Are Nicotine-Free Vapes Safe?

Are Nicotine-Free Vapes Safe
The nicotine-free vapes are an alternative to smoking, entirely harmless, or an opportunity to experience flavours without the addictive substance, which makes many people resort to them. However, at the same time, they eliminate the main cause of addiction; the question is whether they are safe. Let’s find the answer:

The Appeal of "Safer" Vaping

The reasoning is simple. Nicotine is the primary harmful ingredient of vaping, so its removal should make vaping safe. It is due to this reason that nicotine-free vapes are popular, and are used by those attempting to quit nicotine or social vapers, or by people who simply enjoy the experience of vaping but not the chemical addiction. But this opinion does not consider the other substances you are breathing in.

The Core Ingredients: What Are You Actually Inhaling?

The e-liquid is mainly a blend of Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG), and nicotine-free flavouring and is approved by the food standards. Although both the PG and VG are safe to use, no proper results of their usage have been fully achieved in the long run during heating and deep inhalation into the lungs. The flavourings are more of a concern. Most of them are harmless to ingest but may be toxic on aerosolisation and inhalation. The chemical cocktail formed after the heating of these flavourings is mostly unregulated, and the effect of such a cocktail on lung health remains a significant field of study.

The Hidden Dangers: Ultrafine Particles and Metals

Vaping itself is a dangerous process that poses risks in addition to the contents of the e-liquids. The heating coil generates aerosol with ultrafine particles that may enter the lungs and develop inflammation deep in the lungs. Moreover, the metal coils, which are usually of nickel, chromium, and lead, can seep small, poisonous metal bits into the vapor that you breathe on any given puff. This occurs whether there is the presence of nicotine or not.

The Psychological and Habitual Trap

Vaping supports an irresistible behavioural pattern even in the absence of an addictive drug. The mouth-to-hand motion and the resulting formation of a visible cloud form a ritual that is reinforcing psychologically. This may serve as an entry point to nicotine-based products in some users, especially the younger users. It also causes the withdrawal of the physical action of vaping to be challenging, even after the chemical addiction has disappeared.

Wrapping Up

Conclusively, even though nicotine-free vapes are not dangerous in terms of nicotine addiction, they do not make them free. The use of the heated PG/VG, chemical flavourings, and metal particles is a source of its own possible health concern, the long-term effects of which are yet to be discovered. It is more appropriate to say that they are safer than smoking, but it is false to think they are completely secure. Read More: What chemicals are in vapes Why do people vape