Vaping is less carcinogenic than smoking by a significant degree but it is carcinogenic
Acrolein, a carcinogen, forms in small amounts from the breakdown of glycerin during heating
If a “dry hit” occurs the effect is worsened, acrolein forms in higher amounts, and formaldehyde (another carcinogen) can occur from the breakdown of both glycerin and propylene glycol
Vaping still leads to inflammation and oxidative stress in the lungs and long term use will almost certainly lead to irreversible damage
Harm reduction is important. Vaping is likely better than smoking but it is not yet clear whether that is the case. It is likely the case based on short term anecdotal data from people who have switched but this does not mean that long term use won’t create more severe lung issues over a period of 20-30 years. We don’t know.
In the meantime for further harm reduction to reduce risk you can vape with low temperatures as this mitigates much of the carcinogen risk, you can use reusable devices and frequently change coils and ensure the coil is saturated, and you can use a liquid that is free of flavorings as these present much of the “unknown” variables.
Or you can work to quit. It is challenging. I smoked and vaped, I know it is tremendously hard. But frankly these companies don’t deserve your money. They’re all fucking scumbags
Well said. I smoked a pack a day for 17 years and finally quit a little over a year ago. Lots of people around me quit around the same time but just ended up exchanging the habit for something else like vaping, chewing, or the new fad: nicotine pouches. It made me feel even better to be entirely nicotine free.
For anyone curious, I used nicotine gum from Costco for the first 2 months to help. It tastes like shit and is not enjoyable at all, but I don’t know if I could have done it without.
I think consciously choosing unpleasant methods to get nicotine helped me quit, or at least made quitting a little easier. I understand if you’re making that choice you’re probably well on your way to quitting anyways, but for me it was a good reminder of the goal.
To clarify things from my post: I didn’t even touch upon the environmental harm from vaping. If you use disposable vapes you’re kind of a shithead that is wasting a ton of lithium, that is mined by literal slaves, for your 2 day smoking device that you’ll probably not recycle properly. People recycle these batteries to power e bikes and literal homes. Vape shops with racks of these plastic boxes filled with single use 18650 (or similar high discharge) batteries are an environmental disaster
Nicotine pouches and gum lower the lung risk but are another space where long term risk is unknown.
They do irritate the gums and raise the risk of gum disease
Nicotine in general, gum or pouch, negatively impacts brain development and strains the cardiovascular system.
The acidity from the pouches still irritates the airway and oral mucosa and the constant increase of mucus production can lead to chronic bronchitis
The vasoconstriction effect of nicotine means that there is still potential lung involvement due to decreased blood flow even though it is not inhaled
Nicotine in low doses has some effects similar to adderall or methylphenidate but unlike those medications it tends to increase blood pressure and on long timelines create cardiovascular problems even in low doses. additionally it’s far more addictive (though tbf this is possibly/probably due to ease of access) and most users tend to use a fairly substantial amount, 20-40mg for a pack a day smoker, 35mg for someone who burns through a 5% juul pod in a day, etc
The gum is typically used short term and is actually marketed as a cessation device so that’s one thing but the pouches are huge now as you’ve said. It’s somewhat telling that for a minute they were big with the right wing grifter crowd
Vaping is less carcinogenic than smoking by a significant degree but it is carcinogenic
Acrolein, a carcinogen, forms in small amounts from the breakdown of glycerin during heating
If a “dry hit” occurs the effect is worsened, acrolein forms in higher amounts, and formaldehyde (another carcinogen) can occur from the breakdown of both glycerin and propylene glycol
Vaping still leads to inflammation and oxidative stress in the lungs and long term use will almost certainly lead to irreversible damage
Harm reduction is important. Vaping is likely better than smoking but it is not yet clear whether that is the case. It is likely the case based on short term anecdotal data from people who have switched but this does not mean that long term use won’t create more severe lung issues over a period of 20-30 years. We don’t know.
In the meantime for further harm reduction to reduce risk you can vape with low temperatures as this mitigates much of the carcinogen risk, you can use reusable devices and frequently change coils and ensure the coil is saturated, and you can use a liquid that is free of flavorings as these present much of the “unknown” variables.
Or you can work to quit. It is challenging. I smoked and vaped, I know it is tremendously hard. But frankly these companies don’t deserve your money. They’re all fucking scumbags
Woah. This person just straight-up scienced them!
Well said. I smoked a pack a day for 17 years and finally quit a little over a year ago. Lots of people around me quit around the same time but just ended up exchanging the habit for something else like vaping, chewing, or the new fad: nicotine pouches. It made me feel even better to be entirely nicotine free.
For anyone curious, I used nicotine gum from Costco for the first 2 months to help. It tastes like shit and is not enjoyable at all, but I don’t know if I could have done it without.
I think consciously choosing unpleasant methods to get nicotine helped me quit, or at least made quitting a little easier. I understand if you’re making that choice you’re probably well on your way to quitting anyways, but for me it was a good reminder of the goal.
Congrats on quitting. Shit is super hard
To clarify things from my post: I didn’t even touch upon the environmental harm from vaping. If you use disposable vapes you’re kind of a shithead that is wasting a ton of lithium, that is mined by literal slaves, for your 2 day smoking device that you’ll probably not recycle properly. People recycle these batteries to power e bikes and literal homes. Vape shops with racks of these plastic boxes filled with single use 18650 (or similar high discharge) batteries are an environmental disaster
Nicotine pouches and gum lower the lung risk but are another space where long term risk is unknown.
They do irritate the gums and raise the risk of gum disease
Nicotine in general, gum or pouch, negatively impacts brain development and strains the cardiovascular system.
The acidity from the pouches still irritates the airway and oral mucosa and the constant increase of mucus production can lead to chronic bronchitis
The vasoconstriction effect of nicotine means that there is still potential lung involvement due to decreased blood flow even though it is not inhaled
Nicotine in low doses has some effects similar to adderall or methylphenidate but unlike those medications it tends to increase blood pressure and on long timelines create cardiovascular problems even in low doses. additionally it’s far more addictive (though tbf this is possibly/probably due to ease of access) and most users tend to use a fairly substantial amount, 20-40mg for a pack a day smoker, 35mg for someone who burns through a 5% juul pod in a day, etc
The gum is typically used short term and is actually marketed as a cessation device so that’s one thing but the pouches are huge now as you’ve said. It’s somewhat telling that for a minute they were big with the right wing grifter crowd