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Combustion of "safe" molecules can produce unknown chemicals that are potentially hazardous. This is why smoke is bad. Vapes (ecigs) have a pretty wide operatin
by dexwiz 11y ago
Combustion of "safe" molecules can produce unknown chemicals that are potentially hazardous. This is why smoke is bad. Vapes (ecigs) have a pretty wide operating range, especially when modded to operate at different wattages. They claim to only vaporize liquid, but at high operating temperatures they could break down molecules, which is still combustion, just to a lesser degree. When you start adding all assortments of aromatic compounds used in flavoring, saying everything is safe is impossible. They may be food grade flavorings, but they probably weren't all tested under the conditions seen in a vaporizer.
The main argument for vapes is that hey don't produce tar, which is one of the worst parts of cigarettes.
Are they as bad a normal cigs? Probably not. Are they completely, 100% safe? No.
- tptacek 11y agoOn the one hand, a known and potent human carcinogen. On the other, an application of the precautionary principle that may well be just as applicable to the acrylamide on french fries. How does this make sense as a vector for backlash?
- Alupis 11y agoThe "backlash" is largely propelled by user's disregard for others around them. Users regularly can be witnessed using their e-cig indoors and in close proximity to others. These users often say "it's only water vapor", which is absurdly false.
- dexwiz 11y agoIn my state its illegal to smoke vapes anywhere its illegal to smoke cigarettes. This largely keeps it out of public spaces. I don't know how this applies to other states. Also there is debate in the community about respect. I have more friends that step out for a vape, just like they would for cig, so they don't bother non smokers, than puff away like its nothing. But that's purely anecdotal.
- AlexandrB 11y ago> The "backlash" is largely propelled by user's disregard for others around them. I can say the same thing about those having backyard firepits [1] whose output affects FAR more people than a single (e)cigarette. To my knowledge no one is campaigning against big campfire though. Edit: > These users often say "it's only water vapor", which is absurdly false. Yes, but does second-hand e-cigarette smoke cause significant harm? For example second-hand cigarette smoke increases the chance of lung cancer by 20% when living with a smoker [2]. Contrast that with inhaling a puff of e-cigarette second-hand-smoke in a public place once in a while. I understand that you may find e-cigarette smoke annoying but that's not a sufficient reason to ban something in a free society. [1] http://www.ehhi.org/woodsmoke/health_effects.shtml http://www.ehhi.org/woodsmoke/health_effects.shtml [2] http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/secondhandsmoke/chapter7.pdf http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/secondhandsmok...
- Alupis 11y agoThat's an argument to ban backyard campfires - not an argument to allow indoor e-cigarette use. You don't get the right to harm other people's health (even in a "free society"), even if there are already other unhealthy things present.
- AlexandrB 11y ago> You don't get the right to harm other people's health, even if there are already other unhealthy things present. What about the effects of pollution emitted when you drive a car?
- rcurry 11y agoI'm a huge fan of personal freedom (don't care what people smoke), but yeah I have to agree with you here. I did some work for a firm where the system administrator walked around puffing huge clouds of this foul-smelling vapor that was something like a cross between strawberries and old socks, and it was really aggravating.
- chroma 11y agoDid you talk to him about this? It seems to me that if someone is creating unpleasant or distracting sensations (noise, smell, vibration, flashing lights, etc), the best thing to do is ask them to stop. Wanting to ban the annoying thing is a bit of an overreaction. To use an analogy: Lots of people on public transportation annoy me by playing music out of their phone's speaker. At no point do I think, "Phones should be banned." I just ask them to turn off their music or use headphones.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- dexwiz 11y agoOn one hand, chemophobia is rampant in our society. The infamous dihydrogen monoxide story is a prime example. On the other hand, acrylamide is a single, testable molecule. Taking a mix of chemicals, heating them up to high temperatures, enough to evaporate them, and hoping that they don't break down into anything dangerous is much harder to test. Arbitrary organic compounds can decompose before water boils, or they can sustain high heats. Its really a case by case basis. And the solution for vapes may be similar, but the flavoring solutes vary.