As for polyethylene glycol
PEG is generally considered biologically inert and safe. However, studies of clinical safety are generally based on adults, not children. The FDA has been asked to investigate the possible effects of PEG in laxatives for children.[35] Also, a minority of people are allergic to it. Allergy to PEG is usually discovered after a person has been diagnosed with an allergy to an increasing number of seemingly unrelated products, including processed foods, cosmetics, drugs, and other substances that contain PEG or were manufactured with PEG.
But the issue isnāt necessarily PEG but the production of it and is more related to other PEG than the PEG400 vapers use.
Depending on manufacturing processes, PEGs may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. i The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylene oxide as a known human carcinogen and 1,4-dioxane as a possible human carcinogen. Ethylene oxide can also harm the nervous system ii and the California Environmental Protection Agency has classified it as a developmental toxicant based on evidence that it may interfere with human development. iii 1,4-dioxane is also persistent. In other words, it doesnāt easily degrade and can remain in the environment long after it is rinsed down the shower drain. 1,4-dioxane can be removed from cosmetics during the manufacturing process by vacuum stripping, but there is no easy way for consumers to know whether products containing PEGs have undergone this process. iv In a study of personal care products marketed as ānaturalā or āorganicā (uncertified), U.S. researchers found 1,4-dioxane as a contaminant in 46 of 100 products analyzed. v
While carcinogenic contaminants are the primary concern, PEG compounds themselves show some evidence of genotoxicity vi,vii and if used on broken skin can cause irritation and systemic toxicity.
Now not inhalation but from most available data there hasnāt really been any longterm or decent studies on PEG consumed through inhalation. But for both PG and PEG the issue is actually down to overheating, and after a certain point they can both break down into toxic substances that we donāt want.
Now saying that, take a look at vape juices in general and see how many are actually using PEG. That industry has pretty much moved away from PEG as a carrier or viscosity diluent due to the unknowns of it and that when ingested oral, such as a kid drinking vape juice, that it can be lethal.
Needless to say still a lot of unknowns currently, and im definitely not an expert in any way shape or form in that field, just what ive read in my own search on issues.
