What Chemicals Are In Vapes? (Shocking Reveal)

Key Takeaways

• What chemicals are in vapes? Vape juice contains propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), nicotine, and flavorings. However, when heated, it releases harmful chemicals you must be aware of. Check below for details!

• In fact, many vape chemicals can cause serious health issues. Substances like diacetyl are linked to "popcorn lung," while heavy metals and carcinogens like formaldehyde may damage your lungs and increase cancer risks. Learn more about the risks of vape chemicals. 

• Understanding what chemicals are in vapes helps you make safer choices. Always check labels and avoid products with harmful additives like diacetyl or vitamin E acetate to minimize health risks. Explore how to identify safe vape products.

What Chemicals Are In Vapes? Source: X

Discover from top-quality vape juices to the latest devices, we have everything you need at Black Coral!

What Is Vape Juice Made Of?

According to the CDC’s visual dictionary on e-cigarette products, vape juice, also known as e-liquid, is a liquid that turns into an aerosol when heated by an e-cigarette or vaping device. 

It’s made up of a few key ingredients that work together to create the vaping experience. So, what chemicals are in vapes? Here’s a simple breakdown of the main vape juice ingredients:

• Propylene Glycol (PG): PG is a clear, odorless liquid used in vape juice to create a smooth throat hit and carry flavor. It’s a common ingredient in food and pharmaceutical products. Higher levels of PG are used when stronger flavors are desired.

• Vegetable Glycerin (VG): VG is a thicker, slightly sweet liquid that produces large clouds of vapor. It’s also used in food and cosmetics. A higher VG ratio is preferred for creating more vapor (plume).

• Nicotine: This is the addictive chemical found in vape juice, available in different strengths or as nicotine-free. Over time, nicotine can degrade, so proper storage is important.

• Flavorings: Food-grade flavorings give vape juice flavors, ranging from fruity to dessert-like flavors. These flavors are mixed with PG or VG to create the final product.

In fact, the CDC claims that some e-liquids may also include water or cannabis-derived compounds like THC or CBD.

The combination of PG, VG, nicotine, and flavorings is what makes up vape juice, and the balance of these ingredients can be adjusted to create different vaping experiences, whether you prefer more flavor or bigger clouds.

Components in vape juice. Source: Drugwatch.com

See more: How To Make Vape Juice? Step-By-Step Tutorial

What Chemicals Are In Vapes?

Now you know what is in vape juice, let’s discover what chemicals are in vape and it is actually safe to use.

Vapes contain a variety of substances that can be harmful when heated and inhaled. 

In vaping liquid, also known as vape juice, common ingredients include nicotine or THC (the psychoactive component in marijuana), flavorings, aromatic additives, and an oily liquid base like propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. 

While these substances may seem harmless, heating them can produce toxic chemicals that pose serious health risks.

Here’s a list of chemicals commonly found in vaping liquid and their potential effects:

• Diacetyl: A flavoring agent used to enhance vape juice flavors, linked to lung damage and a condition called "popcorn lung," which scars airways and reduces lung function.

• Formaldehyde: A toxic chemical that can cause lung disease and contribute to heart disease; also a known carcinogen.

• Acetaldehyde: Another carcinogen that can damage cells in the lungs and increase the risk of cancer.

• Acrolein: Often used as a weed killer, it can severely irritate and damage lung tissue when inhaled.

• Vitamin E Acetate: Frequently used in THC-based vape liquids as a thickening agent; linked to severe lung injury (EVALI).

• Heavy Metals: Including nickel, tin, lead, and cadmium, which can leach from the vape device's heating components and accumulate in the lungs, causing inflammation and other health issues.

• Ultrafine Particles: Tiny particles created during the heating process can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to irritation and potential long-term damage.

• Carcinogens: Such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, are produced when the liquid is heated and can increase the risk of cancer.

A 2022 study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences highlights the presence of toxic metals like lead, chromium, and manganese in vape aerosols, which can lead to inflammation and lung injury. 

Unlike nebulizers, which deliver therapeutic mist, vaping introduces these potentially dangerous chemicals directly into the lungs, increasing the likelihood of inflammation and other health complications. 

Therefore, as a vape user, you must know what chemicals are in vaping liquid and what’s in vape juice to recognize the risks associated with vaping.

See more: How Long Do Vapes Last? Tips To Prolong Its Lifespan

Are Vape Chemicals Safe?

No, as warned by many healthcare studies and health organizations, including CDC. 

“No tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are safe.”

Vaping exposes users to a mix of potentially harmful substances that can cause significant health issues, particularly affecting the lungs. While scientists are still studying the full effects, what is already known is concerning.

