Is e-Liquid safe?

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Non-vapers might regard the thought of ‘e-liquid’ with suspicion. A number of troublesome questions arise: What is it and how is it made? How long does the process take, and where is it made? What safety measures are in place?

E-liquid, e-juice, juice, whatever the terminology they all mean much the same thing; a chemical comprised of common elements, blended and then burned in an electronic device which creates a vapour, and therefore acts as a substitute for smoking. In that there is little or no tobacco or smoke, one would instantly assume that e-smoking is safer for you – and the wider world – than a nicotine and tar laden ‘cancer stick’.

Let’s not be hasty. For one, the long-term effects of e-liquid are unknown, simply because the process of vaping hasn’t been around for long enough in the mainstream (although interestingly Herbert A Gilbert conceived the idea back in the 1960s at a time when no manufacturer could see its merit).

For another, the illegal, contraband e-liquid market produces brews that can and do contain toxic chemicals. Your normal e-liquid usually consists of four primary components; propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), flavourings and nicotine.

PG is used to dilute the liquid. It has a very low toxic level and is used in many foods and medicines. VG is a completely harmless organic compound which, again, is added to some foods. More than 99% is actually vegetable oil, with the remainder being water. Food flavourings may be natural or artificial, but are certainly harmless. Nicotine, meanwhile, is known for its addictive qualities, but is not dangerous in itself unless ingested by pregnant women.

So creating an e-liquid is a simple process using widely available ingredients, but to cut costs or create new sensations back-street chemists are using substitutes such as ethylene glycol (EG); the fact that this is used in antifreeze should be enough to set off alarm bells. EG breaks down into toxic components when ingested by the body, and is lethal.

Worryingly, some of these scourge chemicals have even made their way into the mainstream. A BBC investigation in Newcastle scoured the market to discover evidence of diacetyl in a store in the Metrocentre, one of the city’s most well-known shopping spots. Diacetyl as a flavouring is fine, but can be deadly when inhaled.

Meanwhile producers such as EL-Science are stringently blending scientific rigour, knowledge and a little imagination for the flavours, to create vaping systems that are fully regulated. The trick is to use and support such producers over less scrupulous alternatives.

The question of whether e-liquid is safe is clouded, if you will, by horror stories such as this piece reported in Seattle, in which a 22-month old girl was rushed to hospital after ingesting. The doctor quoted in the piece reported a call volume increase of more than 700% as exposure to e-liquid has increased. One might wonder whether it’s a fair statistical comparison because e-liquids are rapidly increasing in popularity – but it remains a cause for concern for parents.

Until more is known about the process, and the long-term health impact of taking these chemicals into the body, the jury is still out. It’s now the job of science to take over and offer certainty and assurance where there currently is none.

Jessica Foreman