More info on the Risk of Electronic Cigarettes

New study confirms that chemicals in electronic cigarettes pose minimal health risk...

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2013/PRNewwire-USNewswire -- E-cigarette users can breathe a little easier today.  A study just released by Professor Igor Burstyn, Drexel University School of Public Health, confirms that chemicals in electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) pose no health concern for users or bystanders.  This is the first definitive study of e-cigarette chemistry and finds that there are no health concerns based on generally accepted exposure limits.  

E-cigarettes are devices that heat a nicotine solution to create an aerosol (called “vapor”) that the user inhales, similar to smoking a cigarette.  They are used as a low-risk substitute for smoking by millions of former smokers, and their increasing popularity seems to account for the current downward trend in smoking in the U.S. and some other countries.  While experts agree that the risks posed by e-cigarettes are significantly less than those posed by smoking, there had been some debate about how much lower the risk was.  

By reviewing over 9,000 observations about the chemistry of the vapor and the liquid in e-cigarettes, Dr. Burstyn was able to determine that the levels of contaminants e-cigarette users are exposed to are insignificant, far below levels that would pose any health risk.  Additionally, there is no health risk to bystanders.  Proposals to ban e-cigarettes in places where smoking is banned have been based on concern there is a potential risk to bystanders, but the study shows there is no concern.

This was the first study funded by the by The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives (CASAA) Research Fund.  CASAA, the leading consumer advocacy group promoting the availability and use of low-risk alternatives to smoking, is an all-volunteer, donation-funded organization.  CASAA President Elaine Keller said of the study, “Over the years, there have been a lot of small studies of e-cigarette liquid and vapor, but those studies were either ignored or misinterpreted.  Those that showed even the slightest contamination were used for propaganda by those who object to e-cigarettes because they look like smoking. We realized that an expert review was needed to give an unbiased explanation of the available scientific evidence for our membership and policy makers.  We reached out to our membership and they enthusiastically donated to make it possible.”

CASAA Scientific Director, Carl V. Phillips, summarized the importance of the study, saying “It has always been clear that e-cigarettes were much lower risk than smoking, but there was uncertainty about whether continuing to inhale a mix of chemicals posed a measurable risk. Even those of us who have long encouraged smokers to switch are a bit surprised that even the worst-case-scenario risks are so low. This study assures us that e-cigarettes are as low risk as other smoke-free tobacco and nicotine products, like smokeless tobacco and NRT.  All of these products are about 99% less harmful than smoking, and so smokers who switch to them gain basically the same health benefits as if they quit tobacco and nicotine entirely.”  

Dr. Phillips added that “there has been a call for ‘regulatory science’ by the FDA.  This is exactly the type of science that is needed to make good regulation and informed individual decisions: it summarizes all of the available knowledge and puts the numbers in a useful perspective.”

The study did caution that e-cigarette users are inhaling substantial quantities of the main chemicals in e-cigarette liquid (propylene glycol and glycerin).  While these chemicals are not considered dangerous and the levels are far below occupational exposure limits, Dr. Burstyn did suggest ongoing monitoring to confirm that there is no risk.  The chemical contaminants are of even less concern.  While there have been many claims that formaldehyde, acrolein, nitrosamines, metals, and ethylene glycol found in e-cigarette vapor poses a health hazard, the study concluded that all of these have been found only at trivial levels that pose no health concern.

The study did not address the effects of nicotine because e-cigarette users are consuming it intentionally.  Nicotine, when it does not involve smoking, is very low risk and has not been clearly shown to cause any disease. However, like caffeine and other common indulgences, it may cause some tiny risk of heart attack and stroke, and so e-cigarettes, along with other tobacco and nicotine products, are probably not risk-free.  If there is any risk from nicotine, however, it is so low that it is similar to everyday hazards like drinking coffee or eating dessert, and is far less than the risk from smoking.

The study is available at http://publichealth.drexel.edu/SiteData/docs/ms08/f90349264250e603/ms08.pdf

The FDA stating Propylene Glycol is Harmless?

After about 2 hours of research we have found an official document from the FDA commenting on the tests they've done on Propylene Glycol and the results were a given to us, but to the media they seem to keep saying the FDA "Just doesn't know what the outcome is of ingesting propylene glycol"

Grab a seat and check this one out:

(taken from The Antimicrobial Division Toxicology Endpoint Selection Committee, [ADTC] EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0831)

General Toxicity Observations: 

Upon reviewing the available toxicity information, the Agency has concluded that there are no endpoints of concern for oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure to propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol. This conclusion is based on results of toxicity testing of propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol in which dose levels near or above testing limits (as established in the OPPTS 870 series harmonized test guidelines) were employed in experimental animal studies and no significant toxicity observed.

