It’s well known that smoking tobacco indoors pollutes a home’s air supply with numerous chemicals and carcinogens. What about the new trend of vaping electronic cigarettes that’s touted as a less hazardous alternative? If you’re concerned about air quality in your home, it’s important to know what’s in the vapor produced by e-cigarettes, and the possible effect vaping has on IAQ.
E-cigarettes are designed to look a lot like the real thing, but instead of a filtered tube of tobacco, these look-alikes consist of a battery that warms a liquid-filled cartridge to create inhalable vapor. The liquid consists of water and other relatively benign ingredients like vegetable glycerin and flavorings. However, it can also contain:
There have been a limited number of studies done regarding vaping electronic cigarettes’ potential effects on IAQ, and results are mixed.
The best way to relieve concerns you have about the adverse effects of electronic cigarette vapor and other pollutants on your home’s air quality is to take measures to improve it — such as installing a whole-house air purifier.