November 2013

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

PR Newswire

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2013

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-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.

SOURCE Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association

I found a good article...check it out

I try not to use other websites and other peoples' stories, but I stumbled across this article about e-cigarrettes that is prettty interesting...

Why FORT VAPE exists...the story should be told

I was sitting at the computer tonight, hoping my payment gateway gets set-up and running soon. A thought just hit me...why not tell the story of why I vape, and how FORTVAPE.com came about? Here it goes...

It was around Novemeber 2010, and I was hearing and seeing advertisements about "electronic cigarettes". I have never heard of them, but they sounded interesting. There weren't many different brands to research, and no one I know had ever heard of electronic cigarettes (let alone "vaping"). After reading about them for a while, I bought a BLU e-cig starter kit.

My new kit consisted of 2 batteries, 5 cartidges (cartomizers), a USB charger and a case to hold it all. I charged up the batteries and started "vaping". It wasn't too bad, but in no time I was "vaping" so much that I had both batteries dead all of the time, and no charged batteries. So, needless to say, I was smoking regular "analogue" cigarettes again. My friend BLU got packed up in the desk, and never heard from again. I was back to 1-2 packs of cigarrettes again.

It wasn't until August 2013 (three years later), that I started hearing about e-cigs again. A couple of fellow co-workers talked about it at work, and even bragged a bunch how they could "smoke at work". I thought they were onto something...

After hearing where they bought the stuff, I had to go check it out. I did a bit of research on the web to get some basic terminology down, and drove to the store here in Fort Wayne...the rest is history.

I told the sales person I had heard of vaping, and he showed me some basic products and starter kits. He also let me try a variety of "e-juices", so I could get a taste of the flavors. I liked the tobacco flavors. By the time I left I, spent another $50.00 (ouch again), and have vaped ever since. I guess I fell in love. The next week, I found I had quit buying and smoking real cigarettes. I hadn't even planned on that, but I realized very quickly I was saved from cigarrettes. I realized several things quickly over the next month, and within 3-4 months of buying my electronic cigarette starter kit that I was done with traditional cigarettes, and I had a web-based business up and running.

I have found that electronic cigarettes saved me from the nasty habit of smoking regular cigarettes. I had smoked for 25 years, and could not quit. I took up e-cigs, and quit almost right away. I started my first e-juice bottle at a strength of 24mg/ml, and found that was making me sick. I quickly adjusted my nicotine levels to between 6 and 9 ml/mg, and have been doing nicely. I would not suggest more than 12-16mg to anyone, as they would feel sick and give up e-cigs quickly. That is just my opinion.

Anyway, I had a business permit, and shifted the direction of my business to the online sales of e-cigs, parts and e-liquids (which I make). I sell them on my site and on eBay (username FORT_VAPE). I hope others can find the fun and ease of e-cigs. I got my sense of smell and tast back. I feel more energetic. I don't stink. I think smoking regular cigarettes really is nasty. I never believed it until now. I want to share the feelings with others...FORT VAPE was born.

I started FORT VAPE for 2 main reasons: 1... I want to bring fair prices to customers (after getting stabbed by a local retail store), and 2... I want others to feel "FREE" from regular cigarettes, period.

You don't have to quit...but you CAN switch. This post is my own personal opinion, and I am not implying that e-cigarettes are or should be used as a smoking cessasion program.

New vaping tank (clearomizer)

Loaded up a 3.5ml Vivi Nova today. The vape is nice, and I shouldn't have to fill the tank as often.

Our website will be fully functional the first week of December!

Well, the website was working. Thanks to PayPal pulling the plug on our payment gateway, we can't take payments at the moment. But, if you register on the site during this down peroid, we will send you a coupon code for a HUGE discount when processing is up.

Thanks go out to GoDaddy, for assuring us all that our site will stay up selling Electronic Cigarettes. I will share all info about the payment gateway when it is functioning again.

Fort Vape (fortvape.com) is an Electronic Cigarette vendor based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We vape what we sell.

We have EGO series (compatible) batteries and clearomizers at below retail. Check it out.

www.fortvape.com

"HYPNOTIC MIST" e-liquid e-juice

Hypnotic Mist is our newest addition. It is listed as a full day vape, and it sure is. We can't quite put our finger on the flavor, but is it a little sweet. Some say it tastes like Mountain Dew. We aren't 100% sure. But we are 100% sure it is good!

 

Click here to shop for Hypnotic Mist

New E-juice mixes...Apple and Green Apple

We just mixed 2 new flavors tonight...6mg Apple and 6mg Green Apple. They are actually quite nice. Go to the website and order some.

  

What is Propyene Glycol?

propylene glycol

Propylene Glycol is the primary ingredient in the majority of e-liquids and e-cigarette cartridges on the marketplace today. Most e-liquid contains at least 80% and as much as 92% propylene glycol. This is the ingredient that produces the smoke like vapor when the e-cigarette is exhaled.

