7: Will I inhale excessive heavy metals if I use an electronic cigarette?
Truth and details:
TCT has tested 9 heavy metals including aluminum, chromium, iron, and nickel. The conclusion is that no heavy metals have been detected in the vapor of MOTI vapes.
Q8: Why do I sometimes have adverse reactions such as thirsty/cough/dizziness?
Truth and details:
Feeling thirsty:
Because the vape juice of the cartridge contains fruit and vegetable glycerin, it has a certain degree of water absorption. Moreover, moisture will be absorbed during the atomization process, so the mouth feels dry and thirsty. This is normal, so don’t worry, just pay more attention to hydrating.
Feeling coughing:
Because I usually smoke traditional cigarettes, I will cough and have sputum. This is a normal reaction of the human body to inhale the smoke and detoxify the trachea and lungs. Now change to e-cigarettes. You will smoke less or basically no paper cigarettes, but the detox period of your lungs will not end immediately. This depends on the frequency and length of time you smoked traditional cigarettes. There is a transition period. Please keep it, let your body adapt to this transition, and it will gradually improve.
Feeling dizzy:
You may use it too frequently. To control your frequency of use, take a few puffs and stop when you feel relieved. Don’t keep using it continuously. In addition, please pay attention to drinking more water, the body needs a period of adaptation.
Q9: I heard that a drop of nicotine can kill a horse?
Truth and details:
Injecting nicotine is indeed very toxic, but please note that nicotine injection and inhalation of nicotine-containing vapor are not the same things.
Taking 15-20 cigarettes of nicotine and injecting it into a vein can cause death. However, the nicotine absorbed by the lungs only accounts for 3% of the total amount when smoking, and the nicotine will be rapidly degraded after entering the human body and be excreted through sweat, urine, etc. ⁶.
Q10: I heard that nicotine has an adverse effect on the cardiovascular system, but will it also affect brain development?
Truth and details:
As a stimulant, nicotine stimulates the constriction of peripheral blood vessels after entering the human body, resulting in faster heartbeat. It is by no means completely zero health risk. But any kind of stimulant brings the same health risks, such as caffeine. Drinking coffee and tea containing caffeine regularly has no less impact on cardiovascular health than nicotine ⁷.
The effects of nicotine on the brain development of minors, especially the effects on the brain’s functions such as language and memory, are indeed supported by some medical evidence. At the same time, please note that nicotine is an addictive substance, and minors are strictly prohibited from using vaping products.
Reference:
1.Bogden JD, Kemp FW, Buse M; Composition of tobaccos from countries with high and low incidences of lung cancer. I. Selenium, polonium-210, Alternaria, tar, and nicotine. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. January 1981, 66 (1): 27–31. PMID 6935462. doi:10.1093/jnci/66.1.27.
2.https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/vaping-illness-update-fda-warns-public-stop-using-tetrahydrocannabinol-thc-containing-vaping
3.https://www.nbcnews.com/health/vaping/canadian-teen-develops-popcorn-lung-vaping-illness-unlike-u-s-n1087296
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2002). Fixed obstructive lung disease in workers at a microwave popcorn factory (7th ed.).
5.http://www.ecigaretteresearch.org/research/index.php/research/2017/259-aldeh2
6. Benowitz, N. L.; Jacob, P.; Jones, R. T.; Rosenberg, J. Interindividual variability in the metabolism and cardiovascular effects of nicotine in man. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 1982-05, 221 (2): 368–372 [2020-10-05]. ISSN 0022-3565. PMID 7077531
7.Caffeine overdose. MedlinePlus. 2006-04-04[2006-08-14].
