How often do you read the label on your favorite disposable vape? If you inhale the vapor without thinking too deeply about the ingredients, join the club. Millions of vapers across the U.S. regularly indulge in disposable devices, unaware of the harmful chemicals they are breathing in. Diacetyl and vitamin E acetate are just a few of the chemicals found in disposables that have disastrous (and in some cases, fatal) health effects.
Natural e-liquids, also known as N.E.T. e-liquids, aren’t beacons of health. However, they contain fewer harmful chemicals and eliminate synthetic ingredients. When compared to disposables, they are a great alternative for health-conscious individuals.
Let’s take a deeper look into the battle between disposables and natural e-liquids.
A Look Inside Disposable Vape E-Liquids
What’s inside your favorite disposable vape?
Disposable E-Liquid Flavor Profiles
Disposable vapes are characterized by quick, efficient manufacturing processes and design principles. The outer shells are slim and button-free, allowing for a draw-activated, unobtrusive vaping experience.
The inner workings of disposables are even more streamlined. Popular brands such as Elf Bar and Lost Mary use artificial flavors to speed up the manufacturing process, stretch their e-liquids further, and sell, sell, sell as fast as possible.
Most of the time, this isn’t a problem. Popular disposable e-liquid flavors include dessert, candy, and fruit flavors, which can be recreated in labs without compromising on flavor. However, a problem arises when vape manufacturers attempt to recreate the authentic taste of tobacco with less than authentic ingredients.
The Disposable Vape Tobacco Dilemma
There are lots of tobacco tastes: smoky, robust, peppery, sweet, and nutty, the list goes on. But the overarching rich, intricate, and indulgent taste of tobacco never changes. Try as they might, disposable vape manufacturers just can’t replicate the taste of naturally extracted tobacco.
When faced with an environmental crisis, every product that enters the market should be designed for recyclability. Disposable vapes are a clear example of when products have been designed with no thought for their environmental impact and should be subject to an extended producer responsibility scheme that incentivises the right eco-design.
— Gavin Graveson, Veolia Senior Executive Vice President, Northern Europe
What Are Disposable Vape E-Liquid Flavorings Made From?
Vape brands use all sorts of man-made ingredients to create e-liquid flavorings. Some of the ingredients are food-grade flavorings, whereas others are untested chemicals.
Here are some of the most common synthetic e-liquid flavors.
·Benzaldehyde PG acetal: Fruity flavors
·Cinnamaldehyde: Cinnamon flavors
·Corylone: Maple syrup flavors
·Diacetyl: Buttery flavor
·Ethyl lactate: Sweet, fruity flavors
·Ethyl maltol: Sweet, caramel flavors
·Menthol: Minty flavors
A study from 2022 analyzed flavor chemicals in tobacco-flavored vape products purchased between 2010 to 2011 to those purchased in 2019. It concluded that the total number and concentration of flavor chemicals were higher than expected in the 2019 samples.
Researchers also recorded the five most frequent flavor chemicals:
·Ethyl maltol (60%)
·Corylone (44%)
·Menthol (25%)
·Vanillin (25%)
·Triacetin (24%)
This brings us to the biggest dilemma inherent in disposable vapes: with manufacturers constantly adding filler ingredients and untested chemicals, how can you be sure your disposable is safe for consumption?
This problem has reared its head in recent years, with researchers discovering the true extent of the health problems associated with artificial ingredients.
Health Problems Associated With Artificial E-Liquid Ingredients
Although the FDA has approved ethyl maltol for consumption, the same can’t be said for the other flavor ingredients we’ve mentioned. In particular, menthol has been found to negatively effect the lungs, leaving vapers with a whole slew of cardiopulmonary diseases.
One study analyzed data from smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and found that more severe lung inflammation appeared in patients who smoked menthol cigarettes compared to those who smoked non-menthol cigarettes.
In yet another study, researchers used a robotic system that mimics the mechanics of human breathing to ascertain whether menthol e-cigarettes generated a larger number of toxic microparticles than menthol-free e-cigarettes. They concluded that menthol e-cigarettes generate a greater number of toxic particles.
Popcorn Lung
We can’t talk about the dangers of disposable vape ingredients without mentioning popcorn lung, one of the earliest recorded health complications resulting from disposable e-cigarette use.
