diketones and popcorn lungs
#ES #FINDMYFLAVOUR #FORTHEVAPERS
(5 min read)
WHAT IS A POPCORN LUNG?
Some of you may remember the media headlines of December 2015 when Popcorn lung, about vaping, was brought to the attention of the masses. It refers to the condition known as bronchiolitis obliterans that occurs when inhaled chemicals obstruct the smallest airways of the lungs due to inflammation and scarring. This is caused by breathing in toxic fumes or respiratory infections. The disease is not reversible; however, treatments can slow further worsening. Given the COVID-19 pandemic this may be a worry of some of you.
Popcorn lung may sound like a strange nickname for a disease which can prove fatal but there is a reason for this name. The disease was first identified when eight former employees of the Gilster-Mary Lee popcorn plant in Jasper, Missouri developed obliterative bronchiolitis in the 1990’s. This was due to prolonged exposure to the diketone diacetyl, the same diketone that was used in several creamy and buttery e-liquid flavours. As a result obliterative bronchiolitis began to be referred to as “popcorn lung”. In 2002 the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had documented eight cases of irreversible lung disease at the Missouri factory from 1992 to 2000.
WHAT ARE DIKETONES?
Diketones have been used in the food industry for decades as an additive for buttery and creamy flavorings in food. Many of the concentrates used in e-liquid flavours come from manufacturers who specialize in creating food additives. Most food additives have a Propylene Glycol (PG) base, which is one of the two base liquids used in vape flavours. The second being Vegetable Glycerin (VG). For more information on these ingredients check out my blog on what’s in your vape juice here. Diketones can be found in several creamy and buttery e-liquid flavours and over the past few years, many of these flavouring companies have started to release e-liquids which are diketone free.
WHAT IS DIACETYL, ACETYL PROPIONYL & ACETION?
There are a few different types of diketones and the ones that will affect oneselves are:
- Acetoin
- Acetyl Propionyl
- Diacetyl
Acetyl Propionyl and Acetoin are used as replacement diketones in creamy and buttery flavours. These were the second choice for manufacturers as Diacetyl was their first. This was since Diacetyl was identified as the factor that was “highly likely” to have been the cause of popcorn lung. Of course, we’re talking about high quantities, and the factory workers were exposed for prolonged periods of time. Acetyl Propionyl and Acetoin are not completely diacetyl free as they can change chemically when they are vaped. These two ingredients are still used by vape manufacturers and due there being no regulations for these companies to list individual ingredients in vape juice, it’s difficult to know what we’re putting into our bodies.
The other diketone is Diacetyl which is where the issue is. Popcorn lung cases were specifically caused by only diacetyl. There have been no known cases of Acetyl Propionyl or Acetoin causing lung damage.
Let me be clear on this point though. Popcorn lung was identified because of massively higher levels of these chemicals than what are displayed in vape juice. We also need to remember that the quantities of Diacetyl found in vaping, if far less than that which is found in cigarettes. The levels in vape juice are significantly safer than the levels found in the factory and these have been used in other foods for many years. The reason that Acetyl Propionyl and Acetoin are still used in many flavours is due to the enhanced taste they deliver. An awful lot of flavours made nowadays no longer contain Diacetyl at all and the other diketones Acetyl Propionyl and Acetoin are much preferred.
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Written By David Trosh | @ashadyreview | ES Blogger
