What is vaping?
Vaping refers to the act of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol produced by a vaping device such as an electronic cigarette. The aerosol is often mistakenly referred to as vapor, but it actually consists of fine particles. These particles contain varying amounts of toxic chemicals, depending on the ingredients in the vaping liquid.
Vaping devices heat up a liquid, called vape juice or e-liquid, turning it into an aerosol that the user inhales. E-liquids contain solvents, flavors, and often nicotine and other additives. When heated, the solvents turn into an aerosol, allowing the nicotine and flavors to be inhaled.
Vaping allows users to inhale nicotine without burning tobacco like a traditional cigarette. However, vapes still expose users to addictive nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals.
Types of vaping
There are two main types of vaping:
– Vaping with nicotine – Most vaping liquids contain nicotine, the addictive chemical found in tobacco products. Nicotine levels can vary from 3mg/mL up to 50mg/mL. The average cigarette contains 10-15mg of nicotine.
– Vaping without nicotine – Nicotine-free vaping liquids are available for people who want to vape without consuming nicotine. These products imitate flavors and sensations of vaping but do not contain any nicotine.
Vaping devices
There is a wide variety of vaping devices that heat and aerosolize liquid. Some common types include:
– Cigalikes – Resemble cigarettes and are low-powered. Most cigalikes are disposable.
– Vape pens – Slim, cylindrical devices. Can be beginner-friendly and customizable.
– Pod systems – Use pre-filled or replaceable pods for easy vaping. Examples are the Juul and Suorin.
– Mods – Advanced devices that are customizable and higher powered. Allow users to modify settings.
– Tanks/RDAs – Tanks hold e-liquid and contain coils to heat liquid. RDAs are rebuildable dripping atomizers that require manually dripping liquid onto exposed coils.
Is vaping without nicotine safe?
Although vaping without nicotine eliminates exposure to an addictive chemical, it does not make vaping completely safe or healthy. There are still risks, including:
Exposure to toxins
While nicotine-free vape juice removes a major harmful chemical, these products still introduce foreign substances into the lungs. Studies have found traces of toxins, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogens in vape aerosol. These include chemicals like:
– Formaldehyde – a known carcinogen
– Acetaldehyde – linked to lung cancer
– Lead – can cause neurological problems
– Nickel, chromium – linked to lung disease
– Diacetyl – associated with lung disease
The long-term health impact of inhaling these substances regularly remains unknown. Avoiding nicotine does not mean vape aerosol is harmless.
Potential lung damage
Nicotine-free vaping liquids still contain solvents as carrier liquids. Most vapes use a glycol such as vegetable glycerin (VG) or propylene glycol (PG) to create the vapor.
When heated and inhaled, glycols can irritate lung tissue and cause damage over time. Studies found glycerin inhalation increased lung inflammation and impaired lung function in nonsmokers.
While generally considered safe as food additives, glycols were not made to be inhaled. Their long-term safety via inhalation remains uncertain.
Risk of addiction
Vaping can be habit-forming even without nicotine’s addictive properties. The hand-to-mouth motion, clouds of vapor, and flavors make vaping rewarding for many users.
Studies show people who vape without nicotine end up vaping more frequently than nicotine vapers. They take more puffs and inhale more deeply to compensate for the lack of nicotine.
This increases overall exposure to potentially harmful aerosol. The habit of frequent vaping could also lead some users to eventually add nicotine to their vape juice.
Harmful flavorings
Nicotine-free vapes still contain added flavors, usually artificial. Studies found certain flavorings, when heated, break down into other chemicals that may have health risks.
For example, the buttery flavor diacetyl was linked to cases of bronchitis obliterans (“popcorn lung”) in microwave popcorn factory workers. Cinnamon, vanilla, and berry flavors were linked to lung inflammation in one study.
While many artificial flavors are FDA-approved for ingestion, their inhalation safety remains questionable. Overall, flavored nicotine-free vapes still expose lungs to unnatural chemicals.
Benefits of vaping without nicotine
Although not completely risk-free, vaping without nicotine does offer some advantages:
No nicotine dependence
Avoiding nicotine prevents becoming dependent on it or experiencing nicotine withdrawal. This makes it easier to cut down or quit vaping in the future.
For smokers, switching to nicotine-free vaping reduces nicotine intake and dependence on cigarettes. However, quitting vaping altogether is still the best option for health.
Less addiction liability
Vaping without nicotine is likely less addictive than nicotine vaping, though it can still become a habit. Non-nicotine vapes do not contain psychoactive drugs that create strong addiction.
