Fog Machine Fog Causes Decrease in Lung Function - Comparison to e-Cigs

[crazyfl3x]

There was a study done on employees who are regularly exposed to the fog created by fog machines (both mineral and glycol based fogs).

Their findings were as follows:

(The following is from Wikipedia, and then below that I have provided the link to the cited source)

"In May 2005, a study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine [5], conducted by the School of Environment and Health at the University of British Columbia, looked at adverse respiratory effects in crew members on a wide variety of entertainment venues ranging from live theatres, concerts, television and film productions to a video arcade. This study determined that cumulative exposure to mineral oil and glycol-based fogs were associated with acute and chronic adverse effects on respiratory health. This study found that short-term exposure to glycol fog was associated with coughing, dry throat, headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, and tiredness. This study also found long-term exposure to smoke and fog was associated with both short-term and long-term respiratory problems such as chest tightness and wheezing. Personnel working closest to the fog machines had reduced lung function results."

www3 . interscience.wiley.com/journal/110453202/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

This will not cause me to not try/take up e-smoking, as obviously my regular smoking habit (a pack and a half a day) has cause decreased lung function with the added risk of cancer.

While the fog created by fog machines and the vapor you inhale while "vaping" aren't exactly the same, I think it is fair to at least compare the two. To think that the daily and constant inhalation of anything without repercussions on your respiratory system is, in my opinion, a bit naive.

This (fog machine "vapor") was just the closest thing I could think of to research that would have some long term studies done on it and it's effects. You also have to admit that there are some striking similarities to some of the symptoms experienced by those who are exposed to fog machine "vapor" and the vapers here on the forum...namely:

coughing, dry throat, headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, and tiredness

 

[CaptJay]

I used to smoke cigarrettes - the long term effects of that are death.

 

[Metstoo]

I wonder if VG would have the same results...

 

[SmilingSlasher]

The study you mention is on Fog machines......so the way I see it, You mislead people coming to this thread. Title the thread "Use of Fog Machines wiil cause decrease in Lung Function". It is a more accurate way to let people know what they will be reading about.

420Smiles

 

[crashtestjeep]

I have CT scans for watching lung nodule growth and they do pulmonary function tests as well, every 3-6 months. All my tests since quitting smoking and started vaping havee shown VAST improvement and my last function test read me as completely normal-at the high end at that So, Im thinking ecigs and fog machines prob arent a good true comparison? just sayin....

 

[crazyfl3x]

Trust me, I'm not an advocate of banning e-cigarettes. Quite the opposite. I was supposed to finally get my e-cigarette last week...but due to shipping delays, I'm not going to have it until tomorrow

I've just been doing research because it seemed naive for me to think that the constant inhalation of something wasn't going to have SOME effect on my lungs.

As you said however, death/cancer/heart disease, etc, etc, won't be included in that list anymore.

If anything, what I posted should be looked at as a good thing. The only adverse health effect they found from long term inhalation of a glycol based fog was decreased lung function. That's pretty much a win in my book (in favor of e-cigarettes)

 

[jiff]

I used to smoke cigarrettes - the long term effects of that are death.

"Are e-cigs safe?" - no one knows just yet...
"Are they safer than cigarettes?" - I think your statement and the OP have that figured out.

 

[crazyfl3x]

The only reason I entitled this thread the way I did was because glycol based fog is made of the same thing as PG e-juice.

The employee's inhaling the fog from the glycol based fog machines are inhaling the same thing as e-cig users that are using PG based e-juice.

 

[SmilingSlasher]

Just because both are PG based does not mean they are the same thing. "Based" is the keyword. See everything on Earth is Carbon "based"......but everything on Earth is not Human, or mammalian, or reptilian. See where I'm going here? The rest of the ingredients make all the difference.

 

[crazyfl3x]

Also, to what extent lung function is decreased isn't mentioned. I'd imagine everything is relative.

I.E. - Non-Smoking employee exposed to the fog experiences lung function decrease.