In specific, vape juice ingredients often include nicotine, flavorings, aromatic additives, and oily liquid bases like propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. When heated, these substances can create harmful byproducts like cancer-causing chemicals and ultrafine particles that can lodge deep in the lungs. Heavy metals like nickel and lead from the devices' heating elements may also enter the aerosol. 

An infographic from the University of Northern Iowa on the dangers of vaping. Source: UNI

Let’s take diacetyl, for instance, a chemical used to enhance flavors, which has been linked to “popcorn lung,” a condition that damages small airways in the lungs, causing permanent scarring and making breathing difficult. Popcorn lung has no cure, though symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and chest pain can be managed.

Another condition associated with vaping is lipoid pneumonia, which occurs when oily substances from e-liquid are inhaled into the lungs, triggering inflammation. This type of pneumonia causes chronic cough, shortness of breath, and sometimes coughing up blood. There is no specific treatment except supportive care and stopping vaping to allow the lungs to heal.

See more: Which Vape is Right for You? Explore 5 Types of Vapes & Brands

Vaping has also been linked to primary spontaneous pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung. This can happen when weak spots on the lungs rupture, often in young, thin individuals who vape. Symptoms include sharp chest pain, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath. While mild cases may heal with rest and oxygen therapy, severe cases might require surgery.

Although vaping may be marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, it’s important to understand what chemicals are in vapes. Many of these substances, such as diacetyl, formaldehyde, and vitamin E acetate, are harmful when inhaled. 

Here is the summary of vaping dangers to your health:

• Asthma and Lung Conditions: Vaping can trigger asthma, worsen existing asthma, and increase the risk of other lung conditions.

• Popcorn Lung: Diacetyl, found in some flavored e-liquids, can cause bronchiolitis obliterans, leading to permanent lung scarring and breathing difficulties.

• EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury): A severe lung condition causing symptoms like coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. EVALI can be fatal.

• Organ Damage: Nicotine and other chemicals in vaping liquids can harm the lungs, heart, and brain, raising blood pressure, narrowing arteries, and impairing brain development in young people.

• Addiction: Nicotine is highly addictive and can alter brain chemistry, making it hard to quit vaping. Even "nicotine-free" e-liquids often contain trace amounts of nicotine.

• Cancer: Ingredients like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in e-liquids are known carcinogens that increase cancer risk.

• Heavy Metal Exposure: Toxic metals such as nickel, lead, and cadmium from vaping devices can contaminate the vapor and harm the lungs.

• Cigarette Smoking: Vaping often leads users to start smoking cigarettes, exposing them to even more harmful chemicals.

• Second-Hand Exposure: Bystanders can inhale nicotine and other harmful chemicals released when someone vapes.

• Explosions: Vaping devices can explode, causing burns and serious injuries.

In short, vaping is dangerous. Source: Hackensack Meridian Health

Scientists still have much to learn about the long-term effects, but the current evidence shows that vaping can lead to serious health problems.

See more: Top 10 Best Vape Flavors in 2024 | Black Coral's Ultimate Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What chemicals should I avoid in vape juice?

• Diacetyl: A flavoring agent linked to "popcorn lung," causing permanent scarring in the lungs and breathing difficulties.

• Formaldehyde: A toxic chemical that can cause cancer and contribute to lung and heart diseases.

• Acetaldehyde: A known carcinogen that damages lung cells and increases cancer risk.

• Acrolein: Often used as a weed killer, this chemical can irritate and damage lung tissue.

• Vitamin E Acetate: Common in THC-based vape liquids, it has been linked to severe lung injury (EVALI).

• Nicotine: Highly addictive and harmful to brain development, especially in young people. It also raises blood pressure and narrows arteries.

• Heavy Metals: Include nickel, tin, lead, and cadmium, which can leach from the device’s heating components and damage the lungs.

• Ultrafine Particles: Tiny particles created when the liquid is heated that can lodge deep into the lungs, causing irritation and long-term damage.

• Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG): While common in vape liquids, they can produce harmful byproducts when heated, such as formaldehyde.

• Carcinogens: Such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, increase cancer risks.

2. Is there diacetyl in vape juice?

Yes, diacetyl is often found in flavored vape juice to enhance taste. It’s a harmful chemical linked to “popcorn lung,” a condition causing permanent lung damage and breathing problems. While some vape brands claim to be diacetyl-free, not all are, so it’s crucial to check labels and avoid it.

3. Can vape chemicals harm your lungs?

Yes, vape chemicals can harm your lungs, which has been warned by health studies and global health organizations like CDC. Substances like diacetyl, formaldehyde, and vitamin E acetate can cause conditions like “popcorn lung,” lung inflammation, and severe injuries like EVALI. These chemicals can scar lung tissue, make breathing difficult, and lead to long-term damage, proving vaping is not safe for the lungs.