What Chemicals Are in Vapes?

If you enjoy the occasional vape, you’ve probably experienced a moment when the penny dropped, as a thought suddenly popped into your head. As you enjoy a few puffs on your Watermelon Whammy, a little lightbulb goes off, and you ask yourself, hang on a minute… what chemicals are in vapes, exactly?

Surprisingly, it is a realisation that many smokers and vapers give little thought to. After all, if the authorities say they are legal to buy, they probably don’t consist of anything particularly scary, most users would think.

But is that really the case? More pertinently, how can you frequently inhale a cloud of vapour if you have no idea what goes into it?

Through this article, we shall look at vapes in closer detail, examining the actual ingredients behind them. If you have ever wondered what chemicals are in vapes, you might want to read this – the answer is far more interesting than you may have thought.

Before we address what chemicals are in vapes, let’s take a quick look at how they compare to cigarettes.

What Chemicals Are in Vapes?

Predictably, the answer to the question of “what chemicals are in vapes” isn’t as simple as you may have hoped. Many people assume the chemicals in vapes are few in number, but that isn’t the case. 

While cigarettes contain far more chemicals, vapes still contain a broad range of substances that can pose unpleasant health risks – and these chemicals act in different ways when burnt in a chamber. 

Base Substances

The main components of most vape liquids are propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG). You might remember seeing them described on vape packaging, as they are commonly stated quite boldly. 

These two substances form the main base of the liquid and are generally considered quite safe for food and cosmetic use. However, there is a caveat to that statement: They both possibly behave more harmful when inhaled. In all honesty, we still don’t know – studies are ongoing with these two chemicals specifically. 

Either way, vapes are known to cause throat irritation or respiratory discomfort after prolonged use, both of which could be a result of inhaling those two substances.

Nicotine

Another key ingredient in most vapes is nicotine, the addictive substance also found in cigarettes. Nicotine is well known for its effect on the brain (particularly for younger users), affecting mood, attention, and impulse control. 

The concentration of nicotine in vapes varies quite widely, from low levels in some products to highly concentrated forms in others, raising concerns about addiction and long-term health effects.

Nicotine is a tricky one, however. By the same token, there is also a great deal of evidence in support of nicotine’s various alleged benefits. Indeed, nicotine isn’t even remotely harmful as a raw substance – it is only when the chemical is burned that it may cause problems.

Flavouring Chemicals

That imaginary ‘watermelon Whammy’ we mentioned earlier is typical of the flavours available – usually of a fruity variety – that are often found in vapes. Obviously, they are not natural substances. Flavouring chemicals are always behind the distinct fruit or candy taste that is so abundant in modern-day vapes.

Just like the base substances, these flavourings, while perfectly safe to consume in food or beverage form, can behave differently when heated and inhaled. Some of the compounds used to create these flavours have even been linked to respiratory irritation and other health issues when vaporised. 

Ultimately, they may seem harmless enough in their raw form, but they can pose a genuine threat when vaped.

But what chemicals are found in vapes in the wider sense of the word? Let’s take a look.

Common Vape Chemicals

Anyone who is unfamiliar with what chemicals are in vapes might find the following list a little jolting and far more extensive than you may have imagined. Below is a full list of the most common chemicals found in vapes. 

Point of note: we are excluding vapes manufactured by unscrupulous, unregulated manufacturers, as there is no firm way of knowing what they may (or may not) include in their products. In other words, what follows are the chemicals we know. 

We have 13 chemicals for you – a number that feels quite appropriate, given how menacing some of them are (formaldehyde, anyone?)

