General Discussion

backscatter712

(26,357 posts)

141. It's less harmful than smoking.

Fri Feb 22, 2019, 09:49 PM

Feb 2019

By 95%, as others have pointed out here.

As we all are well aware, combustion generates and releases countless nasty chemical compounds, that we call tar, composed of everything from benzene to carbon monoxide to hydrogen cyanide that are toxic and carcinogenic. And we light our bits of plant matter on fire and breathe that shit into our lungs on purpose.

Vaping doesn't bring tobacco (or weed) to combustion temperatures, which prevents such chemicals from being generated and being inhaled into your lungs.

I'm not saying vaping's harmless - nicotine by itself has some nasty effects (it's harmful to your heart), but it's a hell of an improvement over smoking, which is why we should encourage it instead of smoking (for adults, of course. Kids shouldn't smoke.)

Personally, I don't use tobacco at all. I prefer cannabis - much more fun, and far less unhealthy.

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Is vaping itself harmful? [View all] Recursion Feb 2019 OP

Nicotine can be very harmful. IllinoisBirdWatcher Feb 2019 #1

Can it? What harms are associated with nicotine itself? (nt) Recursion Feb 2019 #2

Here is a summary of detailed studies IllinoisBirdWatcher Feb 2019 #4

So, it seems slightly safer than caffeine, if I'm reading that right (nt) Recursion Feb 2019 #10

Yeah, and my cardiologist bugs me about caffeine as well. IllinoisBirdWatcher Feb 2019 #71

It's a vasoconstrictor for one ismnotwasm Feb 2019 #6

Nicotine is used as a pesticide Poiuyt Feb 2019 #9

So is vinegar (nt) Recursion Feb 2019 #11

A single cigarette can kill a 2-yo child that eats it. A glassful of vinegar will not. Hekate Feb 2019 #120

Yep. We have to watch one of our cats happybird Feb 2019 #130

How do you deal with the nicotine addiction? Blue_true Feb 2019 #60

The same as with cigarettes IllinoisBirdWatcher Feb 2019 #73

No it's not Drahthaardogs Feb 2019 #146

The emissions from it chased me out of our smoke shack at work... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #3

Uhh huh... jayfish Feb 2019 #22

You're a vaper, apparently? Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #26

All devicces don't create large clouds SoCalNative Feb 2019 #28

Maybe, but those devices emit huge amounts of "what the fuck is that" smoke... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #30

You don't know what you're talking about. jayfish Feb 2019 #33

We'll see in a few years... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #35

I'll Take You Up On That But; jayfish Feb 2019 #39

There's not vaping cabals? Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #43

No, there really isn't. jayfish Feb 2019 #47

El Chapo link! Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #55

I'd sooner nominate a cinderblock. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #90

Thanks for the PA! Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #91

All I got for you, slick. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #92

Another PA? Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #93

"Ridicule is the only weapon which may be used against unintelligible propositions." Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #100

Would you describe how they emit smoke, please? Mariana Feb 2019 #41

They drag on a device and then I can't breathe or see shit. Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #49

You said they emit smoke. They don't. Mariana Feb 2019 #51

They emit "steam" Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #54

And again SoCalNative Feb 2019 #109

That's called vapor/mist, not smoke. backscatter712 Feb 2019 #142

Or ask a former 35-year 3 pack a day smoker Doremus Feb 2019 #69

I'm at 40 yrs... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #70

Apparently your lungs are still pliable enough to inhale and exhale the smoke. Doremus Feb 2019 #74

The devil you know... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #77

Kids? I'm 64. Doremus Feb 2019 #81

I was Dx'd with asthma when I was 30 Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #80

First mistake is calling it smoke. I won't bother running down the rest. nt UniteFightBack Feb 2019 #83

It's chemical-laden steam... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #87

it should just smell like steam...but I vape weed not nicotine so maybe.. samnsara Feb 2019 #65

No, it was choking, thick, and (likely) not healthy at all Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #66

Me too! The Truth Is Here Feb 2019 #101

does a misty morning make you flee indoors? Inkfreak Feb 2019 #112

For vaping, there's the risk of nicotine dependence. Other risk are associated with vaping, such as WhiskeyGrinder Feb 2019 #5