I.E. - Smoking employee exposed to the fog experiences lung function decrease (on top of the decrease smoking has already had on their body)

I.E. - Ex-Smoker (quit just before starting the job) experiences lung function INCREASE (theoretically, this is obviously just an example).

In other words, I'm saying the the lung function decrease caused by the constant inhalation of a PG based fog may or may not be to the same extent that a smokers lung function is decreased by.

 

[crazyfl3x]

"Water/Glycol based fog machine fluids are usually a mixture of 99.9% pure, pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and distilled water. I have also heard of glycerin and distilled water being used in home-made fog machines (very dangerous), but again we recommend against this."

That comes from a company that sells fog machine "juice" > www . gotfog.com/fog_machine_faq4.html (under "can I make my own fog juice?")

 

[SmilingSlasher]

Do we vape triethylene glycol ?

I'm under the impression that we don't.

 

[crazyfl3x]

And a list of commonly used "fog juice recipes" from chemistry.about.com

10% distilled water: 90% propylene glycol (dense fog)
40% distilled water: 60% propylene glycol (quick dissipating)
60% water: 40% propylene glycol (very quick dissipation)

 

[crazyfl3x]

@420smiles >> I see what you're saying, and you're right.

The thread should have been entitled "Constant Exposure to Fog Machine Fog can Decrease Lung Function" and then a discussion about the similarities between fog machine "vapor" output and e-cig "vapor" output could have ensued.

 

[Coffee_Kiera]

...if your'e vaping enough to call yourself a fog machine, perhaps that may be a problem in and of itself...

 

[aubergine]

I also saw that report. I think it's perfectly legit to bring it here.

Here's the thing: The anecdotal evidence in here (and there's a LOT of it) leans heavily in the direction of IMPROVED lung function. Some people report headaches and dry throat and other SEs at first , but it seems to be transient and seems very likely attributable to change in nicotine strength or withdrawal from the myriad toxins in cigarettes. And I've yet to find a single long term user reporting compromised lung function or other real health problems related to vaping. (And I'm a compulsive researcher; I've been totally absorbed in reading everything in here and elsewhere that I could lay my hands on.)
A small minority of users decide that they have an allergy to PG, and switch to VG.

There are simply no reports anywhere that I can find of any documented vape-related health problems in anyone, after 3 years of availability here and elsewhere in the world.
Seems to me these surely would have surfaced by now, especially with large agencies eager to call it poison.

Someone in another thread or somewhere noted that the PG used in fog machines is pretty dirty, crude stuff, and a fog machine is not exactly a delicate little vaporizor. It's a big old filthy thing.

But there's nothing wrong with being concerned about these things. I'm not excited by recklessness. Was once. But see, I'm sorta old.

And I grabbed onto these things because i WAS wheezing and all of that stuff, including the perpetual low-grade cigarette headache. To my amazement, after less than 2 weeks I can't get a squeak out of my lungs, I'm waking with wide open breathing, my energy is way up, and... well, so much for the short-term effect, anyway.

 

[SmilingSlasher]

Crazy.....i was never trying to discredit the messege. I was just saying that the thread title should reflect the thread topic. Someone might see the thread title, and never read the thread....and just assume E-Cigs are doing massive damage. Sorry if it seemed that I was saying you were wrong. Specifics are important when discussing Health Issues.

 

[keyzygirl]

Ill take my chances,Smoking cigs deffinetly decreased my lung function.

 

[crazyfl3x]

Crazy.....i was never trying to discredit the messege. I was just saying that the thread title should reflect the thread topic. Someone might see the thread title, and never read the thread....and just assume E-Cigs are doing massive damage. Sorry if it seemed that I was saying you were wrong. Specifics are important when discussing Health Issues.

I know, that's why I was saying you're right about what you said. I really should have entitled it differently (I'm being serious, not condescending).

I may have to have a mod change it to something a bit more appropriate.

 

[crazyfl3x]

Ill take my chances,Smoking cigs deffinetly decreased my lung function.

Agreed

(says my message was too short to post....so I've added this)