Heavy metals aren't so bad, right?

The ever-expanding vape and e-juice markets have given way to the development of new and exciting products for consumers to enjoy. In that development there has been an array of innovation in both hardware design and material use, but unfortunately that has been done without much regulation or oversight.

Due to this lack of regulation there have been a few toxic elements utilized to create and manufacture the oils and hardware many of us have come to enjoy today. So are there heavy metals in your vape cartridges, and are they bad for you? When taking a closer look at our favorite essential oils and the hardware we use a few hidden health risks do appear in the form of heavy metals.

What are toxic heavy metals, or (THMs)?

Heavy metals are the select elements that have a greater atomic weight and when ingested in high doses can produce adverse effects on human health. While the human body requires certain heavy metals to function properly such as iron (Fe), Copper (Ca), and zinc (Zn) they can still be toxic when ingested in high concentrations. The main heavy metals we are talking about here are Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg). All of which are highly toxic to humans as well as our environment and are used extensively in and are waste products of many different industries.

How are heavy metals used in the vaping industry?

The vaping industry utilizes heavy metals to create the hardware like cartridges and batteries we need to consume the essential oils and other extract products found on the market today. These metals can be used to create the cartridge glass, alloys, and powder coatings that make them shinny and colorful. Again, these features of the cartridges can be made of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn) or a few of the other heavy metals. The batteries themselves are not much of a health issue as they are contained in a sealed unit, it is the cartridges that hold most of the human health risk.

How do they get into my body?

Heavy metals can get absorbed into our bodies transdermally, through oral ingestion, respiratory function, or while interacting with our natural environment. They can also be introduced to our systems by overexposure to toxic concentrations found in old paint, pipes, along with repair, and manufacturing, industries. The heating and cooling of the cartridge materials like glass, alloy, and colored powdered coatings that can made of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), or other heavy metals create an off gassing of these elements. This off gassing allows for the heavy metals to be atomized entering through your respiratory system negatively effecting health.

Why are they bad for me?

Heavy metals are a danger to humans because when even found in low concentrations they can affect neurological function, respiratory function, digestion processes, and the bodies overall mental and physical wellbeing. Symptoms of over exposer to heavy metal is vast but for the most part will cause fatigue, headaches, nausea, mental confusion, seizures, even skin and nail abnormalities.

What can I do to avoid heavy metals in my vape product?

When avoiding heavy metals in your vape product it is important to make sure that your oils or extracts are organically grown and made without solvents. The next important factor is to make sure that the hardware you or the company you purchase from is made of full ceramic or stainless-steel materials. You can also look for companies who have allowed their hardware to be tested, meeting or exceeding all of CA Prop65 toxic free material standards.

Conclusion:

Understanding that minimal regulation has allowed for some toxic heavy metals to creep into the vape market gives us the information we need to begin avoiding some of these toxic pitfalls. So, let's make sure our manufactures are using solvent free extracting practices while also striving to only use the highest-grade hardware available. Heavy Metals can hold both a positive and negative effect when it comes to human health and wellness. It is all about exposure and information. What is your favorite chemical free vape, concentrate, or E-juice company?