What is popcorn lung and can vaping cause it?
Vaping and Popcorn Lung “Popcorn lung” is another name for bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), a rare condition that results from damage of the lungs’ small airways. BO was originally discovered when popcorn factory workers started getting sick. The culprit was diacetyl, a food additive used to simulate butter flavor in microwave popcorn.
What is popcorn lung, and can it be caused by using marijuana?
Another common cause is acetaldehyde, a chemical found in the smoke from marijuana and some electronic cigarettes. Acetaldehyde also can damage the lining of your mouth, throat, and stomach. Other chemicals that can cause popcorn lung include: Metal oxide fumes, a common byproduct of welding.
What does vaping do to your lungs?
These include:
- Diacetyl: This preservative, utilized to grow electronic cigarette tastes, is known to harm small paths in the lungs.
- Formaldehyde: This harmful chemical can trigger lung illness as well as contribute to heart disease.
- Acrolein: Usually utilized as a herbicide, this chemical can likewise damage lungs.
Does Juul cause popcorn lung?
While seldom a problem for the larger bronchi, bronchioles are smaller and narrower, and this is where popcorn lung from Juul and other vaping devices can occur. Because vaping introduces a vapor made from a chemical solution into your lungs, it can come with a range of health risks.
Is diacetyl still used in vape juice?
As of 2019, the U.S. continues to allow the use of diacetyl in vape products. However, previous investigations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that inhaling diacetyl in other contexts has led to lung damage.
What is the ingredient in some flavorings that can cause popcorn lung?
July 8, 2016. Even though we know that diacetyl causes popcorn lung, this chemical is found in many e-cigarette flavors. It is added to "e-juice" liquid by some e-cigarette companies to complement flavorings such as vanilla, maple, coconut and more.
Does propylene glycol cause popcorn lung?
New research shows that propylene glycol can also generate methylglyoxal, an alpha di-carbonyl compound recently shown to cause epithelial necrosis at even lower concentrations than diacetyl, the flavoring chemical associated with bronchiolitis obliterans ("Popcorn Lung").
Which vape flavors contain diacetyl?
Some flavorings offered by come e-cig companies contain diacetyl. Some of the flavors that have been reported to contain the chemical are cherry, custard, and pastry flavors. Blending e-liquid is a job for professional chemists and needs to take place in a professional lab.
What is another name for diacetyl?
Diacetyl is also known as the alpha-diketone, 2,3-butanedione, or by its Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number, 431-03-08.
How do I know if my vape juice has diacetyl?
If you see the ingredients labeled as “natural and artificial flavoring,” there's a good chance diacetyl is found within. Many vape juice companies may not even know they're using diacetyl, so it's your job as a vaper to do your due diligence and know exactly what's in your vape juice.
What contains diacetyl?
Diacetyl is most prevalent in processed foods that contain butter flavoring. It is used as a flavoring agent in butter, butter sprays, margarine, shortening, oil, oil sprays and other butter-flavored substances. If a product is advertised as having "buttery flavor," then that product likely contains diacetyl.
What is the safest vape juice?
So diacetyl-free liquids are the safest option for vaping. The VaporFi Pure Grape e-juice delivers on its promise and offers users a classic, mouth-watering grape flavor with every inhale and exha...
What is the healthiest vape?
PAX 3. The PAX 3 is consistently ranked one of the healthiest vapes, and it's an incredibly customizable conduction vaporizer suitable for dry herb and wax.
What vape juice has no diacetyl?
If that doesn't appeal to you, check out the best diacetyl-free e-liquids.Black Note. Black Note provides premium e-juice for the true tobacco connoisseur. ... VaporFi. VaporFi is on a mission to change smoker's lives. ... Kind Juice. Kind Juice provides a departure from your typical boring e-juice. ... Cosmic Fog.
Is VG safer than PG?
In certain cases, allergies due to PG have been reported. However, scientific studies show that VG and PG are harmless to human health. VG and PG proportion can severely affect throat hit, vape density, and flavor release. There is no magic number for VG and PG proportion.