Loss of dental fillings. eom Cetacea Feb 2019 #36

Can you cite your assertions? jayfish Feb 2019 #50

The respiratory complications are only "associated with," aka correlated. WhiskeyGrinder Feb 2019 #57

Popcorn Lung depending on the flavoring, that's about it. uponit7771 Feb 2019 #7

I heard about this in relation to JUUL pods the other day. dewsgirl Feb 2019 #103

Should teens be permitted to vape with zero nicotine fluid? Mariana Feb 2019 #8

As an alternative to ever starting to smoke,... jayfish Feb 2019 #24

A couple of days ago I saw and article saying safeinOhio Feb 2019 #12

I don't think anyone really knows yet. MineralMan Feb 2019 #13

Some adults don't like to see other adults using e-cigs. Mariana Feb 2019 #16

Yes. Cetacea Feb 2019 #37

I think you're right. MineralMan Feb 2019 #82

The only person I know who vapes is a woman in our tailgate group for Ivy League games at CTyankee Feb 2019 #86

There is research saying that nicotine can affect the developing brain. So though nicotine pnwmom Feb 2019 #14

I mean, you could say the same thing about caffeine, right? (nt) Recursion Feb 2019 #15

Well, that's totally different. Somehow. nt. Mariana Feb 2019 #17

I didn't think teens were supposed to drink coffee. I still don't, pnwmom Feb 2019 #19

Who told you teens aren't supposed to drink coffee? nt. Mariana Feb 2019 #45

Back in the old days they used to say pnwmom Feb 2019 #67

Yup, I was told the same thing. MrsCoffee Feb 2019 #96

Fascinating. They sold caffeinated drinks at my high school. Mariana Feb 2019 #115

It was definitely a thing in my family. Codeine Feb 2019 #89

I went to high school in the 1980's. Mariana Feb 2019 #114

Me too, which is why it's so weird. Codeine Feb 2019 #123

Well, neither is the crusade against vaping logic-driven. nt. Mariana Feb 2019 #133

Conversly, there is research that suggests it prevents dementia Cetacea Feb 2019 #40

Hint: jayfish Feb 2019 #42

I agree. And I try for the most part. Thanks Cetacea Feb 2019 #46

I Hate to Sound Conspiratorial But; jayfish Feb 2019 #52

Nicotine can be lethal in sufficient quantities? Of course! So can water. Demit Feb 2019 #58

My kids were both hooked at age 12 by the Joe Camel ad campaign, which was aimed at their age group Hekate Feb 2019 #119

Nicotine is harmful and so is vaping Meowmee Feb 2019 #18

I quit smoking tobacco before vaping was a thing, but found that vaping cannabis makes me cough.. aidbo Feb 2019 #20

95% Less Harmful Than Tobacco jayfish Feb 2019 #21

But just as annoying to be around. nt USALiberal Feb 2019 #25

I find Trump supporters, perfume and flatulence annoying. jayfish Feb 2019 #31

I know some teens doing it who never would of started smoking. Not a good thing. nt USALiberal Feb 2019 #32

I'm sure no adult in my life would have ever dreamed I would smoke. jayfish Feb 2019 #34

I've never met a genuine clairvoyant in real life. Mariana Feb 2019 #116

My doctors agree. More than one of my doctors have stated... LuckyCharms Feb 2019 #139

Is it safe for my kid to be in the same room with a relative who vapes nicotine from a Juul? NightWatcher Feb 2019 #23

Should be fine. jayfish Feb 2019 #29

Do you let your kid eat nightshades? They contain nicotine, too. nt. Mariana Feb 2019 #48

She ate a lampshade once... NightWatcher Feb 2019 #64

Probably, but there aren't enough (any) long-term studies to be able to say how bad. DanTex Feb 2019 #27

Yeah, it's kind of like all the additives in cigarette tobacco TexasBushwhacker Feb 2019 #78

I agree with that, but "not proven safe" is a world away from "proven dangerous", don't you think? Recursion Feb 2019 #105

Absolutely, but there is an awful lot of stuff that is GRAS TexasBushwhacker Feb 2019 #113

