It has lately come to light that vaping may be directly responsible for the severe cases of pneumonia and other lung diseases that have led to the hospitalization of hundreds of people across the country. Investigators have not been successful in determining the root of the problem. However, the following is what is known about the contents that have been discovered inside vaping devices.
The primary constituents
At a bare minimum, the liquids used in electronic cigarettes consist of three primary components: flavors, sweeteners, and solvents. Solvents are substances that are used to dissolve nicotine or compounds produced from marijuana, such as THC or CBD, so that those components can be breathed. Vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol are the types of solvents that are utilized in vapes the majority of the time. (The molecule in marijuana known as THC gummies is what gives users the feeling of being high; another compound known as CBD, or cannabidiol, is also present in marijuana but does not have any psychoactive effects.)
When someone vapes, the visible aerosol, sometimes known as a cloud, is produced by vegetable glycerin. It is produced using oil derived from vegetables. Propylene glycol is a clear liquid that has a somewhat syrupy consistency. It has almost no smell and is colorless and odorless as well.
Sucralose and ethyl maltol are two examples of sweeteners. The flavors of e-liquid are diverse and can be described using phrases similar to those used in wine tastings, such as “notes of vanilla” or “berries and herbal notes.”
The Food and Drug Administration has determined that all of these components, including the solvents, sweeteners, and flavors, meet the criteria for being “generally recognized as safe.” However, this classification is only applicable when the aforementioned substances are taken in the form of food. When the components are heated into an aerosol, they take on new qualities; yet, very little is known about the effects that these compounds have on the human body when they are breathed in.
According to a number of studies, inhaling aerosolized propylene glycol may lead to the development of asthma. In addition, a case study from 2012 examined a female patient who, after vaping for around six months, developed a syndrome known as exogenous lipoid pneumonia. the illness began to improve when she gave up vaping, which the doctors attributed to the elimination of the oil-based solvents contained in the e-cigarette.
According to a study that was published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, it was discovered that heating sucralose to temperatures that are normally encountered in e-cigarettes causes the substance to degrade and generate chemicals that are carcinogenic.
A study that was published in the journal Tobacco Control discovered that when heated, the flavors themselves, such as cinnamon, can become harmful.
When vanillin, which is an extract from the vanilla bean, is aerosolized, it undergoes a transformation into a class of compounds known as acetals, according to the findings of a recent study that was conducted at Yale University. When these compounds are breathed in, according to the researchers, they may be particularly irritating to the lungs and cause tissue damage.
Nicotine, THC, and CBD respectively
Nicotine, which is found in normal cigarettes and has a high potential for addiction, can have an effect on the brains of adolescents, who are still in the process of developing. Although it is not known to be carcinogenic by itself, certain research conducted in laboratories has revealed that nicotine may stimulate the growth of tumors.
And according to the American Heart Association, nicotine can lead to an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and the constriction of the arteries, as well as an increase in the chance of having a heart attack.
The cannabinoid known as CBD has been promoted to consumers as a possible treatment for a wide range of health conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Nevertheless, the vast majority of such assertions have not been verified. There have been a few studies done on CBD, but they were not major clinical trials of the type that are required to prove that a chemical is either safe or effective.
Even less is understood about the effects of inhaling THC through vaporization. However, THC vapes have been linked to a significant number of the respiratory diseases that have been recorded recently around the country, and officials in charge of public health have encouraged customers to steer clear of these products.
Metals
Heating the e-liquid with metal coils results in the production of an aerosol by electronic cigarettes. These metal coils can be made of a variety of materials, such as the alloy known as kanthal, which is comprised of iron, chromium, and aluminum; nickel and chromium; or a mixture of these three elements.
These metals leach into the aerosol produced by vaping at dangerously high amounts, according to research from Johns Hopkins University that was published in 2018. “Our findings indicate that e-cigarettes are a potential source of exposure to toxic metals (chromium, nickel, and lead), as well as to metals that are toxic when inhaled (manganese, and zinc).”
What is not known
It is unknown whether another form of harmful chemical or pesticide has been smuggled into the supply of e-liquids, but there is a possibility that it has. When e-liquids are heated, it is unknown whether this results in the creation of additional substances that have not yet been described. In addition, there is a growing level of concern that toxins in phony or illicit vapes could be the cause of the ailments.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now conducting tests on approximately 80 product samples that were provided by patients who experienced respiratory diseases as a result of vaping; however, the agency has not yet made the results of these studies public. According to the government, even if a single product or ingredient has not been found in all of the cases, a significant number of patients have reported vaping THC in addition to other compounds derived from cannabis.