Carcinogen Classification: 

A review of the available data has shown that propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol to be negative for carcinogenicity in studies conducted in testing up to limit doses established by the Agency; therefore no further carcinogenic analysis is required. 

And that's it folks. So all that mess on the news stays on the news. We have already done tests over about a 10 year span and scientists are saying, according to the experiments...there is nothing at all wrong with Propylene Glycol. But at the end of the day, it's really up to you.

-O2 Easy

The document stating these things can be found HERE

  

What is Propylene Glycol?

Shared from V2cigs.com

What is Propylene Glycol?

Date posted: January 23, 2012

What is propylene glycol? We are asked this question repeatedly and there is a lot of misinformation about propylene glycol and e-cigarette ingredients circulating in the media. To help answer this question, we have gathered together this list of information from reputable sources in one place.

What is propylene glycol?

-Propylene glycol is a clear, colorless, slightly syrupy liquid at room temperature. It may exist in air in the vapor form, although propylene glycol must be heated or briskly shaken to produce a vapor

-Propylene glycol is practically odorless and tasteless

-Propylene glycol is a chemical made by reaction of propylene oxide with water

-Propylene glycol has had an unsurpassed reputation for safe use in a wide range of consumer products, including food products, animal feed, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as well as industrial applications

-It’s used as a stabilizer (to keep things held together, and keep them from evaporating), and to keep foods moist. It’s used in many of the foods that we eat, and the FDA deems it safe for human consumption

-Industrial grade propylene glycol is an ingredient used to make non-toxic antifreeze and deicing solutions for cars, airplanes, and boats; to make polyester compounds; and as solvent in the paint and plastics industries.

The point above needs a special note, since PG has been vilified in the media for being an ingredient in antifreeze. These reports fail to mention that they are referring to non-toxicantifreeze, giving consumers a false impression. This is a scare tactic used by the media, those who are misinformed and organizations against e-cigarettes. More information is below in the FAQ.

Propylene Glycol (PG) in e-cigarette cartridges:

-The content of the V2 Cigs liquid solution found in cartridges includes three primary ingredients: nicotine (except in Zero nicotine carts), flavorings, water and pharmaceutical-grade propylene glycol. You can download and view  our ingredient list right on our website:http://www.v2cigs.com/pages/Downloads.html

-Propylene glycol is added to the V2 liquid solution as a vaporizable base to dilute pure liquefied nicotine

-Because of its water-retaining properties, propylene glycol is the compound of choice for delivering atomized medications. It has been used in asthma inhalers and nebulizers since the 1950’s

-In e-cigarettes, propylene glycol allows atomization to take place at  substantially lower temperatures than required for a tobacco cigarette and will also help carry / deliver the nicotine when the vapor is inhaled

-While the contents of the liquid solution found in cartridges may vary depending upon brands, the major ingredients usually remain the same.

Features of propylene glycol:

-Serves as a solvent

-Connects and stabilizes insoluble fluids (emulsifier)

-Helps to bind and transport other substances (excipient)

-Holds and dissolves active ingredients equally in a medium

-Attracts/holds water/moisture (hygroscopic)

-Reduces the freezing point

-Increases the boiling point

-Offers outstanding stability with high flash and boiling points

By emulsifying (mixing) active ingredients, which otherwise would not mix with one another, the propylene glycol creates a stable homogeneous fluid that will allow the intended final product, be it a face cream or shampoo, for example, to do its job.

Safety of propylene glycol:

-It has been used safely for more than 50 years, including in health-sensitive products such as food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, where the molecule mainly serves as non-active ingredient or carrier of other substances

-Studies have proven that propylene glycol has a very low degree of toxicity

-In the body, propylene glycol is rapidly converted into lactic acid, in a similar manner to what happens with sugar (energy) in the muscles during sports

PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE PROPYLENE GLYCOL

Applications of propylene glycol:

-To carry flavors in food and drinks

-To make face creams, body lotions, deodorant-sticks, lipsticks and many other cosmetic articles soft, moist and consistent

-To stabilize foams in cosmetic and healthcare products

-To help pet and livestock feed retain its moisture and taste

-To act as a carrier of active ingredients in vaccines, cough relief syrups or gel capsules to help deliver this substances within the body for treatment and prevention of diseases

Applications of propylene glycol in cosmetics and toiletries include products in:

-Personal care: bath and shower soaps, gels, face cleansers, shaving foams, after shave, antiperspirant deodorants, roll-ons, sticks, lipsticks, fragrances, perfumes

-Skin care: hand, body and facial moisturizers, sunscreen products

-Hair care: shampoos, conditioners, styling gels

-Oral care: mouthwashes, toothpaste

-Baby care: wipes, antiseptics

Propylene glycol has been approved for use as a food additive. In direct food contact it is mainly used as:

