Vaping has become increasingly popular over the past decade, especially among young people. Many vape as an alternative to smoking cigarettes. But there are still open questions around vaping, especially when it comes to vaping without nicotine. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of vaping without nicotine and look at the evidence around whether it’s safer and healthier than vaping with nicotine.
Is vaping without nicotine safer than vaping with nicotine?
When it comes to health and safety, most experts agree that vaping without nicotine is likely safer than vaping with nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance that can have negative health effects, especially for youth and adolescent brain development. Here are some key points on the safety of vaping without nicotine:
- Avoids nicotine risks: Nicotine is addictive and can harm brain development in adolescents and teens. Vaping without nicotine avoids these risks.
- Reduces dependence: Vaping with nicotine can lead to dependence and addiction. Vaping without nicotine reduces this risk.
- Less toxicity: Nicotine contains toxic chemicals that can damage health. Vaping without nicotine avoids exposure to nicotine’s toxins.
- Fewer side effects: Nicotine can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Vaping without nicotine reduces these cardiovascular side effects.
So in terms of the main addictive and toxic chemical, vaping without nicotine appears safer. However, vaping without nicotine still exposes the user to other potential risks and side effects from vape fluid ingredients, flavorings and the heating process itself. More research is still needed on the long-term safety of vaping non-nicotine products.
What are the risks of vaping without nicotine?
While vaping without nicotine avoids risks from nicotine, it still has potential health risks:
- Toxic chemicals: Vape fluids contain chemicals like formaldehyde and acrolein that can damage lung health.
- Flavorings: Many flavorings used in vape fluids may have adverse health effects through inhalation.
- Metal particles: Heating vape coils can produce metal particles that enter the lungs.
- Popcorn lung: Some flavorings like diacetyl have been linked to lung disease.
- Addiction: Vaping can be addictive even without nicotine due to habit formation.
The long-term safety of inhaling these substances regularly is still unknown. There are far fewer studies on vaping non-nicotine products compared to nicotine vaping. More research is needed to determine the true risks.
Does vaping without nicotine help quit smoking?
For smokers looking to quit, vaping without nicotine may not be as effective as using nicotine e-cigarettes. Here’s why:
- No nicotine replacement: Nicotine vaping provides nicotine to help reduce cigarette cravings and withdrawal. Vaping without nicotine does not provide nicotine replacement.
- Less satisfying: The lack of nicotine may make vaping less satisfying and enjoyable compared to smoking cigarettes.
- More withdrawals: There is a higher chance of withdrawal symptoms and relapse back to smoking without nicotine vaping.
Studies have found vaping with nicotine much more effective for quitting smoking compared to non-nicotine vaping. In one clinical trial, nicotine vaping had a 35% success rate vs just 13% for non-nicotine vaping after 6 months.
However, vaping without nicotine may work for some lighter smokers or be used in combination with nicotine replacement like patches. It also avoids building a dependence on nicotine long-term. But for most regular smokers, vaping with nicotine is recommended.
Is secondhand vape from non-nicotine products safer?
Exposure to secondhand vape, also known as passive vaping, from non-nicotine vaping is likely safer than from nicotine vaping. Here’s why:
- No nicotine exposure: Secondhand nicotine vape can expose non-users to nicotine.
- Lower toxin levels: Nicotine vape contains more toxic chemicals like formaldehyde.
- Reduced health risks: Secondhand nicotine vape is linked to increased health risks.
However, secondhand exposure to any vaping still has potential risks:
- Lung irritation: Vape clouds may irritate lungs, especially for those with allergies.
- Toxins: Vape can contain low levels of formaldehyde and metals.
- Flavor exposure: Long-term effects of secondhand flavor chemicals are unknown.
While likely safer, avoiding secondhand exposure to any vaping is recommended, especially for children. Use of vapes should be restricted at home and in public spaces.
What are the health impacts of vaping without nicotine?
