The use of portable electronic devices, referred to as “vape pens”, have become increasingly popular among patients of medical marijuana and other users. Studies show that more and more people are using it because it provides them a discreet, convenient, and benign means to administer marijuana. It has been generally presumed that vaping is a method healthier compared to inhaling cannabis smoke. Since the vaporizer only heats the cannabis oil concentrate without burning it, you can inhale the active ingredients with the absence of smoke. Despite this assumed convenience, some research and studies disclose the possible dangers and downside of using a vape pen.
Basically, vape pens are produced, marketed, and used without undergoing regulatory controls. Available in medical marijuana dispensaries and online market, vape pens are battery-operated that can convert vape oil additives and various agents into dangerous toxins at high temperatures.
Hidden Dangers of Thinning Agents Found in Vape Pens
A majority of e-cigarette devices contain thinning agents including propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. Intrinsically, both compounds can bring adverse effects when inhaled and heated. Scientists have gathered a lot of information about propylene glycol. It has been discovered in a plethora of usual household items. This includes cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, pet food, baby wipes, etc. Moreover, the propylene glycol can transform into tiny polymers which can cause harm to your lung tissue when encountered at high temperature. While the United States FDA and Health Canada have considered propylene glycol safe to ingest, they do not yet entail whether it’s safe to inhale or not. There are things that can be safe to consume but harmful to breathe. Neither of the compounds has received a safety test or inspection and certification from the FDA for inhaling it when heated. Vape pen users should carefully examine cannabis product labels.
Potential Effects of Toxic Agents
According to the 2010 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health study, airborne propylene glycol can worsen or induce eczema, asthma, and more allergic symptoms. It was also found in the study that children tend to be sensitive to these airborne substances. Recent toxicology review reports that propylene glycol in hair sprays could be damaging and harmful when inhaled. This is because those aerosol particles that enter deep into your lungs are not respirable.
Ending Note
The bottom line is that there is yet no scientific and actual data regarding the health hazards of vape pens. Just like the case of cigarettes, it will probably take decades to fully present the long-term effects that vaping will bring on our bodies. While many of those aforementioned substances like propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol were considered safe by the FDA, it simply hasn’t yet been examined in terms of direct inhalation. To put it straightly, scientists do not yet completely know the health concerns that vape pens may cause or bring. Several challenges have been met as they try to obtain relevant data. Eventually, no one has yet determined how much vapor a user breathes in with the vape pen. We can expect to pick up more findings as more research studies are made as regards the matter.