Electronic Cigarette ingredients: What is Propylene Glycol?

One of the four most commonly found ingredients in eliquid (the liquid found inside electronic cigarettes) is Propylene Glycol (PG). You may have heard Propylene Glycol mentioned by the press who incorrectly refer to this substance as being dangerous because of certain products it is used in, however it is important to remember that there are different formulations of Propylene Glycol and the type found in electronic cigarettes is food or pharmaceutical grade. Propylene Glycol is a type of mineral oil produced by the fermentation of yeast and carbohydrates. Propylene Glycol is a clear, colourless liquid also referred to as E number E1520, a preservative used in food and tobacco products to keep them from drying out. The type of Propylene Glycol mistakenly referred to by the media is Industrial grade Propylene Glycol which is used in products such as antifreeze and airplane de-icers because it has the ability to lower the freezing point of water. Many of the products that previously used Ethylene Glycol which was toxic to animals substituted with the safer Propylene Glycol to protect them. Food or Pharmaceutical grade Propylene Glycol is a less concentrated form so does not pose the same risks. This form of Propylene Glycol has been used in everyday products such as foods, medical products and cosmetics for over 50 years. This grade of Propylene Glycol has been deemed safe and it is on the World Health Organisations list as Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS). Propylene Glycol is also accepted as having no carcinogenic risk with low levels of ingestion. Propylene Glycol is metabolised in the body and is used as a normal carbohydrate source. Although Propylene Glycol is considered safe, some people however do experience sensitivity but this is still extremely rare. People who experience this kind of sensitivity are generally those that have experienced skin allergies and sensitivity previously, and because of how often Propylene Glycol is used in everyday products it is highly likely you would have experienced sensitivity to it before even trying an electronic cigarette. If you do however use an electronic cigarette and experience any unexpected side effects you should immediately discontinue use and speak to your dr to establish whether you do have a sensitivity. If you do suffer from sensitivity to Propylene Glycol but you're still interested in using electronic cigarettes as an alternative to smoking, you can purchase 100% VG eliquids rather than eliquids that contain a mixture of PG & VG. Litejoy provides a range of eliquids available with or without nicotine. View our eliquid range. Litejoy Electronic cigarettes