Is diacetyl in most vape juice?
There can be diacetyl in e-liquid. It's not always present, but it is in some e-liquids on the market. The source of diacetyl and AP in e-liquids is the flavorings used to make them. The most obvious ones are e-juices with buttery flavors, like custards and other sweet desserts.
Is vaping better than smoking?
But research so far shows that vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco, and can help people to stop smoking. For the best chance of quitting, get support from a Stop Smoking Service, who can help you find the right tools for you.
Is diacetyl in e-cigarettes?
In the UK, diacetyl was ban ned in e-cigarette liquids under the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in 2016. So, e-liquids sold in the UK shouldn’t contain diacetyl. E-cigarettes are a relatively new product – they aren’t risk-free and we don’t yet know their long-term impact.
Can e-cigarettes cause popcorn lung?
No. There’s no good evidence that e-cigarettes could cause the lung condition called popcorn lung. There’s been no confirmed cases of popcorn lung reported in people who use e -cigarettes. If you're someone who smokes, the best thing you can do for your health is to stop.
Is popcorn lung rare?
Although popcorn lung is very rare, some e-cigarette users may worry about it. A link between breathing in a chemical called diacetyl was made when a group of popcorn factory workers were found to have the rare condition. It was not related to use of e-cigarettes.
What is the name of the disease caused by a microwave popcorn factory?
When inhaled over prolonged periods, the chemical scars sensitive lung tissue, and triggers the onset of bronchiolitis obliterans.
Is e-cigarettes regulated?
The e-cigarette industry is not regulated like the tobacco or cannabis industry, and many of these additional ingredients have not undergone tests for human inhalation. These ingredients include: propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavorings such as vanillin, diacetyl, and cinnamaldehyde.
Does smoking cannabis cause lung cancer?
There is no evidence connecting cannabis smoke to lung or respiratory cancers, and little evidence of other severe long-term health issues. Cannabis smokers do generally experience a higher risk of developing bronchitis, as well as experiencing heightened issues with asthma and increased phlegm production over the short term.
Does popcorn contain diacetyl?
The popcorn industry no longer uses Diacetyl. It is, unfortunately, present in many vaping products with vanilla, caramel, or other buttery flavors. Until further research occurs about the safety of additional ingredients included in cannabis vape products, steer clear.
What is popcorn lung?
It is a serious lung condition. Commonly called by its nickname "Popcorn lung". Maybe you have heard of this recently in the media associated with the dangers of vaping.
What is the name of the disease that is caused by microwave popcorn?
The formal name for this rare disease is obliterative bronchiolitis. In 2000 eight workers from a microwave popcorn factory reported having lung issues. The CDC reported that “All eight had a respiratory illness resembling bronchiolitis obliterans with symptoms of cough and dyspnea on exertion, had worked at the same popcorn factory.”.
Does e-liquid cause popcorn lung?
Those who smoke traditional cigarettes, which contain much more diacetyl than e-liquid ever did, did not get popcorn lung either. Assuming that the e-liquid actually contains diacetyl, this chemical is yet to be linked with the disease known as popcorn lung. A 2014 study published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology stated, ...
Is diacetyl in e-liquid?
In the past, tests were done on various e-liquid flavors and there were amounts of diacetyl found in them. In general, a majority of e-liquid flavors are leaving this ingredient out completely.
Can popcorn lung be caused by smoke?
In a 2016 study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, it found that “this diagnosis has been documented in a variety of exposures, including fumes from flavoring plants, smoke from burn pits, and environmental sulfur gas.”. These are the documented cases of popcorn lung.
Does diacetyl thicken the lungs?
Lung.org explains that inhaling large amounts of diacetyl can hurt the small airways in the lungs, called bronchioles. This thickens the bronchioles, making the passages more narrow.
Does diacetyl cause damage to the lungs?
So the scientific community backs up the idea that inhalation of this chemical, especially in large amounts, can be harmful to the lungs.
