Debunking Myths About Vaping

You’ve heard the phrase “new year, new me” a lot when you browse social media, or maybe your friends may be talking about it. Whether you’re going to the gym, eating healthier, being a better person, or trying to improve yourself in general, it’s an endless process that doesn’t necessarily have an end date (or even a set start date, although for convenience, people usually choose the new year).

One of those New Year’s resolutions could include switching to vaping, and the eLiquid.com team understands that maybe someone would want to switch to vaping as a method of harm reduction. We’ll be answering some common questions that pertain to vaping. (If you already vape, then you can take action against proposed flavored bans or other restrictive regulations.)

Vaping: does it cause lung injuries?

This is the million-dollar question that every person who hears about vaping asks: is it actually causing lung injuries? If you want the short answer, the answer is probably not. As long as you’re buying from reputable sellers and vendors, namely eLiquid.com, you can be confident that the products sold on eLiquid.com are not connected to any lung injuries. This has been confirmed by the relevant agencies investigating vaping such as the FDA. The media and politicians have tried to create a narrative linking vaping to respiratory illness. This is mostly untrue, as many of those who have reported respiratory illness were vaping illegal THC cartridges that contained an ingredient called vitamin E acetate.

We would like to stress that eLiquid.com and other reputable sellers do NOT sell products that contain THC or vitamin E acetate. We strongly encourage you to make purchases from reputable sellers and vendors such as eLiquid.com to ensure the safety and quality of your vape products.

Popcorn lung: what is it, exactly?

Bronchiolitis obliterans is commonly known as popcorn lung and damages small airways in your lungs. This can induce coughing or leave you short of breath. Various medical authorities have different opinions on the topic. Some have linked popcorn lung with vaping, while others say that there is no correlation between popcorn lung and vaping. In the grand scheme of things, there is no absolute and definitive evidence that vaping can cause popcorn lung.

Vape batteries: will they explode in my face?

We’ll admit that one of the members of the eLiquid.com team actually had some fears about vape devices randomly exploding when they first joined the eLiquid.com team. Thankfully, vape batteries and devices randomly exploding is no longer the case due to advances in technology throughout the last decade. It is actually very rare nowadays for a vape battery to explode. Exploding vape batteries usually arise from user error, improper vape setups, or using vape devices while they are being charged.

Secondhand vaping: as dangerous as secondhand smoke?

Secondhand vaping is NOT as dangerous as secondhand smoke. Here is a list of comparisons between traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes. There are typically four main ingredients in eLiquids: vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), nicotine, and flavorings. Some brands include distilled water for the fifth ingredient in some cases. VG produces vapor in your favorite eLiquids, while PG is considered safe for consumption according to the FDA. While nicotine is a common ingredient of both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes, it is not a known carcinogen. Flavorings are added to e-cigarettes to give it some taste.

On the other hand, cigarettes have over 7000+ ingredients. Some are extremely dangerous on their own: formaldehyde, arsenic, cyanide, lead, carbon monoxide, and even some insecticides. They are also found in some household products. These ingredients aren’t something you’d want to be inhaling or ingesting in the first place!

Banning e-cigarettes: will they go away forever?

The idea of a complete ban on (insert product here) has been tried and tested throughout the ages. E-cigarettes are no different. Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933 in the United States and led to increased crime, including the rise of Al Capone as one of the most famous criminals in history. A ban on e-cigarettes will not make them go away forever, in fact, it just drives the market further and further underground, leading to more instances of illicit THC products containing vitamin E acetate as previously mentioned.

Aside from alcohol and the current proposals to ban flavors, there have been proposals to ban or severely limit the presence of firearms, violent video games, explicit music, and even plastic straws. Even niche items such as lawn darts have not escaped bans. While they have been banned from being sold in the United States and Canada since 1988, it is a case study on what happens when something is not well understood and our elected officials may need more knowledge on before enacting legislation or regulation. You can still find many of these items today.

That aside, the premise of forcing something underground through outright bans could create a larger black market and the even bigger likelihood of unregulated and untested products to permeate society. This has been tried and tested throughout history, and could not only create a black market loaded with untested and unverified products, but could also cause a public health crisis for individuals who are switching to vaping as a method of harm reduction.

What are some vaping myths you’ve heard lately? Want to share them with us? Comment below and tell us what you’ve heard—we’re willing to learn something new!