I wouldn't want my child to vape. Dave Starsky Feb 2019 #38

I do believe less harmful than cigarettes. Flaleftist Feb 2019 #44

A Well-Reasoned Opinion -NT- jayfish Feb 2019 #53

I would recommend only two things to vape. Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #59

A friggin men The Truth Is Here Feb 2019 #104

All I know is when I was smoking I would have 2 or 3 severe colds a year causing asthmatic vsrazdem Feb 2019 #56

So true and I would get a disgusting phloemmy cough and bad nasal drip year round. GONE! NT UniteFightBack Feb 2019 #84

Same thing Jersey Devil Feb 2019 #125

Doctors acknowledge that vaping nicotine is harm reduction. Demit Feb 2019 #61

American studies are crap. Sweden, Norway, Uk, Germany have OregonBlue Feb 2019 #62

its the nicotine in the flavored juice samnsara Feb 2019 #63

Don't feed the trolls Pisces Feb 2019 #68

yeah, no shit... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #72

Harm is extremely rare* when e-cigs are used purely to quit cigarettes or chew.... KY_EnviroGuy Feb 2019 #75

It is sad that teens are targeted. This is what happens when corporation profit is put above Doodley Feb 2019 #76

How are teens being targeted? nt. Mariana Feb 2019 #122

Candy flavors, social media clearly aimed at youngsters,, marketing images using young models Doodley Feb 2019 #134

I will stick with hashish and bourbon. Cold War Spook Feb 2019 #79

Until nicotine is outlawed....enough of this bullshit. Pass the vape pon the left hand side. nt UniteFightBack Feb 2019 #85

I'll stick with the dutchie... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #88

Yes, it causes a condition called "Popcorn Lung". DetlefK Feb 2019 #94

Not according to this link. LuckyCharms Feb 2019 #97

It must be fun to just make shit up and believe it. nt. Mariana Feb 2019 #108

Fake news Jersey Devil Feb 2019 #124

I quit smoking and started vaping 6 years ago. LuckyCharms Feb 2019 #95

Having one blow up in your face would probably ruin your day... pecosbob Feb 2019 #98

That's why you don't mess with home made vaping mods. LuckyCharms Feb 2019 #99

What we've learned, since vaping began to get popular Mariana Feb 2019 #102

Bu ... bu ... bu ... it's still the dreaded CHEMICALS!!11! mr_lebowski Feb 2019 #107

Completely smoke free locations drmeow Feb 2019 #127

Now we have at least one person on this thread Mariana Feb 2019 #128

No kidding. happybird Feb 2019 #132

Hard to say for sure. logosoco Feb 2019 #106

Not sure, tbh. I have no problem with kids doing it either, or marketing to kids. Oneironaut Feb 2019 #110

Had a friend who owned a chain of vaping stores Johnny2X2X Feb 2019 #111

Harmless unless you think lifelong addiction and cancers are a problem. It's nicotine. Hekate Feb 2019 #117

Does nicotine cause cancer? (nt) Recursion Feb 2019 #121

No, it doesn't. Mariana Feb 2019 #126

It's Big Tobacco and they target teenagers. Any more questions? Hekate Feb 2019 #118

Would you show us how they target teenagers, please? Mariana Feb 2019 #129

Not harmful Mr. Quackers Feb 2019 #131

I'm new here so I'll try not to aggravate anyone, but as an ex-smoker who ForgedCrank Feb 2019 #135

Hear Hear! Leith Feb 2019 #136

Some people really, really hate smokers - and former smokers, too. Mariana Feb 2019 #137

This is correct. and the ironic thing is that each one of my doctors have LuckyCharms Feb 2019 #138

Well, I didn't really want to say that, but it appears that is the case a lot of times ForgedCrank Feb 2019 #140

It's less harmful than smoking. backscatter712 Feb 2019 #141

Nicotine IS a vasoconstrictor. I used to believe as you do that it janx Feb 2019 #143

If they were really concerned about "secondhand nicotine" Mariana Feb 2019 #144

Chemicals in flavorings are harmful loyalsister Feb 2019 #145

This has already been addressed upthread Mariana Feb 2019 #147

The jury is still out loyalsister Feb 2019 #148