Recently, the vape market has continued to attract attention. As the core component of vapes, the ingredients of e-cigarette oil and their potential effects on the human body have become the focus of concern for many consumers. So, what exactly does e-cigarette oil consist of? And does it have any impact on human health?
In electronic cigarettes, the importance of the e-liquid is self-evident. Even if the vaporizer is of the best quality, it still needs to be paired with a high-quality e-liquid to achieve the best effect. The main components of electronic cigarette e-liquid include propylene glycol (abbreviated as PG, which has been certified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as edible and safe), vegetable glycerin (abbreviated as VG, also certified by the FDA as safe), nicotine (commonly known as nicotine), and food flavoring.
Nicotine in e-liquid: Analogous to caffeine
Nicotine is often misunderstood as a carcinogen, but in reality, the nicotine in e-cigarettes is similar to the caffeine in a cup of coffee and poses almost no direct harm to the human body. However, for electronic cigarette products aimed at quitting smoking, nicotine is an indispensable component. Without nicotine in the e-liquid, its effect is only equivalent to steam, unable to meet the needs of smokers. E-cigarettes replace traditional cigarettes by containing a certain amount of nicotine, and then gradually reduce the nicotine content to achieve the purpose of smoking cessation through substitution.
Food flavoring: The key to determining the taste of e-liquid
The different flavors of e-liquid are all provided by flavoring agents. The sources of flavoring agents mainly include two types: plant extraction and industrial synthesis. As long as the e-liquid is produced by a regular manufacturer, the flavoring agents used are all in compliance with safety standards. Consumers do not need to blindly believe that foreign e-liquid is necessarily better in terms of materials. In fact, as long as the flavoring agent meets national standards, its safety for use is guaranteed. Many “drinks” we consume daily are also prepared with flavoring agents. Apart from lacking nutrition, they do not pose any harm to the human body.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG): The Charm of Natural Ingredients
VG is the abbreviation of vegetable glycerin. It is extracted from plants and is thus regarded by many e-cigarette users as more healthy. VG has a thick and heavy consistency and can produce larger amounts of smoke. People who like VG find that it makes their throat feel comfortable when smoked, but not everyone has this experience.
Compared to PG, VG causes fewer irritations and allergic reactions. VG naturally has a sweet flavor, which makes some users believe that they no longer need to add additional sweeteners to the sweet-tasting e-liquid. The sweetness of VG does not come from the sweetening agents or sugar in the flavoring, but from its own flavor, which is highly praised. However, some users also feel that the sweetness of VG is too strong, masking the original flavor of the e-liquid.
Propylene Glycol (PG): Safe but may cause allergies
PG has been recognized by the FDA as a safe food additive. However, some users have experienced allergic reactions after using e-liquids containing PG. The severity of allergic symptoms varies; mild cases may only present as discomfort in the throat, while severe cases may include symptoms such as general itching, dizziness, and nausea. If allergic reactions occur, individuals in this group should choose pure VG e-liquids.
Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of PG and VG
Advantages of VG
Strong smoke: VG produces a large amount of smoke, suitable for consumers who desire a strong smoke effect.
Healthy, with fewer allergic reactions: Compared to PG, VG has fewer allergic reactions and is considered to be healthier.
Natural sweetness: VG inherently possesses a sweet flavor and does not require the addition of any sweeteners.
Comfortable throat: Some users believe that when using VG, the throat feels more comfortable.
The disadvantages of VG
The oil is thick and difficult to drip: The viscosity of VG may cause the oil to be difficult to drip, thereby affecting the usage experience.
Weak throat impact: Compared to PG, VG has a weaker throat impact.
Sweetness may overpower the aroma: The sweetness of VG may mask the natural aroma of the e-liquid.
There are symptoms of dry mouth and phlegm accumulation: Some users have reported that after using VG e-liquid, they may experience dry mouth and phlegm buildup.
The advantages of PG:
Easy to blend with fragrance: PG has good compatibility with fragrances, enabling a better representation of the flavor of the e-liquid.
Strong throat irritation sensation: The PG product has a strong throat irritation effect, which can meet the needs of some smokers.
The e-liquid with PG is better: The fluidity of PG is better, making the e-liquid flow more smoothly during use.
The drawbacks of PG
There are still reports of adverse reactions: Although the FDA has classified PG as a safe food additive, some users still report experiencing adverse reactions.
The e-liquid needs to be sweetened with a sweetener to enhance the sweetness: Since PG (propylene glycol) has no inherent sweetness, an additional sweetener needs to be added to increase the sweetness of the e-liquid.
This also explains why the regular e-liquids all have a certain degree of sweetness, and why most people have a good reaction after using e-cigarettes while a few experience adverse reactions. If the consumer unfortunately belongs to the group that is allergic to PG, it is recommended to try other pure VG e-liquids for testing.