Vaping has a longer history than many assume, but it only became widespread within roughly a decade of this article being written, so not everyone knows what goes into their e-liquid. Three flavoring chemicals stood out in laboratory testing, and this guide explains what was found and which flavors they belong to.
The three ingredients
Cinnamaldehyde
This is the compound that gives a vape juice its cinnamon taste. Among the several chemicals tested, it was the most toxic to both cell types the researchers used, and it ranked near the top for reducing how much oxygen a cell could produce. However good cinnamon tastes, the article’s advice was to leave cinnamon liquids on the shelf.
O-Vanillin
O-Vanillin produced cell toxicity and oxygen restriction on a level comparable with the cinnamon flavoring. It came out marginally less toxic, but the gap is small, and the recommendation is the same: avoid it.
Vanilla is popular with adults and children alike. As more thorough research emerged, the FDA was in a stronger position to keep potentially dangerous flavors out of the hands of kids.
Pentanedione
Pentanedione is used in butter-flavored liquids, and its results resembled those of the other two. Appealing as buttery flavors are, the trade is not a good one, so think twice about that buttered popcorn juice.
How the testing was done
In plain terms, researchers exposed a couple of types of white blood cell to a number of e-liquid ingredients. They then measured the effect on oxygen production and on other aspects of each cell.
A handful of chemicals did noticeable damage. In the worst cases they caused inflammation and cellular toxicity, and sharply cut the cell’s capacity to produce oxygen.
The cells in question are tied to the respiratory system. The concern raised is that liquids containing these chemicals carry a greater chance of harming your health as time goes on, and that prolonged exposure could be a serious threat to the lungs.
Further reading
Ingredients are only one of the things a new vaper has to learn. If you are starting out, our tips for beginners cover more of the basics.