Wondering if propylene glycol in your vape juice is safe?
Quick answer:
High-quality vapes with propylene glycol (PG) are usually safe and non-toxic as long as they are free from nicotine and other harmful additives.
Nicotine and chemicals like diacetyl and vitamin E acetate in low-quality vapes and electronic cigarettes can cause serious health issues, like damage to gum tissue and lung disease.
Let’s uncover what vaping propylene glycol entails and explore two safe vape options, along with other FAQs around the subject.
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This Article Contains
- What is Propylene Glycol and Why is it Used in Vape Juice?
- How PG/VG Ratio Affects Your Vaping Experience
- Is Propylene Glycol Safe to Vape?
- Nicotine-Free Vapes: Your Gateway to Safe Vaping!
- Other FAQs About Vaping Propylene Glycol
What Is Propylene Glycol and Why Is it Used in Vape Juice?
PG is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid widely used as an additive in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.
It has a mildly sweet flavor and is sought-after for its ability to retain moisture in products.
The question is:
Why is propylene glycol used in vape juice and e liquid?
PG, mixed with vegetable glycerine (or vegetable glycerin), forms the base of vaping liquids used by an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), like a disposable vape or an electronic cigarette.
These two ingredients help vaporize nicotine and flavoring in the vape juice or electronic cigarette liquid.
The e liquid vapors mimic tobacco cigarette smoke without actually burning any tobacco.
Now, vape juice manufacturers may use PG and VG in varying ratios to create different experiences.
A propylene glycol vape:
- Gives a distinct throat hit while vaping.
- Creates a smooth and intense flavor experience.
- Produces fewer vapour clouds than vegetable glycerin and helps mimic the feeling of smoking a tobacco cigarette.
Conversely, this is what you can expect from a high VG e liquid:
- A smoother throat hit
- Higher vapor production
- Mildly sweet flavour
The bottom line?
The ratio of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine in vape juice should be a key consideration when buying a vaping device.
Let's explore how the ratio of these ingredients can shape your vaping experience.
How PG/VG Ratio Affects Your Vaping Experience
What's the perfect PG/VG ratio for your vape juice?
The answer depends on your personal vaping preferences.
To give you an idea, here are some PG/VG ratios commonly used for e-liquids:
- Max PG (100% PG) or 90% PG / 10% VG: This ratio is ideal for strong flavors and throat hits. It’s also a popular choice for smokers looking to quit smoking.
- 70% PG / 30% VG: This blend is perfect if you crave rich flavour, good vapor clouds, and an exceptionally satisfying throat hit.
- 50% PG / 50% VG: With an even balance of PG and VG, this ratio offers a well-rounded vaping experience, commonly preferred by new vape pen users. You’ll find this balanced PG/VG ratio in most nicotine salt e liquids.
- 70% VG / 30% PG: Among the most popular, this high VG blend offers a fusion of dense vape clouds and delightful flavors, making it the ultimate choice for cloud chasers or sub-ohm vapers.
- 80% VG / 20% PG: This high VG e liquid ratio delivers a smooth vaping experience with a mild throat hit.
- Max VG or 100% VG: Tailor-made for cloud chasers and high-powered devices, this max VG ratio produces thick, voluminous vapor clouds.
Another important factor to consider is the viscosity of the liquid. PG is thinner than VG, so using a PG-dominant e-liquid reduces gunk buildup in the vape coil. This means fewer coil replacements and lower maintenance costs.
Is Propylene Glycol Safe to Vape?
Here’s the deal:
There’s limited research on the long-term effects of vaping PG through an electronic nicotine delivery system. However, most studies and clinical trials indicate it’s safe for humans.
Most notably, the US Food and Drug Association (FDA) deems propylene glycol safe for use in food.
Moreover, while e-cigarettes and vapes are relatively new products, PG has long been used to:
- Sweeten food products (think: your favorite tub of ice cream!)
- Solubilize oral, topical, and injectable medicines.
- Increase moisturizing benefits of personal hygiene products, like creams and lotions.
Fun fact: Small amounts of propylene glycol are also used in conventional cigarettes to keep the tobacco moist and to prevent the cigarette from drying out.
What the studies say:
In a 2008 clinical trial, scientists studied the effects of PG inhalation on rats and dogs over three months. They concluded that PG inhalation had negligible impact on the subject’s lung tissue.
Further animal studies on epithelial cells proved that inhaling PG vapour in normal quantities is safe.
So, what are the safe levels of PG for humans?
As per a 2017 study, PG reaches toxic levels in the human body at a blood plasma concentration of over 3 grams.
The amount of PG inhaled via regular e cigarette use is 0.3-0.4 grams daily.
Meaning?
Even with very heavy vaping or e cigarette use, it’s hard to inhale PG in quantities that could cause toxicity.
While PG is generally safe for human consumption, it may cause potential side effects in some people.
Potential Side Effects of Propylene Glycol
Here are some possible side effects of PG:
- Airway and lung inflammation
- Dry mouth and throat irritation
- Worsen existing cases of asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Allergies
- Lactic acidosis in children
- Oral health damage (gum disease, weakening of teeth)
Note: These effects are uncommon and are associated with prolonged use or very high doses.