This makes nicotine-free vaping more akin to a behavioral habit. Without nicotine enforcing use, some users may find non-nicotine vaping easier to moderate.
Flavor enjoyment
Those who vape mainly for flavor/sensation may enjoy nicotine-free products. They provide taste and experience without nicotine.
Vapers who want to minimize nicotine intake but still enjoy vaping can opt for lower nic strengths or nicotine-free juice. This tapers addictive potential.
Step down from nicotine
Vaping without nicotine can act as a stepping stone when trying to quit vaping. Users can taper nic strength over time until they reach zero nicotine. From there, stopping fully may be less difficult.
However, nonsmokers or ex-smokers are still better off avoiding vaping altogether, even without nicotine.
Who may benefit from nicotine-free vaping?
While no vaping is completely safe, some specific groups may see benefits from vaping without nicotine, compared to vaping with nicotine. These include:
Trying to quit smoking
For smokers, switching to nicotine-free vaping reduces cigarette consumption and nicotine dependence. This can make quitting easier compared to continuing smoking.
However, vaping any substance still carries risks. So nicotine-free vaping should not be seen as healthy, simply as a harm reduction measure for adult smokers who cannot or will not quit nicotine/tobacco outright.
Former smokers
In ex-smokers, vaping zero nicotine e-liquid removes reinforcing one’s addiction. This group has already overcome nicotine addiction, so any vaping would risk relapse.
That said, vaping still has risks for non-smokers. Those who have quit smoking are better off avoiding all vaping for their lung health.
Recent vapers
For those new to vaping, starting with zero nicotine avoids getting hooked on nicotine. However, taking up vaping in the first place remains inadvisable for never-smokers due to the risks.
Teens and youth are especially susceptible to nicotine addiction and lifelong effects on brain development. Nicotine-free vaping does reduce this risk but cannot be called “safe” for adolescent brains and bodies.
Long-term vapers
Vapers with a long history of nicotine vaping could use nicotine-free juice to wean dependence and make quitting easier. This allows tapering addictive potential while still vaping.
However, vaping risks remain whether using nicotine or not. Quitting all vaping is the best option for long-term health.
Risks of vaping without nicotine
While less risky than vaping with nicotine, using nicotine-free vapes still carries health hazards:
Inhaling toxins
Nicotine-free vapes still create an aerosol with particles that may contain traces of toxic metals, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogens. Long-term health impact of exposure is unknown.
Lung damage
Glycol-based solvents in vape liquid can irritate and inflame lung tissue when inhaled, even without nicotine present. This could impair lung function over time.
Behavioral addiction
The hand-to-mouth habit of vaping and flavor sensations can be mentally rewarding and addictive. More puffs may be taken to compensate for lack of nicotine.
Flavored chemicals
Artificial flavorings break down into other compounds when vaped, some linked to lung problems. Safety of inhaling most food-grade flavors remains untested.
Youth appeal
Labeled as nicotine-free, flavored vapes still strongly appeal to teens and youth. They can introduce vaping risks to young never-smokers.
Relapse risk
Users who have quit smoking or vaping face increased risk of relapse if they continue vaping without nicotine. Complete abstinence from vaping is most protective.
Signs of addiction
Behavioral signs that vaping without nicotine is becoming an unhealthy habit or addiction include:
– Strong urges to vape
– Vaping daily or very frequently
– Spending excessive time/money on vaping
– Vaping instead of working or being with family/friends
– Continued use despite health issues
– Failed attempts to cut back on vaping
– Using vaping to manage mood (anxiety, depression, anger, boredom)
– Vaping secretively or lying about use
– Withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, trouble concentrating, irritability) when stopping vaping
Mental addiction can occur even without chemical dependence on nicotine or other drugs. These behavioral and lifestyle impacts indicate when vaping, nicotine-free or not, has become unhealthy.
Conclusion
While vaping without nicotine eliminates exposure to an addictive chemical, it does not make the practice completely safe. Inhaling any foreign substance carries risks and long-term consequences for lung health.
Nicotine-free vaping may offer some benefits compared to vaping with nicotine. It can help smokers quit and allows vapers to taper nicotine intake.
However, vaping nicotine-free liquids still exposes the user to other potentially harmful chemicals and the risk of behavioral dependence. Those not currently addicted to nicotine are better off avoiding any vaping.
For adult smokers seeking to quit, vaping zero nicotine e-liquid could aid this transition. But it should not be viewed as healthy, simply less harmful than continuing smoking. The healthiest choice for non-smokers and ex-smokers remains abstaining from vaping altogether.