Vaping is a trend that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. As the decade-old industry is still thriving, vaping itself is still shrouded in mystery for many people. Some people view it as a useful instrument in quitting smoking, while others see it as harmful and dangerous. Being such a trendy thing, could there still be something about vaping that you don't know?
11 Little Known Facts About Vaping
If you're reading this, chances are that you already know a thing or two about vaping. How about learning a few more interesting facts. Whether you vape or not, these 11 little-known facts might surprise you!
Vape devices were called "Ruyan"
Vaping is a relatively new phenomenon in the smoking world. In 2004, a Chinese pharmacist, Hon Lik, designed and patented an e-cigarette. That device allowed smokers to inhale nicotine without exposure to tar or other harmful carcinogens. The product was dubbed "Ruyan," which translated to "like smoke" in English. Ruyan had the same components of modern vapes - a battery, e-liquid compartment, and heating element.
Vaping was first popular in Asia
China was the first country to embrace vaping, with Hon Lik selling his products there since 2005. The movement eventually spread throughout Asia, but it wasn't until 2006 that consumers in Western countries started catching on. Vaping became legal in Europe and the USA in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
There are over 7,000 e-liquid flavours
There are an endless number of e-liquid flavours on the market these days. From fruity and coffee to dessert flavours and everything in between, vapers have a virtually unlimited selection at their disposal. This is one of the main reasons people enjoy vaping so much; you can change up your flavour profile any time you want!
Some vapes can leak
Some vape devices can leak. If you’re not careful, you could end up with a mess on your hands (and clothes). Not filling the vape tank properly or loose joints in the tank could be the reasons for juice escape.
Leaking could also be the result of mismatched coil resistance and vape juice. For example, a sub-ohm coil (which is less than 1.0 ohm) is suitable for a highly-concentrated e-juice containing the VG solvent. It will leak if you use a higher concentration of PG juice instead.
To avoid this, make sure to check your device for any signs of leakage and always keep it in a safe place when it’s not in use. Maintaining everything could be a big hassle for noob vapers. In that case, the easiest solution is to use vapes that don't leak.
Vapes have some funky chemicals
Believe it or not, there are some chemicals in vapes that you can’t find in cigarettes. For example, vape devices contain propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG). Many common household items, such as asthma inhalers, food colouring, and antifreeze, contain these chemicals. Neither of these chemicals is particularly harmful. However, you won't find them in traditional cigarettes.
Not all vape flavours are safe for health
Just like with anything else, not all vape flavours are healthy for you. In fact, some of them can even be dangerous. The solvent VG or PG (or a mixture of these two ingredients) is the main chemical element in an e-juice. The authorities are yet to determine whether it's safe how this solvent mixes and reacts with different flavouring elements.
Mixing all elements in an e-liquid together may create some new ingredients that are unsafe for human health. Also, some flavouring chemicals have connections to various diseases.
For example, diacetyl is a buttery-tasting chemical that gives e-liquid flavours a more realistic taste. Unfortunately, diacetyl has been linked to lung disease, so it's important to be aware of the flavours you're vaping and make sure they are safe.
Vaping can be addictive
Many people assume that vaping is not addictive since it contains a small amount of nicotine. But the problem is you can modify the nicotine concentration in a vape juice. This freedom tempts many people to add more nicotine in a vial than found in a cigarette.
Pro vapers use the vape mods to experiment. Beginner vapers can become addicts since they don't have proper knowledge about modification.
Dripping can increase toxic element exposure
Vapers do dripping to churn out highly concentrated vapor. It's done by direct inhaling of vapor produced by heating e-liquid at a high temperature. This is a technique that only experienced vapers should try. Otherwise, it can increase your exposure to the harmful chemicals in vape juice.
By dripping, you can inhale formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals in high concentrations.
Cloud chasing is a thing!
While this is not a direct fact about vaping, it's definitely something that relates to vapes. Cloud chasing has a bit of a cult following among vape enthusiasts.
The cloud chasers tweak their gear to exhale a dense cloud of vapor. There are even competitions where the winner has to produce clouds with the highest distance and biggest width.
Love one flavour too much? Be Ready for vape tongue"!
Vaping too much of one flavour can cause what's called "vape tongue." It basically makes you lose your sense of taste for that particular flavour. This phenomenon has been documented on dozens of online forums, with vapers saying that they taste no flavour or something unpleasant.
It's important to note, however, that vape tongue does not mean you are losing your sense of taste completely. It just means you aren't able to taste one flavour specifically. You can either switch to another flavour or heal the taste buds by taking a break from smoking for 10 to 14 days.
The vape community has a beef with Big Tobacco
Big Tobacco is a collective name of the 6 biggest companies in the tobacco industry. It's understandable why vapers dislike these names. But the antagonism intensified after Big Tobacco entered the vaping market in 2012.