1. Nicotine: A highly addictive substance found in the majority of vapes. Nicotine affects brain function and almost always leads to addiction. It can also affect attention, learning, and impulse control, especially in younger users.
2. Propylene Glycol (PG): Frequently used as a base in vape liquids. While generally safe for ingestion, inhaling PG can cause various degrees of throat irritation and respiratory discomfort – especially if you suffer from pre-existing conditions like asthma.
3. Vegetable Glycerin (VG): Another common base ingredient in vape liquids, VG produces those huge, thick vapour clouds that most vapers enjoy. Relatively safe when ingested, inhalation can again cause respiratory issues over time. More so when combined with other chemicals, some of which are on this list.
4. Diacetyl: A controversial chemical that was previously used in some vape flavourings, diacetyl is linked to a severe lung condition known as popcorn lung when used commercially. Although most responsible manufacturers have removed it from their products, some poorly regulated brands may still use it.
5. Acetaldehyde: Produced during the heating process, acetaldehyde can irritate the airways and has been associated with increased lung disease risk with long-term exposure.
6. Formaldehyde: Likely the most ominous chemical on this list, in addition to its more traditional use of preserving the deceased, it is also found in some vape products. Another known carcinogen, it can increase the risk of cancer when inhaled. It is also abundant in cigarettes, so if you need extra motivation to quit smoking, there it is. 
7. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Produced when vape liquids are heated, VOCs like benzene can cause damage to the lungs, heart, and other organs when inhaled over extended periods.
8. Metals (Lead, Nickel, Chromium): Trace amounts of metals (yes, metals) can leach from vape coils into the vapour, particularly with cheaper devices. Inhaling these metals can cause long-term health issues, including lung damage and toxicity.
9. Benzene: A volatile organic compound often produced when vape liquids are heated. Also found in car exhaust fumes. Lovely. Prolonged exposure can lead to blood disorders and increased cancer risk.
10. Acrolein: A chemical produced when vape liquids are heated at high temperatures. Acrolein is an irritant that can damage the lungs and airways and has been linked to chronic respiratory diseases.
11. Toluene: Found in some vape liquids, toluene is a solvent used in paint thinners and adhesives. Inhaling it can cause dizziness, headaches, and long-term damage to the central nervous system.
12. Ethyl Maltol: Used as a sweetener in many flavoured vapes, Ethyl Maltol can release harmful byproducts when heated, irritating the airways and contributing to respiratory issues over time.
13. Cadmium: A toxic heavy metal found in some vape devices, particularly low-quality ones. Inhaling cadmium can lead to serious lung damage and is associated with kidney disease and cancer.

So there you have it. Formaldehyde. Benzine. Lead. Nickel. Acetaldehyde. They all trip off the tongue so sweetly, don’t they? It’s hard to conceive that we willingly inhale this stuff, isn’t it?

However, there is a better way. The NEAFS way.

How NEAFS is Different from Vapes

NEAFS isn’t a vape, and that’s a good thing. It may look like a vape and feel like smoking, but it is neither of those things. NEAFS, we are proud to say, is in an entire league of its own. A much better, healthier, cleaner, and even more affordable league.

The distinction is easy to explain. Whereas vapes rely on liquids filled with a host of nasty chemicals to deliver the experience, NEAFS plays by a completely different set of rules. 

We use heated tobacco technology to give you the experience you’re looking for – without burning or vaporising all the unnecessary extras. In fact, NEAFS uses a unique cellulose blend that gets gently heated at lower temperatures, so you don’t have to worry about inhaling things like propylene glycol or those nasty volatile organic compounds.

NEAFS also completely avoids diacetyl – the same chemical that brought us all that popcorn lung panic in the first place. With NEAFS, you can get your nicotine fix without the health doubts that come with regular vape liquids.

Vaping might seem like a safer step away from cigarettes, but is it really? With NEAFS, You are eliminating more than just smoke. You are eliminating the worry, too.

Make the Jump Today

At the end of the day, the answer to what chemicals are in vapes was probably not the answer you hoped for. Most people, in fact, are alarmed and surprised in equal measure upon finding out the overabundance of nasties in a typical vape.

It doesn’t need to be this way. NEAFS technology is so remarkably enjoyable – and feels so close to actual smoking – that there is simply no credible excuse to vape anymore. 

NEAFS delivers a much smarter, cleaner alternative. No diacetyl or nasty chemicals hiding behind fruity flavours; just a safer, simpler experience that delivers what you want without the things you don’t.

We have starter kits available at wonderfully affordable prices and an amazing range of new flavours in our popular light nicotine patches. Come and give NEAFS a try… It might be one of the best decisions you have ever made.