Facts

What is Vegetable Glycerin?
Vegetable glycerin is also known as vegetable glycerol. It is a carbohydrate that is usually derived from plant oils. It is used as a sweetener and as an ingredient in a number of cosmetic products. Vegetable glycerin is also used in place of alcohol to extract botanicals.

Vegetable glycerin based E-liquid usually contain at least 80% and as much as 92% Vegetable glycerin. This is the ingredient that produces the smoke like vapor when the e-cigarette is exhaled. Approximately 20% of all e-liquids on the market today are vegetable glycerin based. Vegetable glycerin typically produces more vapor production then propylene glycol, but has reduced throat hit. It is also slightly more viscous (thicker) and slightly sweeter then propylene glycol. Its increased thickness makes it a culprit in reducing the life of atomizers. Some e-smokers use a blend of vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol - most often 80-90% PG and 10-20% VG, and sometimes a 50/50 split VG to PG in their e-liquid.

Products with Vegetable Glycerin can be found in various common items around your house. A few examples include:

• Sugar substitute
• In Beauty products including makeup, mousse, shampoo, bubble bath, after shave, and deodorant
• Pet food
• Soap
• Skin and hand cream
• Baked goods - increase moisture
• As a thick gel for creams, gel capsule pills, rubs and jellies
• Eye & ear drops, toothpastes, pastes, and many dental care products
  Glycerin is classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) and complies with specifications for the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), United States Pharmacopeia (USP), and European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur. or EP) E244. It is manufactured according to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and is shipped according to applicable Good Trade and Distribution Practices (GTDP).

Vegetable Glycerin studies

Glycerol is one of the most benign organic liquids known to man. It is hype-allergenic, non-carcinigeic, non teratogenic and non-mutagenic. It is metabolized quite easily by a process called beta-oxidation. This process results in the production of CO2 and H2O and is a quite normal, common, and natural catabolic process.

The following is a few excerpts from a study called SIDS initial assessment profile of Glycerol

• Glycerol is of low toxicity when injested, inhaled, or in contact with skin
• The NOACE for local irritant effects to the upper respiratory tract is 165 mg/m3
• Glycerol is of a low order of acute oral and dermal toxicity with LD50 values in excess of 4000 mg/kw bw.
• Glycerol has low potential to irritate the skin and the eye
• Glycerol is not a skin sensitiser
• Glycerol does not induce gene mutations in bacterial strains, chromosomal effects in mammalian cells or primary DNA damage in vitro
• Overall, glycerol is not considered to possess genotoxic potential
• No effects on fertility and reproductive performance were observed
• No further work is indicated by this study, because of the low hazard potential of this substance.

Vegetable Glycerin Allergies & Side effects

Allergies

The risk of being allergic to vegetable glycerin is very low. The only patient population which may experience problems with metabolism of Glycerol would be diabetics owing to the anabolic hepatic pathway which can convert free Glycerol to glucose(but this would still not be an issue at the levels used in vaping).

Side Effects

The most common noted side effect of inhalation of e-liquid containing vegetable glycerin is a dry mouth, sore throat, and increased thirst. These symptoms usually last just a few days to a week as the body gets used to the vegetable glycerin. These symptoms can be lessened by drinking more water and liquids than usual for the first few weeks of using your e-cigarette.

If you are moving from smoking traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes, you will find there are many side effects of quitting smoking tobacco products. It is very easy for a new user of an e-cigarette to incorrectly attribute these quitting smoking side effects to the e-cigarette, when in fact they are likely the result of your body's reaction to quitting smoking tobacco cigarettes. Side effects of quitting smoking include: Bad breath, stomach pain, nausea, constipation, increased appetite, skin breakout's, increased coughing, insomnia, depression, vagueness, irritability, gas, dry throat, nasal drip, dizziness, vertigo. Many of these side effects of quitting smoking will be alleviated by using the e-cigarette.

What is propylene glycol?