-Solvent and carrier of flavor or color in the food and beverage manufacturing processes, to make drinks, cookies, cakes, candy

-Thickener, clarifier and stabilizer in food and beverage such as beer, salad dressings or baking products

Applications of propylene glycol as pet and cattle feed additive* include its use as a(n):

-Humectant to provide moisture and taste. ” A humectant is a substance with the ability to attract and hold water in a formulation ”

-Solvent, stabilizer and preservative to keep the feed suitable for longer use

-Additive for increased energy provision

• * Not approved for use in cat food

Some Pharmaceutical applications include:

-Therapeutic drugs and medicines, such as vaccines or cough syrup

-Local anesthetics

-Antiseptics

-Vitamins and hormones

INDUSTRIAL GRADE PROPYLENE GLYCOL

Industrial propylene glycol can be used:

-As aircraft deicer, enabling safe global public transport

-In non-toxic antifreeze

-In paints and coatings, providing sustainable weather and wear protection

-In liquid detergents, supporting hygienic conditions

-As a basic building block in the production of other formable plastics such as unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) used  in furniture, heavy-impact surfaces (floors, kitchen, bathroom) or windmill blades

Propylene glycol and Antifreeze:

-Antifreeze has traditionally been manufactured with ethylene glycol. This product is highly toxic and poisonous

-On the other hand, propylene glycol is used in certain types antifreeze labeled as “non-toxic antifreeze”. Because propylene glycol is considerably less toxic than it ethylene glycol counterpart, it is now used in antifreeze where ethylene glycol would be inappropriate, such as in food-processing systems or in water pipes in homes when incidental ingestion may be possible

FAQ

Has the federal government made recommendations to protect the human health?

The Food and Drug Administration has classified propylene glycol as GRAS,  “generally recognized as safe,” which means that it is acceptable for use in flavorings, drugs, and cosmetics, and as a direct food additive.

Which products contain propylene glycol?

Propylene glycol is used in a large variety of every day convenience and care products, such as in cosmetics and toiletries, food, animal feed, and pharmaceuticals, as well as in a number of industrial applications.

How can I come in contact with propylene glycol?

Most people will come in contact with propylene glycol during their normal everyday life, when using personal care articles like creams, sprays, lotions, when enjoying soft drinks, sweets and other foods, or when taking medication or being vaccinated.

What happens with propylene glycol in the body?

In the body, under conditions of normal low exposure, propylene glycol is quickly metabolized and eliminated. Its metabolic pathway is comparable to that of sugar: propylene glycol is rapidly converted into lactic acid, just like what happens with sugar (energy) while exercising. The lactic acid formed by propylene glycol ingestion is then discarded by the body via the urine.

Is there a danger associated with ingestion in large quantities?

Propylene glycol is used professionally by manufacturers of consumer and industrial products, but it is not available to consumers as a  pure substance. Under normal circumstances, it is impossible to ingest propylene glycol in large amounts, and exposure to propylene glycol via consumer products is extremely low. In addition, studies have shown that propylene glycol has a very low degree of toxicity. In fact, from a toxicological point of view, alcohol is actually more toxic than propylene glycol.

Can propylene glycol have negative health effects if consumed over long periods in time in small amounts?

Propylene glycol has been used safely for more than 50 years in a large variety of applications. Studies have shown that propylene glycol has a very low degree of toxicity. No negative health effects from exposure to small amounts of propylene glycol have ever been observed. The FDA has approved the use of propylene glycol in sensitive applications such as in pharmaceuticals, foods and cosmetics, and thus confirmed its safety.

Can I be sure that industrial propylene glycol will not be used for pharmaceutical applications?

The quality and purity of both industrial propylene glycol and pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol is very high. For propylene glycol intended for use in pharmaceutical applications, utmost care is placed on fulfilling specific strict rules for the production, transport and hygiene of the product to be used in sensitive applications like in food or cosmetics.

How can a deicer be used in food or in cosmetics?

Deicer (for de-icing) is not used in food or cosmetics. The different “natural” functionalities of propylene glycol make it a substance which can achieve various results. In the deicer, it is the ability to reduce the freezing point, in cosmetics the ability to dissolve, emulsify, or carry active ingredients in substances. Industrial propylene glycol is used is used for de-icing while pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol is used in cosmetics. Propylene glycol really becomes active when mixed with other ingredients and depending on what those ingredients are, different results will be achieved. Hence, deicer and cosmetics both contain propylene glycol but are mixed with different ingredients which will give way to different results.

How pure is pharmaceutical propylene glycol?

Pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol has a very high purity of more than 99.5% – which is extremely high for a chemical. However, the most important requirement to keep the degree of purity of pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol is to thoroughly respect the hygiene regulations and manufacturing standards of production, transport and further processing of the product.

Is propylene glycol safe for human health? Can it give me an allergic reaction?

It may be possible to develop an allergic reaction to propylene glycol and some individuals allergic to the product may exhibit different symptoms. However, pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol has been safely used for decades in a large variety of consumer products, including more than 4000 cosmetics and toiletry products. Over this long period of time and a large variety of products, there has been no evidence of significant adverse effects.

How likely is propylene glycol to cause cancer?

Propylene glycol does not cause cancer. The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have not classified propylene glycol for carcinogenicity. Animal studies have not shown this chemical to be carcinogen.

Sources:

• http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp.asp?id=1122&tid=240
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol
• http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=1121&tid=240
• http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/3595.pdf
• http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient.php?ingred06=705315
• http://www.foodgradepropyleneglycol.com/
• http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=12&po=0
• http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/ohat/egpg/propylene/PG_Monograph.pdf
• http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=240
• http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp.asp?id=1122&tid=2400
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze

Why are Electronic Cigarettes Becoming so Popular?

You see them on the news, you notice more and more people are inhaling vapor instead of smoke, Its getting to the point where the technology in the Electronic Cigarette department is growing as fast as cellphones if not faster.

Here are some of the reasons Electronic Cigarettes are becoming so popular:

• Vaping an electronic cigarette is extremely similar to using a real cigarette.
• E-Liquids are a much healthier alternative opposed to cigarettes.
• Electronic Cigarette vapor is a lot less harmful to others around you.

• Electronic Cigarettes can be used anywhere whether your shopping or traveling.
• They are fashionable, they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors!

• They are far cheaper to use than other nicotine replacements.
• Many celebrities have been seen using them.

So come in to O2 Easy today and see what all this fuss is about. You're not alone trying to stop smoking cigarettes, there is a huge online vaping community and we're always welcoming more and more smokers into this wonderful lifestyle.

Stay Vaping world!

-O2 Easy

Nicotine Strength in E-Juices compared to Cigarettes

Thought this may help some of the newbie vapers out there, and maybe some of the experienced ones. This is a chart we come up with for those who just recently stopped smoking, those who want to quit, or those who still want to keep smoking and which would satisfy your craving best.

Open Mic Nights!

This Sunday evening we will be hosting an open mic night in our lounge. Anything from poetry, comedy, to acoustic sets, are welcome to perform. Bring as many people as you can! We will have samples of our e-juice for you to enjoy and try out. Also we will be doing a bit of trivia in between performers and you will have the chance to win prizes. 

We are working to bring more culture to the largo area.

We want this to continue to happen every Sunday night! Just a night where people can express their talents and have a good time. If the turn out ends up great, we will have no problem extending hours just a bit so we can all have a good time.

We NEED performers! If you want to perform please leave us a comment!-

Finley's Irish Pub CAR SHOW

Our neighbor, Finley's Irish Pub, is hosting a car show this Sunday from 8 AM to about 3 PM. 

We will also be opening at 10 AM instead of 12 PM to be a part of this event! 

We also have our open mic this Sunday night! Come check out all the festivities!

- O2 Easy

Our Smoking Program

We have a quit smoking program that will help you stop smoking cigarettes now...Stop in and see how we can help...Sign up for our quit smoking program today. We will be hosting an event for this every Wednesday. It will go from 6pm till 8pm.

With the use of E-cigarettes 

CAN E-CIGARETTES HELP YOU STOP SMOKING?
American Cancer Society:
"More people have quit smoking with E-cigarettes than with drugs or patches.
A new study is likely to influence the discussion surrounding electronic cigarettes and whether they can be effectively used as a quit-smoking aid."

Researchers in New Zealand found that e-cigarettes were more effective than nicotine patches in helping people in a quit smoking study.

Published online September 8, 2013 in The Lancet, the study is the first to assess whether e-cigarettes work as well as an established quit-smoking aid.

The trial included 657 smokers who wanted to quit. For 3 months, 289 of the participants received e-cigarettes, 295 received nicotine patches, and 73 received placebo e-cigarettes, which contained no nicotine. The researchers then followed the participants for 3 more months to determine whether they had quit smoking. They found that 7.3% of those in the e-cigarette group had successfully quit smoking, compared with 5.8% in the nicotine patch group and 4.1% in the placebo e-cigarette group. 

Good reasons to quit

• Quitting cigarettes is very important for your good health.
• Quitting will help you live better and longer
• Regular cigarettes are expensive;
• A pack a day smoker can expect to spend close to $250.00 or more dollars a month.
• In just 2 days your risk of a heart attack drops.

Stop in or call today!