Does Vaping Affect Indoor Air Quality?
Emily
Once upon a time, smoking was seen as cool. Cowboys in movies would do it. The Marlboro Man would do it. Cool kids at school would do it.
Today, we know that it causes cardiovascular disease, all kinds of respiratory diseases, oral cancer, throat cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer… should we go on?
In addition, secondhand smoke can cause cancer to our loved ones and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) to babies.
So when vaping became a thing, a lot of us breathed in a sigh of relief. But should we be as quick to rejoice?
Vaping Indoors, Is it Safe?
Let’s start with the most basic question: What, exactly, is vaping?
These cigarette look-alikes contain a liquid-filled cartridge and a battery that warms up the liquid. Sounds harmless enough. But what’s in those liquids?
– Propylene glycol
– Vegetable glycerin
– Water
– Flavorings
– Nicotine
– Some brands include formaldehyde
Since probably about 5 people who aren’t scientists know what propylene glycol, let us enlighten you: It’s the main ingredient in antifreeze. While that may sound horrifying, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed it safe for human consumption. Therefore, it’s often used as a food additive in food dyes.
Vegetable glycerine is actually made out of plants and it is better for human consumption than sugar, so it’s not necessarily something to be alarmed about.
But what about that nicotine?
Nicotine is added to vaping liquid for the same reason it’s added to cigarettes: It’s addictive. It can also pose health problems for people who have a history of heart disease.
How Does Vaping Affect Indoor Air Quality?
The Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology studied the particles in the air at a 2017 vaping convention in Maryland. It concluded that, in large quantities, vaping does result in a significant amount of air pollutants.
However, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) also conducted a study to test the indoor air quality in places where people vape. Their conclusion is that exposure of vaping chemicals to bystanders are below regulatory standards used for workplaces or general indoor air quality.
A third study, conducted by environmentalists, titled Comparison of the Effects of E-Cigarette Vapor and Cigarette Smoke on Indoor Air Quality concluded that vaping results in a minute exposure of chemicals that poses no risk to human health.
When looking at the results of these studies, it appears that having a person vaping nearby may not cause any issues, while attending a place with a high concentration of vapers would expose people to poor air quality.
Call A+ Air Conditioning in Gainesville for Service
Regardless of the circumstances, proper ventilation and clean air ducts are necessary to ensure the highest quality of air in your home or business. There are plenty of things to worry about during everyday life. Don’t let the air you breathe be one of them.
Contact us for an indoor air quality assessment. You can call us at (352) 374-4988 or fill out an online query form and one of our HVAC experts will get back to you as soon as possible.