• Propylene glycol is a clear, colorless, slightly syrupy liquid at room temperature. It may exist in air in the vapor form, although propylene glycol must be heated or briskly shaken to produce a vapor     
• Propylene glycol is practically odorless and tasteless      
• Propylene glycol is a chemical made by reaction of propylene oxide with water
• Propylene glycol has had an unsurpassed reputation for safe use in a wide range of consumer products, including food products, animal feed, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as well as industrial applications
• It's used as a stabilizer (to keep things held together, and keep them from evaporating), and to keep foods moist. It's used in many of the foods that we eat, and the FDA deems it safe for human consumption
• PIndustrial grade propylene glycol is an ingredient used to make non-toxic antifreeze and deicing solutions for cars, airplanes, and boats; to make polyester compounds; and as solvent in the paint and plastics industries.

The point above needs a special note, since PG has been vilified in the media for being an ingredient in antifreeze. These reports fail to mention that they are referring to non-toxic antifreeze, giving consumers a false impression. This is a scare tactic used by the media, those who are misinformed and organizations against e-cigarettes. More information is below in the FAQ

Propylene Glycol (PG) in e-cigarette cartridges:

• The content of the liquid solution found in cartridges includes three primary ingredients: nicotine (except in Zero nicotine carts), flavorings, water and pharmaceutical-grade propylene glycol.     
• Propylene glycol is added to the liquid solution as a vaporizable base to dilute pure liquefied nicotine
• Because of its water-retaining properties, propylene glycol is the compound of choice for delivering atomized medications. It has been used in asthma inhalers and nebulizers since the 1950's
• In e-cigarettes, propylene glycol allows atomization to take place at substantially lower temperatures than required for a tobacco cigarette and will also help carry / deliver the nicotine when the vapor is inhaled
• While the contents of the liquid solution found in cartridges may vary depending upon brands, the major ingredients usually remain the same.

Features of propylene glycol:
 

• Serves as a solvent
• Connects and stabilizes insoluble fluids (emulsifier)
• Helps to bind and transport other substances (excipient)
• Holds and dissolves active ingredients equally in a medium
• Attracts/holds water/moisture (hygroscopic)
• Reduces the freezing point
• Increases the boiling point
• Offers outstanding stability with high flash and boiling pointsBy emulsifying (mixing) active ingredients, which otherwise would not mix with one another, the propylene glycol creates a stable homogeneous fluid that will allow the intended final product, be it a face cream or shampoo, for example, to do its job.

Safety of propylene glycol:

• It has been used safely for more than 50 years, including in health-sensitive products such as food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, where the molecule mainly serves as non-active ingredient or carrier of other substances
• Studies have proven that propylene glycol has a very low degree of toxicity
• In the body, propylene glycol is rapidly converted into lactic acid, in a similar manner to what happens with sugar (energy) in the muscles during sports.

• PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE PROPYLENE GLYCOL
  Applications of propylene glycol:
• To carry flavors in food and drinks
• To make face creams, body lotions, deodorant-sticks, lipsticks and many other cosmetic articles soft, moist and consistent
• To stabilize foams in cosmetic and healthcare products
• To help pet and livestock feed retain its moisture and taste
• To act as a carrier of active ingredients in vaccines, cough relief syrups or gel capsules to help deliver this substances within the body for treatment and prevention of diseases
  Applications of propylene glycol in cosmetics and toiletries include products in:
• Personal care: bath and shower soaps, gels, face cleansers, shaving foams, after shave, antiperspirant deodorants, roll-ons, sticks, lipsticks, fragrances, perfumes
• Skin care: hand, body and facial moisturizers, sunscreen products
• Hair care: shampoos, conditioners, styling gels
• Oral care: mouthwashes, toothpaste
• Baby care: wipes, antiseptics

• Propylene glycol has been approved for use as a food additive. In direct food contact it is mainly used as:
  • Solvent and carrier of flavor or color in the food and beverage manufacturing processes, to make drinks, cookies, cakes, candy
  • Thickener, clarifier and stabilizer in food and beverage such as beer, salad dressings or baking products
    Applications of propylene glycol as pet and cattle feed additive* include its use as a(n):
  • Humectant to provide moisture and taste. " A humectant is a substance with the ability to attract and hold water in a formulation"
  • Solvent, stabilizer and preservative to keep the feed suitable for longer use
  • Additive for increased energy provision o
    * Not approved for use in cat food
  • Some Pharmaceutical applications include:
  • Therapeutic drugs and medicines, such as vaccines or cough
  • Local anesthetics
  • Antiseptics
  • Vitamins and hormones