Vaping is seen as a safer alternative to smoking. However, the vapor that these e-cigarettes produce isn’t just made up of water vapor, but a mix of potentially harmful chemicals. Here’s a breakdown:

• Nicotine – one of the most common ingredients and chemicals in vapes is nicotine. This is also a key element of smoking traditional cigarettes, which is an addictive substance. The Centre For Disease Control has also stated that nicotine can harm a developing adolescent brain. In particular, it can affect mood, impulsive behaviors, learning and attention span. It’s why many schools have sought to introduce sensors such as our own, as well as nicotine detectors.
• Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG) – like nicotine, PG and VG are also common ingredients in e-cigarettes and vaping devices. It’s considered safe to ingest, however, inhalation of high levels of PG, especially over an extended period of time, may cause respiratory irritation.
• Flavoring Chemicals – vapes now come in a wide range of flavors and to achieve these mixtures, manufacturers use a range of chemicals. Whether these chemicals are safe is an area of ongoing research, especially when they’re heated and inhaled.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – these compounds are also found in cigarette smoke, but with vapes they’re generally at a lower level. However, they do still pose adverse health effects.
• Metals – some studies into vapes have found trace amounts of metals like lead. These compounds aren’t used directly in the vape liquid but rather are part of the device itself, often in the heating coils. Cheaper and poorer quality vape devices are more likely to see these issues.
• Acrolein and Formaldehyde – these compounds are also found in tobacco cigarette smoke and again, like VOCs, are also present in vapes, just at a much lower level. Ingesting them is still known to cause harm.

While this list isn’t exhaustive it covers the significant majority of chemicals found in vapes, as well as tobacco smoke. All of them pose a health hazard and risk of lung disease, especially when consumed in high quantities.