The subject of vapes came up the other day and then I just saw this cartoon so serendipity led me to pop this together:
VAPING IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU...
No big surprise there I'm sure.
Apart from the generally bad idea of sending any heated chemicals directly into your lungs whether as molecules transported by vapour or as powder form which are likely to cause direct damage to the lungs themselves (to the extent of killing you directly), there are plenty of harmful chemicals in these things which aren't going to do you any good at all.
It seems there's an unofficial market for modified devices and the liquids so you can get 'extras' like THC in them. Some of the chemicals used are harmful (such as the misleadingly positive sounding vitamin E acetate which is a petrochemical sourced substance which should only be used in the case of a medically managed deficiency - even then you're better off with the natural forms and without exceeding the safe dose). And of course, being unregulated means you've no clue what's actually in there.
Then in the normal off-the-shelf products you have Diacetyl which is used to enhance a buttery type taste to flavoured liquids. This gives you Popcorn Lung which is basically a load of scarring damage to the inside of the lungs which makes breathing difficult and raspy. This is not curable - once you've done it you can only get some superficial relief from the symptoms but you're stuck with it.
The amount of Diacetyl needed to exceed the safe limits are present in the second hand vapour from just being near to a vape user. So vapes containing this (and other chemicals) are harming those around you - if you think it's the responsible alternative to smoking cigarettes then think again.
Oh, and then there's nicotine. Microdosing nicotine is a biohack which can boost your brain function. That's the only positive use of it I'm aware of. And when I say 'microdosing' I'm talking about the really small amounts obtained from gum or lozenges and not the amounts from smoking or vaping. Nicotine in cigarette use levels causes a rise in blood pressure which can then lead to heart attacks. Vaping can give you much doses than cigarettes.
I nearly forgot to mention this last item - these gadgets contain lithium-ion batteries which have been known to catch fire or explode. The same problems that have led to electric cars catching fire are also true of the device you're sticking in your mouth.
The Short Version
- CIGARETTES LEAD TO DISEASES WHICH CAN KILL YOU, VAPING WILL DO THE SAME WITH THE ADDED BONUS OF BEING ABLE TO KILL YOU DIRECTLY AS WELL.
- IT IS NOT SAFE FOR THOSE AROUND YOU SO VAPING NEAR OTHER PEOPLE IS STILL IRRESPONSIBLE.
- IT'S STILL A METHOD OF TAKING ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES SO THEY'RE NOT A WAY TO HELP STOP SMOKING.
- AND NO, THEY DON'T MAKE YOU LOOK COOL.
- THEY CAN CATCH FIRE OR EXPLODE.