What is the flavor of e juice?
For a smooth flavor, E-juices basically contain Propylene Glycol (P.G.), Vegetable Glycerin (V.G.), or both. These ingredients are then combined with flavors (either natural or artificial) such as cherry, mint, grape, and many more. The blend of the base and flavorings create the unique experience that vapers get.
Is Propylene glycol a toxic substance?
Propylene glycol (P.G.): This ingredient is non-toxic, and it is mainly used to carry flavors in food products, as an additive in various medicines, and as an ingredient in food coloring. P.G. can be used alone in your vape, but for a smoother consistency, it is best to combine with V.G.
Is e juice safe?
The safety of your e-juice lies in certain chemicals that can be found in the flavor. Some ingredients are safe, but there are some ingredients that are unsafe. That’s why you need to know how to read labels to know the ingredients to avoid.
How to treat popcorn lung?
These treatments can also help slow down the progress of the said disease. One option is to use corticosteroids. These cortisone-like medicine s provide relief for inflamed parts of the body.
Why do they call it popcorn lung?
The result is a hacking cough and shortness of breath. They call it popcorn lung because it can be caused by breathing in the chemical diacetyl.
How long does it take for popcorn lung to show symptoms?
So, if you develop popcorn lung, you might not notice the symptoms because asthma and popcorn lung make you feel the same. It usually takes between 2 and 8 weeks before popcorn lung symptoms are felt.
What are the air sacs on the end of a popcorn lung?
Their ends have tiny air sacs called alveoli. These air sacs contain the oxygen picked up by our blood. When a person has popcorn lung, these tiny air passages get inflamed. These inflammations cause scarring so the tiny air passages become even narrower.
Does vaping cause popcorn lung?
Although e-juice does contain diacetyl, the chemical responsible for popcorn lung, the concentration levels are too low to cause the disease . There’s a higher chance of getting popcorn lung through smoking compared to vaping.
Is diacetyl a flavoring?
You should also know that diacetyl is no longer used as a flavoring for e-liquids. So, you’re not getting exposed to the same chemical when you vape. They’ve discontinued the use of the aforementioned chemical in e-juices. This happened as soon as the study that ties diacetyl to popcorn lung was released.
Can diacetyl cause popcorn lung?
However, the levels of diacetyl that they found are not enough to cause popcorn lung. We’re talking about levels that are hundreds of times lower than those found in cigarette smoke. Even the levels of diacetyl in cigarette smoke are not enough to cause popcorn lung.
What Causes Popcorn Lung?
Diacetyl is a chemical that directly causes popcorn lung. It is an organic compound that tastes buttery, and it can be found in a wide variety of food and dairy products, including butter, cheese, coffee, milk, yoghurt, beer, wine, and honey.
Do Vapes Contain Diacetyl?
Diacetyl had been detected in some e-liquid flavourings in the previous years, but its levels are at least hundreds of times lower than those found in cigarette smoke. However, these levels are not considered risky, and there is no evidence in vaping that it causes popcorn lungs.
Does Vaping Cause Popcorn Lung?
Currently, while there are detections of the chemical diacetyl in your e-liquid, there is no solid evidence to prove that vaping or the use of e-cigarettes causes popcorn lung.
Equip yourself with the necessary knowledge
As they say, knowledge is power. Research first and check the ingredients of all e-liquid products you intend to buy before making your purchase. If you can’t find the ingredients used on the manufacturer’s website, consider reaching out to them directly and ask for lab reports.
Buy only e-cigarette products from TPD-compliant retailers
When buying e-liquids, confirm if your retailer complies with the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) or European Tobacco Products Directive (EUTPD). This is a directive that oversees or limits on the sale and merchandising of tobacco products in Europe.
Conclusion
Have a safe and enjoyable vaping experience by being a responsible customer. One way to do that is by checking the ingredients of your vaping products. Make sure to buy only from reputable vape stores to ensure the quality and safety of your items.