As vaping continues to grow in popularity, the number of misleading or uninformed claims made by the media and anti-vaping figures also continues to grow. Many of these claims are based on fact but are presented in such a way that they are applied to vaping as a whole rather than a few specific cases.
Here we explain 5 common vaping myths.
Vaping can cause popcorn lung
Popcorn lung is the nickname given to a lung condition called Bronchiolitis Obliterans. People with this condition develop a cough and shortness of breath. One of the chemicals that can cause popcorn lung is diacetyl, a flavouring that gives products a buttery flavour.
Bronchiolitis Obliterans was given the nickname popcorn lung when it was discovered that workers in popcorn factories developed the condition more often than any other type of worker, leading to many food companies removing it as an ingredient in their products.
In the early days of vaping, some e-liquids contained diacetyl, however, in 2016 under the Tobacco Product Directive (TPD), it was banned from all e-liquids in Europe.
As diacetyl needs to be inhaled in excessive quantities, it is unlikely that anyone would develop popcorn lung from regular use of vaping products. In fact, there is a list of other chemicals that can cause popcorn lung which are found in cigarettes including acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, ammonia, and chlorine, meaning that smokers likely have a higher chance of developing the condition.
E-liquid contains antifreeze
Since the early days of vaping, this is a myth that has been touted as an argument against e-cigarette use. In fact, e-liquid doesn't contain antifreeze, it contains an ingredient found in many products where manufacturers want to maintain moisture, especially at lower temperatures - propylene glycol.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic food additive containing two alcohol compounds. It is a clear, odourless liquid with a thicker consistency and a slightly sweet flavour. Propylene Glycol is classified GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the FDA and is authorised for use as a food additive.
Propylene Glycol is used in many everyday products including foods and beverages such as coffee-based drinks, sweeteners, ice cream, and fizzy drinks. It is also used in many cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Due to its thicker consistency, when mixed with water at a 40:60 ratio, it reduces the freezing point to −50 °F, making it suitable for use in environmentally friendly commercial antifreeze products.
E-Cigarettes are dangerous and can explode
Over the years, there have been a few incidents reported of vaping devices either catching fire or exploding but these are usually linked to human error or inappropriate use.
Some of the ways vapers use devices that can lead to dangerous situations are:
- Incorrect handling of batteries for example keeping them in your pocket with coins and other metal objects that can create a circuit. For more information regarding battery care, visit our blog How to Store & Use Your Batteries Safely.
- Using equipment that isn't meant for use with vaping devices e.g. mobile phone chargers. This equipment may not be compatible with the power levels of modern vaping products.
- Leaving vaping devices and accessories to charge unattended for long periods. As with any electrical equipment, overcharging can be dangerous.
- Using unregulated or cloned products. You should always ensure you're purchasing products from a retailer that sells genuine products that have been safety checked.
- Using higher-powered and rebuildable devices without sufficient understanding of how they work. If you are unsure, it's best to stick with a lower-powered, standard device.
Modern vaping devices include a host of safety features including overcharge protection, short circuit protection, over-current protection, and overheating protection, so issues such as these remain rare.
Vaping doesn’t help you quit smoking
Vaping is an excellent way to reduce your nicotine intake whilst avoiding the thousands of chemicals found in cigarettes. Many people choose to continue vaping as an alternative to smoking, however a UK clinical trial published in 2019 found that when combined with face-to-face-support, e-cigarette users were twice as likely to succeed than people using other methods.
Although electronic cigarettes are not currently supplied by the NHS, their website does contain positive information regarding using e-cigarettes to stop smoking.
For support to reduce your nicotine intake, the NHS Better Health initiative can put you in touch with local support.
Vaping companies target children and teenagers
Due to the wide range of sweet flavours, the media, governments, and anti-vaping figures state that vaping companies are targeting children and teenagers with their products. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
The Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015 made it illegal to sell products to under 18's. This comes after years of many retailers self-regulating.
In addition, many e-liquid manufacturers are campaigning and educating against the use of their products by under 18's. Naked 100 for example have started their #No2Minors campaign to fight against underage vaping and prevent youth access to vaping products.
Still unsure about vaping?
We hope that you found the above information helpful but if you have any additional questions regarding vaping products, please let us know.
If you're ready to start vaping, browse our website for the best vaping supplies, all available to purchase online for fast UK delivery.