Propylene Glycol is approved by Health Canada for use in various forms in Canada. These include items injected, applied topically, and inhaled. Products with Propylene Glycol can be found in various common items around your house. A few examples include:

Pharmaceuticals - Oral, injectable and topical formulations

Beauty products including makeup, mousse, shampoo, bubble bath, after shave, and deodorant

baby wipes

Pet food

Asthma inhalers

When propylene glycol is injected, it is metabolized in the human body into pyruvic acid (a normal part of the glucose-metabolism process, readily converted to energy), acetic acid (handled by ethanol-metabolism), lactic acid (a normal acid generally abundant during digestion) [9] , and propionaldehyde. Because of its low chronic oral toxicity, propylene glycol was classified by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) for use as a direct food additive. Citation

Propylene Glycol Studies

The following is the abstract from a study done by the following doctors: O. H. ROBERTSON, CLAYTON G. LOOSLI, THEODORE T. PUCK, HENRY WISE, HENRY M. LEMON and WILLIAM LESTER, JR. It is entitled: TESTS FOR THE CHRONIC TOXICITY OF PROPYLEXE GLYCOL AND TRIETHYLENE GLYCOL ON MONKEYS AND RATS BY VAPOR INHALATION AND ORAL ADMINISTRATION. Citation

"With a view to determining the safety of employing the vapors of propylene glycol and triethylene glycol in atmospheres inhabited by human beings, monkeys and rats were exposed continuously to high concentrations of these vapors for periods of 12 to 18 months. Equal numbers of control animals were maintained under physically similar conditions. Long term tests of the effects on ingesting triethylene glycol were also carried out. The doses administered represented 50 to 700 times the amount of glycol the animal could absorb by breathing air saturated with the glycol.

Comparative observations on the growth rates, blood counts, urine examinations, kidney function tests, fertility and general condition of the test and control groups, exhibited no essential differences between them with the exception that the rats in the glycol atmospheres exhibited consistently higher weight gains. Some drying of the skin of the monkeys' faces occurred after several months continuous exposure to a heavy fog of triethylene glycol. However, when the vapor concentration was maintained just below saturation by means of the glycostat this effect did not occur.

Examination at autopsy likewise failed to reveal any differences between the animals kept in glycolized air and those living in the ordinary room atmosphere. Extensive histological study of the lungs was made to ascertain whether the glycol had produced any generalized or local irritation. None was found. The kidneys, liver, spleen and bone marrow also were normal.

The results of these experiments in conjunction with the absence of any observed ill effects in patients exposed to both triethylene glycol and propylene glycol vapors for months at a time, provide assurance that air containing these vapors in amounts up to the saturation point is completely harmless.

*Note: Bolding in Studies added for emphasis of the results.

Health Canada on Propylene Glycol:

According to the Health Canada website, "...there are no endpoints of concern for oral, dermal or inhalation exposure to propylene glycol based on the low toxicity observed in studies near or above testing limit doses. Based on this, the USEPA did not conduct any quantitative human health risk assessments and concluded that exposure does not present a human health risk of concern." Citation

Health Canada also permits Propylene glycol for use as a food additive. Citation

Propylene Glycol Allergies & Side effects

Allergies

The risk of being allergic to propylene glycol is very low, but some investigators believe people with eczema have a >2% chance of developing allergies to propylene glycol. If you have or have had an allergy to propylene glycol, it is very likely that you would already know about it, as such a large number of products that most of us use on a daily basis contain propylene glycol, such as deodorant, shampoo, and hair and skin products. The few people who have an irritation towards propylene glycol have found success using Vegetable glycerin as an alternate to propylene glycol in their e-cigarette.

Side Effects

The most common noted side effect of inhalation of e-liquid containing propylene glycol is a dry mouth, sore throat, and increased thirst. These symptoms usually last just a few days to a week as the body gets used to the propylene glycol. These symptoms can be elevated by drinking more water and liquids then usual for the first few weeks of using your e-cigarette.

If you are moving from smoking traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes, you will find there are many side effects of quitting smoking tobacco products. It is very easy for a new user of an e-cigarette to incorrectly attribute these quitting smoking side effects to the e-cigarette, when in fact they are likely the result of your bodies reaction to quitting smoking tobacco cigarettes. Side effects of quitting smoking include: Bad breath, stomach pain, nausea, constipation, increased appetite, skin breakout's, increased coughing, insomnia, depression, vagueness, irritability, gas, dry throat, nasal drip, dizziness, vertigo. Many of these side effects of quitting smoking will be reduced by using the e-cigarette. Personally, I was nearly symptom free when I made the switch from tobacco cigarettes to e-cigarettes, but I did notice my throat was often dry, and for a few days I woke up with a sore throat.

What is Vegetable Glycerin?

VEGETABLE GLYCIRIN

Vegetable glycerin is also known as vegetable glycerol. It is a carbohydrate that is usually derived from plant oils. It is used as a sweetener and as an ingredient in a number of cosmetic products. Vegetable glycerin is also used in place of alcohol to extract botanicals.

