Breaking News: “Passive Vaping” Poses Minimal Risk of Harm

A deep-dive into the myths and truths about passive vaping, including exposure to nicotine from second-hand vapour and the risks of harm from passive vaping (or, the lack thereof).

We’ve all been warned of the dangers of second-hand smoke (or, “passive smoking”). And given how often you see vapers puffing indoors, you may be considering if the same goes for passive vaping. 

In this article, we’ll be dissecting what the scientific and medical communities say about passive vaping. 

Is passive vaping harmful?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s get this one out of the way first: by all standards from every accredited organisation—including Cancer Research UK—the answer is decidedly no.

There is currently no good evidence to support that passive vaping is harmful. This is because the substances in tobacco which make second-hand smoke harmful—the thousands of carcinogens and toxic chemicals in a cigarette—aren’t found in vapour. 

Many people wrongly believe that nicotine is the cause of combustible tobacco’s destructive health implications, but this simply isn’t the case. Nicotine does not cause cancer, heart problems, or any of the known side effects of tobacco smoking. Those issues are caused by the other substances in a cigarette; nicotine is simply the “addiction” chemical that keeps you smoking. The risks associated with nicotine, therefore, are dependence-related and not systemic.

People have used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) safely for many years, and it’s safe enough to be prescribed by doctors.

Does passive vaping cause nicotine dependence?

A study published in Environmental Research evaluated the nicotine levels in households of smokers and vapers (compared to non-smokers). The study also measured the levels of cotinine (a biomarker for exposure to tobacco smoke) in the saliva and urine of non-smokers who were exposed to cigarettes or vapes in their homes. 

The study’s findings showed that “passive vaping” leads to nicotine absorption among those who didn’t smoke or vape at similar levels compared to those exposed to second-hand smoke. Essentially, nicotine absorption among the non-users was similar in both types of household. 

This immediately sounds a little scary. But remember: nicotine isn’t the horrible carcinogen that the UK’s cigarette packaging wants you to believe. It’s only responsible for the addictiveness of tobacco—not the other nastiness. Let’s break down what these findings mean before jumping to any conclusions (Spoiler alert: it’s good news for vapers).

First and foremost, it’s very understandable how so much nicotine made it into the air from passive vaping in the study. Because nicotine absorption from vaping is lower than from smoking a cigarette, much of the nicotine in an E-Liquid is exhaled by the vaper into the air. 

But does this mean that passive vaping can cause a nicotine dependence? Is there enough nicotine in the air to cause harm to bystanders?

Again, the answer is decidedly no. The amount of cotinine (the nicotine biomarker) measured in “passive vapers” was approximately 1200 times lower than the levels measured in an active smoker. Researchers have concluded that the average daily nicotine intake of a passive vaper is only 0.025mg. This level is not only harmless—it has absolutely no measurable biological effect, even by the strictest of regulatory definitions. 

In fact, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has defined the Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) of nicotine—meaning the lowest amount of nicotine needed to produce any sort of biological reaction—and states that at certain low levels, nicotine increases heart rate. Even so, there are no long-term adverse effects of acute heart rate acceleration. Furthermore, the daily nicotine intake of a passive vaper is approximately 10 times less than the number defined by the EFSA’s standards.

Thus, there is simply not enough nicotine present in passive vaping to produce any sort of reaction—not even harmless heart rate acceleration. Doctors, scientists, and even large government bodies agree. There is no measurable harm from nicotine in passive vaping.

Can I vape around pets or children?

We don’t have a lot of scientific evidence to answer the question with regard to vapour in the air or passive vaping, but generally speaking, you should avoid vaping around kids and pets for a much more important reason: the E-Liquid.

Any cat owner knows how much their little feline friends love to knock things off of tables, shelves—you name a surface, they’ve swatted something off of it. Dogs, too, might see a shiny, stick-shaped (by a dog’s definition) object and think it’s worth chewing on. Kids—well, kids are the same, though with more cognizance, which isn’t always to their benefit. Using your vape kit around kids or pets can be potentially catastrophic if they get their hands (or paws) on your device.

When children or pets see you using your vape, they’ll immediately be more interested in it (because you are). They could grab hold of it, knock it to the floor, or even steal it to get your attention—if it’s something you hold, use, or pay attention to often, they’ve noticed it. And if they manage to open it or get the E-Liquid to come out, they could be poisoned by the nicotine in it.

The E-Liquid inside your vape tank or pod has nicotine that is toxic to both pets and children and, if ingested, is poisonous. This should be taken very, very seriously. 

Children between the ages of 1 and 2 years old are the most likely to get into your E-Liquid, but parents of children below the age of 5 should be extra cautious. Thankfully, all E-Liquid bottles sold in the UK have childproof caps, but you still need to be mindful to store your E-Liquids out of sight and reach of children. Your E-Liquid likely has a lovely smell, and a child might mistake it for something edible.

As for pets, if an average 23kg dog ingests the contents of a single 2ml pod of E-Liquid, you’ll likely see signs of poisoning. But if that same amount is ingested by a 4.5kg dog, it could be fatal. If your pet ingests any amount of E-Liquid, prompt veterinary treatment could mean the difference between life and death—so don’t hesitate.

When it comes to passive vaping around children and pets, experts advise against it both for the reasons listed above and because we don’t have enough research to prove whether it’s safe or not. Passive vaping around children in public, outdoor spaces is unlikely to be harmful when done sporadically, but there isn’t enough evidence to support or refute this in enclosed spaces or when there’s a lot of vapour present. 

As such, it’s best to avoid it when possible.

There is one important thing to keep in mind if you want to vape in an enclosed space, aside from keeping it away from kids and pets: Glycerin residue (otherwise known as “vape film”).

If you’ve ever passed by a brick & mortar vape shop and wondered why their windows always look so foggy from the outside (even when it’s not foggy on the inside—but honestly, how often is it not foggy inside?), the answer lies in one of the base components of every E-Liquid: Vegetable Glycerin (VG).

VG is a plant-derived compound that acts as the flavour carrier in an E-Liquid, alongside Propylene Glycol. These two ingredients make up the base of most every E-Liquid on the market. 

When you exhale VG into the air in concentrated amounts (like in sub-ohm vaping, for example), the vaporised VG will cling to smooth surfaces like glass windows and mirrors, forming condensation that can build up over time. This happens more often when the area isn’t well-ventilated, or if you’re blowing the vapour directly at the smooth surface—which is why many vapers have problems with residue on the inside of their car’s windscreen.

The residue will come off with a water-vinegar mixture and some scrubbing, but you should bear this in mind if you’re vaping in someone else’s space, or if you’re vaping in a car. Vaping may not leave a stinky smoke smell behind, but it does leave residue.

Conclusion: Passive Vaping Poses Minimal Risks

So, we’ve broken down how the nicotine from passive vaping has no real measurable—much less harmful—biological effect, and we’ve discussed the harms of nicotine poisoning in children and pets. We’ve even told you how to clean that nasty film off of the inside of your windscreen. 

Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to vape around others is your choice—but you should also be mindful of others’ wishes. Even with this data, many people will be opposed to passive vaping, and it’s best not to be an antagonist in these situations for the sake of the rest of the vaping community.

I dream of a day where I can vape on a train platform without worrying about being fined. Hopefully, given how receptive the UK government and associated medical bodies have been about vaping in recent years, we’ll be able to vape a little more freely in due time. 

Until then, we’ll keep fighting the good fight and reminding everyone that no, passive vaping isn’t harmful.