Now, you may be wondering:
If PG is safe to inhale, what in vape juice and electronic cigarette liquid makes them dangerous?
The two biggest culprits: Nicotine and other harmful additives like ethylene glycol and vitamin E acetate.
Like traditional cigarette smoking, vaping nicotine increases the risk of various health concerns. These include EVALI (E Cigarette and Vaping-Associated Lung Injury) and long-term damage to the lung tissue.
Similarly, flavoring agents like diacetyl could cause airway damage and lead to conditions like ‘popcorn lung.’
Does that mean you should quit vaping altogether?
Nope, we have a better idea!
Did you know? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lung injury cases are more prevalent with the exclusive use of THC (a cannabis compound) in vape liquid than nicotine.
Nicotine-Free Vapes: Your Gateway to Safe Vaping
A nicotine-free vaping device is the safest way to enjoy vaping without jeopardizing your health.
But you must be careful when picking a 0% nicotine vaping device or electronic cigarette.
Why?
Low-quality nicotine-free vape liquid often contains chemicals and additives you’d want to avoid.
Only opt for a reliable brand like Cyclone Pods for a smooth and safe vaping experience.
Cyclone Pods is a California-based company that specializes in nicotine-free vaping products. Their health-focused vaping liquids are made from the finest quality ingredients.
Cyclone Pods’ vaping products are:
- Nicotine and tobacco free
- Completely non-addictive
- Free from dangerous substances like vitamin E acetate and ethylene glycol
- Available in many mouth-watering flavor options
Cyclone Pods vapes are ideal for:
- Traditional cigarettes and electronic cigarette users looking to quit nicotine or reduce their intake.
- Non-smokers looking for a safe vaping experience.
Moreover, with Cyclone Pods’ vapes, you’re not risking the health of people around you as with harmful tobacco smoke or e cigarette vapour.
Here are some of Cyclone Pods’ best-selling products:
1. Thunder Starter Kit ($22)
The Nicotine Free Thunder Starter Kit is perfect for kickstarting your nicotine-free vaping journey!
It comes with the:
- Thunder Device (which can also be purchased separately)
- USB to micro USB charging cable
- One flavored pod
Cyclone Pods offers the starter kit in various other delicious vape juice flavors, including tobacco, strawberry, mango, coffee, and mint.
2. Surge
If you want an environmentally-friendly option, consider exploring the latest Surge Collection.
What makes the Surge vape device unique?
This vape pen stands out with its rechargeable battery, bidding farewell to e-waste concerns. But that’s not all — its pod is designed to deliver over 6000 puffs, making it an exceptional choice for long-lasting satisfaction.
Did you know? While electronic cigarettes and nicotine vapes are popular ways to quit smoking a tobacco cigarette, the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved them as a smoking cessation tool.
Other FAQs About Vaping Propylene Glycol
Here are a few other things you need to know about vaping propylene glycol:
1. Can Propylene Glycol Cause an Allergic Reaction?
Yes, PG may cause an allergic reaction in some people – however, a PG allergy is pretty uncommon, especially when used in small amounts.
Here are a few common symptoms of a PG allergy:
- Skin irritation or inflammation (contact allergy)
- Dry mouth and a cough
- Throat irritation
- Headache
2. Can Propylene Glycol Interact with Other Substances?
At high temperatures (between 300°C-400°C), propylene glycol can become a harmful substance called formaldehyde.
The good news?
Most pod-based vaping systems are safe because they don't reach these high temperatures.
3. Are Bystanders at Risk of Propylene Glycol Inhalation?
No, bystanders are not likely to be at risk of PG inhalation caused by e cigarette vapour.
A 2012 study found that PG was almost undetectable in the air an hour after sampling. Some other studies detected varying levels of PG (0.1–2.2mg per cubic meter) in the air after sampling.
These numbers are significantly less than the Workplace Environmental Exposure Limit (WEEL) of 10mg per cubic meter over 8 hours set by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).
Moreover, the overall health risk from PG is negligible compared to passively inhaling tobacco smoke from traditional cigarettes.
4. How Much Propylene Glycol Do You Inhale While Vaping?
Honestly, there’s no definitive answer, as each vape and e cigarette vape liquid contain varying amounts of propylene glycol.
But studies suggest that an average e cigarette user may ingest anywhere between 0.3 to 0.45g of PG in a day.
Did you know? According to Public Health England, vaping is less harmful than smoking conventional cigarettes. Additionally, when used with a smoking cessation aid, it helps most smokers quit tobacco products altogether.
5. How Much Propylene Glycol Do Vape-able CBD Products Contain?
The amount of PG found in CBD vapes differs based on the manufacturer and depends on the desired flavor and vapor production.
Generally speaking, vape-able CBD products contain between 50%-80% of PG.
Take Control Of Your Health & Opt for High-Quality, Nicotine Free Vapes
Existing studies and the FDA’s safety approval mean that propylene glycol is safe to use in vape and e liquid.
However, nicotine and other harmful chemicals in e-liquids can increase the risk of health concerns like lung inflammation and lung disease.
The good news?
High-quality, nicotine-free vapes provide a safe vaping experience without dangerous additives!
Head to Cyclone Pods today to kickstart your nicotine-free vaping journey and discover a superb range of accessible vaping products.