What's in E-liquids and vapeS?
These products contain a lot of harmful ingredients and even produce harmful toxins in their "vapor". Let's take a look. You can use this table of contents to peep the ingredients or just keep scrolling 👀
NICOTINE
HIGH Amounts of Nicotine
JUULs, Phix, Puff Bars, vapes, and electronic cigarettes ALL contain NICOTINE.
Don't let their small size and sleek design "fuul" you! These small pods can hold A LOT of nicotine. This image shows one JUUL pod can have as much nicotine as found in TWO packs of cigarettes!
NOTE: Some products that say they are "nicotine-free" have still been found to contain nicotine!
Nicotine is Addictive
Nicotine is addictive, meaning it can lead people to want to find and use the drug, even when they know there are harmful consequences.
A nicotine addiction is very difficult to break. According to a survey of smokers in 2015, 70% of them said they wanted to quit. And about half of those people said that they have TRIED to quit, but only 7% of them were successful.
This video explains nicotine addiction.
CARCINOGENS AND HEAVY METALS
What is a carcinogen?
kaar·si·nuh·jn
A carcinogen is any substance that promotes the formation of cancer.
Carcinogens that have been found in electronic cigarettes include formaldehyde and acolein. If you've ever disected something in a science lab, "formaldehyde" might sound familiar to you-- it's used for embalming dead things!
And by "Heavy metal" we don't mean the head-banging kind...
Heavy metals like lead, nickel, and manganese have been found in the aerosol (commonly referred to as "vapor") that comes from electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes have metal coils that heat the e-liquid solution. Over time, these coils dissolve and break down, releasing tiny metallic nanoparticles into the solution. Inhaling metallic particles is not good for your lungs or your health
FLAVORS
Over 15,000 FLAVORS, to be more precise
Tobacco companies know that flavors are very appealing and use them to target kids and teenagers. Flavors are not only appealing because of the taste, but because they give teens the ability to consume nicotine without the harsh taste of cigarettes.
Tobacco companies say that they are not marketing to young people with flavored products. If that is true, then why are their products usually named after candy flavors or located near candy items or other places kids and teens visit in the store?
CytoToxic Flavors
Some chemicals used to flavor electronic cigarette are "cytotoxic"
Cyto = cell
Toxic = to poison
This means the chemicals in these flavorings kill cells in your body and organ tissue. Cherry and cinnamon flavors are common and known to have cytotoxic effects.
AEROSOL
Aerosol, not Vapor
Electronic cigarettes, disposables, JUULs, and vapes actually produce an AEROSOL! 💨
That's right! Other aerosols you might be more familiar with are things like hairspray, deodorant, or air fresheners.
The term "vape" is misleading because it makes you think these products produce a harmless water vapor. But that's not true.
What exactly is IN that aerosol?
Volatile Organic Compounds (aka VOCs): These can irritate your eyes, nose and throat; can cause difficulty breathing; nausea (that's when you feel queasy... like you might throw up! 🤢); and damage to your central nervous system (this is your brain and spinal cord).
Nicotine: You know this one! A very addictive drug.
Ultrafine particles: Can irritate asthma and have been found in some cases to trigger heart attacks
???
Here's the deal...
We don't know EVERYTHING that is in these products.
As of right now, these products are NOT regulated by the FDA (that's the Food and Drug Administration). The FDA is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety of medicines, tobacco products, medical devices, cosmetics (like make-up and shampoos), and food and beverage.
Basically, anything that humans consume should be FDA-approved meaning they have been put to the test, can show that they are safe, and do what they say they will do.
And because e-cigarettes are not being regulated, the makers of these products technically don't have to be honest with their customers about what's in them... so they aren't.
Seems pretty shady, right?
The BOTTOM LINE
Don't be a lab rat for Big Tobacco.
Using e-cigarettes, JUULs, vapes, disposables, etc. means you're putting lots of KNOWN cancer-causing chemicals, toxins, and heavy metals in your body.
And that doesn't even count what we DON'T know...