Which e-liquids are the safest?
First and foremost, it’s crucial to acknowledge that vaping is inherently less hazardous than smoking. Since 2015, the British Department of Health has asserted that electronic cigarettes are “at least 95% less harmful” than traditional smoking. Despite this, there are additional measures you can take to enhance your safety. Opt for e-liquids featuring a single flavor, and if you’re creating your own, consider minimizing the use of additives. Regularly changing your coil is another prudent practice. Additionally, selecting e-liquids produced in France is advisable, as they adhere to AFNOR standards, providing an extra layer of safety assurance.
Congratulations on the Health-Conscious Decision!
Have you recently transitioned to e-cigarettes or are contemplating leaving tobacco cigarettes behind? Congratulations on making a health-conscious decision! By doing so, you can potentially reduce the associated risks of tobacco use by up to 95%, as suggested by the UK Department of Health. To maximize these health benefits, it’s essential to use your e-cigarette correctly and opt for e-liquids manufactured in accordance with professional standards. Here are some recommendations to guide you in making the right choices.
Risk Decreases with Lower Flavor Content
While the composition of e-liquids for e-cigarettes is generally well-understood and regulated by manufacturers globally, uncertainties persist concerning the flavors used in formulations.
The Maillard Reaction
Understanding the Maillard reaction is crucial to comprehend aspects related to e-liquid composition. This reaction, occurring at temperatures between 0 and 150°C, involves the interaction between amino acids and sugars in foods (or e-liquids) and results in complex chemical processes that may lead to the formation of aldehydes or furans.
This Maillard reaction becomes visually apparent when a resistance coil is clogged, for example. While it enhances the flavors of cooked foods, the experience can differ significantly in vaping. The term “gunk coil,” referring to a caramelized resistance coil, illustrates this well-known phenomenon among vapers, often prompting them to replace their coils.
Flavor-Related Issues in E-Liquids
Very sweet or gourmet e-liquids, as well as those mimicking tobacco flavor, are known to quickly foul resistance coils. Additives or flavor enhancers present in some manufactured e-liquids could intensify this Maillard reaction, complicating the overall e-liquid composition.
While the field of “vapology” is still evolving with uncertainties, individuals can take these flavor-related issues in e-liquids into consideration for a potentially safer vaping experience. Although the following advice is informal and not a substitute for professional opinion, it offers some basic principles:
Precautionary Principles for Choosing Your E-Liquid
General Precautionary Principles
- Avoid vaping with a defective e-cigarette e-liquid supply to prevent a “dry hit.”
- Adhere to manufacturer-specified settings for configurable devices (Mod) and adjust resistance values accordingly.
- Consider increasing nicotine content to vape less, rather than reducing it and compensating with increased e-liquid consumption.
- Opt for vaping over alternating between tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes, or ideally, refrain from smoking or vaping altogether.
- Exercise caution with Direct-To-Lung (DTL) inhalation or cloud chasing, as they entail heavy e-liquid consumption.
Precautionary Principles Specific to E-Liquids
- Choose e-liquids from companies with highly qualified in-house staff, including engineers, chemists, and flavorists.
- Consider adhering to manufacturing standards, such as the reputable French Afnor standard, for enhanced safety assurance.
- Acknowledge that higher flavor content in e-liquids increases the likelihood of chemical reactions at elevated temperatures.
- Recognize that sweet e-liquids may expedite resistance coil caramelization and potentially contribute to volatile organic compound production.
- Change resistance coils regularly, especially if using e-liquids with changing flavors.
- Prefer simple (single flavor) e-liquids over complex ones.
- If engaging in DIY e-liquid creation, strive to minimize flavor and additive concentrations.
Ultimately, the right e-liquid, regardless of its composition, is one that assists in distancing oneself from tobacco cigarettes.