Popcorn lung first entered the public consciousness in 2000, when workers at a popcorn factory developed a rare lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans. It causes the airways in the lungs to narrow, a condition that can be fatal.
Doctors soon realized that the lung condition was caused by inhaling diacetyl, a buttery flavoring used in the popcorn factory. Even with evidence that inhaling diacetyl could prove fatal, researchers have found evidence that it is still present in disposable vape devices.
A study from 2015 analyzed 51 types of flavored e-cigarettes from leading brands to ascertain whether diacetyl and two other flavoring ingredients were present. Diacetyl was detected above the laboratory limit of detection in 39 of the 51 flavors, an astounding 15 years after diacetyl was first proven to damage lungs.
The EVALI Epidemic
The EVALI epidemic of 2019 is yet another example of the dangers of artificial disposable vape flavorings.
Between August 2019 and September 2019, there was a rapid increase in e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) cases. In the short term, the symptoms include stomach pain, fever, chills, increased heart rate, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.
In the long term, EVALI can cause death. By February 2020, the CDC had recorded 68 deaths caused by EVALI along with just under 3,000 hospitalizations.
Eventually, researchers traced the problem back to vitamin E acetate, a synthetic version of vitamin E. It is often used as a thickening agent, meaning 68 vapers lost their lives because vape manufacturers wanted to reduce their expenses.
What Are Natural E-Liquids?
N.E.T. e-liquids, or naturally extracted tobacco e-liquids, are the opposite of the synthetic, man-made vaping products that have flooded the market in recent years.
As the name suggests, these e-liquids are derived entirely from organic materials.
Naturally extracted tobacco e-liquid stands head and shoulders above traditional, man-made e-liquids found in disposable vapes. The flavor isn’t comparable, especially when it comes to classic cigarette tastes.
Are N.E.T. E-Liquids Good for New Vapers?
People who transition from combustible cigarettes to e-cigarettes have a difficult road ahead of them. To make the transition as easy as possible, most new vapers buy tobacco-flavored e-liquids. As we mentioned before, a lot of tobacco-flavored disposable vapes are disappointing, which could make new vapers crave combustible cigarettes more than ever.
To enjoy a seamless transition, new vapers should begin their journey with N.E.T. e-liquids.
Besides, switching from combustible cigarettes to disposable vapes is akin to trading one set of health concerns for another. Although naturally extracted tobacco e-liquids still contain harmful chemicals such as nicotine, they are far less risky than disposables. After all, Americans have already faced serious, and in some cases, fatal, health problems due to untested chemicals in disposables.
When you choose naturally extracted tobacco e-liquids, you can satisfy your taste buds without taking on any more risks than necessary.
Most Popular N.E.T E-Liquids
Want to switch from disposables to N.E.T. e-liquids? Start with these popular flavors.
American Blend E-Liquid
American Blend e-liquid tastes just like a classic cigarette, making it perfect for transitioning vapers who don’t want to forgo the familiar taste of tobacco.
Vaping360 has given American Blend 5/5 stars and named it the best tobacco-flavored e-liquid for 2024. Nothing compares to the fine-tuned blend of authentic, carefully cultivated tobacco varieties.
Virginia Tobacco E-Liquid
Virginia Tobacco e-liquid is a study in indulgence: the flavor profile is mellow and mildly sweet, dancing across your palate and leaving you wanting more. Fans compare it to Parliament, Benson & Hedges, and Marlboro cigarettes.
This N.E.T. e-liquid is completely free from man-made flavorings, showing just how tasty natural, organic ingredients can be.
Like American Blend, this e-liquid has also gained recognition for its superb flavor profile. Vaping360 named it the best tobacco-flavored e-liquid of 2023, catapulting it to new heights in the vape community. According to Vaping360, Black Note is a vape brand that is only surpassed by itself.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. This information is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company. The author, who is not a medical professional, writes this blog post without intending to offer medical advice or replace advice or treatment from a personal physician.
This blog post discusses tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and related substances, intended solely for adult use and potentially harmful to health. We advise all readers/users of this content to quit smoking and/or vaping, or to consult a doctor before starting or continuing to smoke and/or vape.
The author, the blog, and its affiliates assume no responsibility for any actions or inaction a reader takes based on the information presented in this blog. We do not intend this content to promote smoking or vaping, and readers should interpret it accordingly.