The health impacts of regular vaping without nicotine are still unclear. Here is what some early research shows:
- Lung function: Studies show possible links to lung inflammation and reduced lung function.
- Cardiovascular: Effects on heart rate and blood pressure appear minimal without nicotine.
- Cancer risk: No clear evidence of increased cancer risk thus far.
- Harms youth brain: Potential effects on adolescent brain development.
Overall, more long-term studies are needed looking specifically at vaping non-nicotine products. But early evidence suggests it likely has fewer health impacts compared to nicotine vaping. However, frequent use could still negatively impact lung health over time.
Lung function impacts
Some studies have shown possible negative impacts of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin in vape fluids on lung function. These ingredients help create the vapor cloud but can irritate airways and increase inflammation.
One study found 4 weeks of non-nicotine vaping increased coughs, mucus production and reduced lung function in healthy non-smokers. More research is still needed though on long-term lung impacts.
Youth brain development
The teen years are critical for brain development. Nicotine especially can harm this development leading to lasting cognitive impacts. While vaping without nicotine avoids nicotine exposure, some chemicals and toxins in vape clouds could potentially affect adolescent brain health and function. But more research is needed specifically looking at youth non-nicotine vaping.
Are there benefits to vaping without nicotine?
While the risks and health impacts are still being determined, there are some potential benefits to vaping without nicotine:
- Harm reduction for smokers: Less harmful than smoking for those switching completely.
- Avoid nicotine dependence: Prevents nicotine addiction if used long-term.
- Step to quitting: May help smokers transition fully to non-vaping.
- Social experience: Provides the hand-to-mouth ritual and social experience of smoking and vaping.
For adult smokers using vaping to quit cigarettes, using non-nicotine products can help decouple the hand-mouth habit from nicotine intake specifically. This could make transitioning to non-vaping easier.
However, most smokers would likely benefit more from initially using nicotine vaping to get over the hump of withdrawals. Non-nicotine vaping also provides no documented benefits to youth non-smokers.
What are the top non-nicotine vaping products?
There are a wide variety of vaping devices and e-liquids that contain zero nicotine. Here are some of the most popular nicotine-free vaping products:
Vuse Alto
The Vuse Alto vape pen is easy to use for beginners with pre-filled cartridges and automatic battery. It comes in a variety of flavors including mixed berry, rich tobacco and cool mint.
NJOY Ace
This vape pod system is designed for convenience and consistency. The pre-filled pods snap easily in and out of the reusable battery and come in fruit medley, blueberry, and cool menthol flavors.
Suorin Drop
Suorin makes affordable nicotine salt vapes like the Suorin Drop. It has a sleek teardrop design in a range of colors. Users can fill with their choice of nicotine or non-nicotine e-liquids.
Unicig Raptor
This pod mod vape has a durable metal frame and comfortable grip. Coil replacement is easy with snap-in Unipods available in 11 flavors from tobacco to vanilla custard.
Eonsmoke devices
Eonsmoke manufactures a range of popular pod vapes like the PockeX, Loop, and Edge that all perform well with nicotine-free e-juice options.
These are just a sample of the many non-nicotine vaping products available from brands like Blu, Halo, Naked 100 and more. Flavor options are abundant ranging from fruity menthols to creamy bakery flavors.
Conclusion
Based on current evidence and research:
- Vaping without nicotine appears safer than vaping with nicotine, but has risks.
- Nicotine-free vaping is likely less effective for quitting smoking.
- Secondhand non-nicotine vapor is less harmful than nicotine vapor.
- More research is still needed on the long-term health impacts.
- Completely avoiding vaping remains the safest option.
While vaping non-nicotine products avoids risks from nicotine, it still exposes users to other potentially harmful chemicals and toxins. The long-term health impacts are unknown. And these products provide no benefits to youth non-smokers. More regulation of e-cigarettes including nicotine limits, approved ingredients and manufacturing standards would benefit public health. But for adults seeking to quit smoking, vaping with nicotine appears safest and most effective when combined with other support.