The vaping industry has received a lot of negative press from the media besides its range of benefits to ex-smokers. When the news of the first death linked to vaping came out, the industry once again came under fire, but things aren't as they seem.
Today I am going to explain the truth about this vaping death and many other vape stories from the media.
The Vaping Death in Illinois
As the BBC reported, a patient died in America after developing a respiratory disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated there were 193 "potential cases" in 22 US states, however, these cases are mostly down to vaping "THC".
THC is a compound found in the cannabis plant which can have hallucinogenic properties. This component is not used in normal e-liquids and, although it is used in CBD e-liquids, it is in very small amounts (below 0.2%).
The THC vapes being used by these patients are over this percentage and, as stated in the article, have been bought off the black market. The words "black market" don't scream safety or legal, so it's very possible these illnesses were for those specific e-liquids. The e-liquids on this site however do not contain any THC and are therefore legal and safe.
Vape Explosions
In May 2018, Tallmadge D'Elia, an American, died after their vape pen exploded and shrapnel was projected into the cranium. The man also suffered burns throughout the body due to this. The e-cigarette manufacturer Smok-E Mountain (not to be confused with Smok) stated that this was a battery issue.
The vape used was an unregulated advanced mod, which did not come with a chip to prevent overheating. Advanced mods are not the best to use for beginner vapers. The issue may have still been down to the battery since incorrect insertion can cause it to overheat and explode.
The Food and Drug Association published some tips about being safe with batteries. Firstly, try to use mods with safety features, such as regulated mods which contain a computer chip to prevent overheating. Be sure to keep your vape covered and away from coins and other metal objects that may cause the battery to short circuit. Use the recommended charger that comes with the kit and make sure to not leave the kit charging overnight. Finally, make sure to get rid of any damaged or wet batteries,
There have been a few vape explosions over the past few years, some that are even fatal, which can give the vape industry a negative press. In reality, your vape battery has as much risk of exploding as your mobile phone.
Children Vaping
One of the biggest vape topics in the media focuses on children getting addicted to vaping, and this leading to smoking. There have been stories of vapes marketing to kids. A few companies have used kid-friendly designs and kiddy sweets for their e-liquids, but this has since been stopped by the FDA.
Most websites, including this one, have an age restriction policy to make sure the customer is at the legal vaping age. This stops kids from buying vapes.
A study has found that of the kids that do vape, the majority of them are kids that already smoke. In the study, only 0.8% of non-smokers are current vapers, and none of these said they vape on a daily basis.
Conclusion
While there are still studies going on to see how safe vaping truly is, vaping is still widely regarded as a good alternative to smoking.