Vegetable glycerin based E-liquid usually contain at least 80% and as much as 92% Vegetable glycerin. This is the ingredient that produces the smoke like vapor when the e-cigarette is exhaled. Approximately 20% of all e-liquids on the market today are vegetable glycerin based. Vegetable glycerin typically produces more vapor production then propylene glycol, but has reduced throat hit. It is also slightly more viscous (thicker) and slightly sweeter then propylene glycol. Its increased thickness makes it a culprit in reducing the life of atomizers. Some e-smokers use a blend of vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol - most often 80-90% PG and 10-20% VG, and sometimes a 50/50 split VG to PG in their e-liquid.

Vegetable glycerin is approved by Health Canada for use in various forms in Canada. Products with Vegetable Glycerin can be found in various common items around your house. A few examples include:

Sugar substitute

In Beauty products including makeup, mousse, shampoo, bubble bath, after shave, and deodorant

Pet food

Soap

Skin and hand cream

Baked goods - increase moisture

As a thick gel for creams, gel capsule pills, rubs and jellies

Eye & ear drops, toothpastes, pastes, and many dental care products

Vegetable glycerin comes in USP grade and food grade. We sell only USP grade (99.7% pure) vegetable glycerin at www.FORTVAPE.com.

Glycerine is classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) and complies with specifications for the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), United States Pharmacopeia (USP), and European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur. or EP) E244. It is manufactured according to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and is shipped according to applicable Good Trade and Distribution Practices (GTDP). Citation

Vegetable Glycerin studies

Glycerol is one of the most benign organic liquids known to man. It is hype-allergenic, non-carcinigeic, non teratogenic and non-mutagenic. It is metabolized quite easily by a process called beta-oxidation. This process results in the production of CO2 and H2O and is a quite normal, common, and natural catabolic process.

The following is a few excerpts from a study called SIDS initial assessment profile of Glycerol Citation

Glycerol is of low toxicity when injested, inhaled, or in contact with skin

The NOACE for local irritant effects to the upper respiratory tract is 165 mg/m3

Glycerol is of a low order of acute oral and dermal toxicity with LD50 values in excess of 4000 mg/kw bw.

Glycerol has low potential to irritate the skin and the eye

Glycerol is not a skin sensitiser

Glycerol does not induce gene mutations in bacterial strains, chromosomal effects in mammalian cells or primary DNA damage in vitro

Overall, glycerol is not considered to possess genotoxic potential

No effects on fertility and reproductive performance were observed

No further work is indicated by this study, because of the low hazard potential of this substance.

Health Canada on Vegetable Glycerin:

Vegetable glycerin, and more generally glycerin (a.k.a. Glycerol) is labeled by the environment Canada domestic substance: "This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for as a low human health priority."

Health Canada also permits Vegetable Glycerin for use as a food additive.

Vegetable Glycerin Allergies & Side effects

Allergies

The risk of being allergic to vegetable glycerin is very low. The only patient population which may experience problems with metabolism of Glycerol would be diabetics owing to the anabolic hepatic pathway which can convert free Glycerol to glucose(but this would still not be an issue at the levels used in vaping).

Side Effects

The most common noted side effect of inhalation of e-liquid containing vegetable glycerin is a dry mouth, sore throat, and increased thirst. These symptoms usually last just a few days to a week as the body gets used to the vegetable glycerin. These symptoms can be lessened by drinking more water and liquids then usual for the first few weeks of using your e-cigarette.

If you are moving from smoking traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes, you will find there are many side effects of quitting smoking tobacco products. It is very easy for a new user of an e-cigarette to incorrectly attribute these quitting smoking side effects to the e-cigarette, when in fact they are likely the result of your bodies reaction to quitting smoking tobacco cigarettes. Side effects of quitting smoking include: Bad breath, stomach pain, nausea, constipation, increased appetite, skin breakout's, increased coughing, insomnia, depression, vagueness, irritability, gas, dry throat, nasal drip, dizziness, vertigo. Many of these side effects of quitting smoking will be alleviated by using the e-cigarette.

Please Visit FORTVAPE.com for all your e-cig needs. We carry a large selection of e-cigarettes, accessories, and e-liquid. If you are new to e-cigarettes, read a few Testimonials from cigarette smokers who switched to the e-cigarette.

This website is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the CanadaVapes.com Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.

Current Vaping Gear

I use two (2) EGO 650mAh batteries, 2 CE4 Clearomizers, a Mini Pro Tank (2.5ml), a Mini Vivi Nova, a CE5 clearomizer, and two CE4+ Clearomizers.

I always carry 3-4 bottles of e-juice with me at all times. Right now- Tuscan Reserve Tobacco, "LB" Tobacco, Bubble Gum, and Virginia Tobacco. All are 6mg strength, and all are mixed by me and available at fortvape.com!

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