Does vaping, including nicotine (nicotine replacement therapy, NRT), produce tar or resin?

Vaping Does Not Produce Tar But Does Generate Potentially Harmful Aerosol Emissions

Unlike traditional cigarettes, vaping and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) devices do not produce tar or resin, but they do generate aerosols containing potentially harmful substances that pose health risks. 1

Understanding E-cigarette Emissions

• Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaping devices heat a liquid solution typically containing nicotine, flavoring chemicals, and carrier solvents such as propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin to produce an aerosol for inhalation 1
• While commonly referred to as "vapor," the emission from e-cigarettes is most accurately described as an aerosol, which is a suspension of fine particles in a gas 1
• Unlike combustible cigarettes that burn tobacco and produce tar (the condensable residue of cigarette smoke), vaping devices heat liquid without combustion, thus avoiding tar production 1
• E-cigarettes generate less tar and carcinogens than combustible cigarettes, but they still contain and emit numerous potentially toxic substances 2

Harmful Components in Vaping Aerosol

• Vaping devices can emit carbonyl compounds (including formaldehyde), carbon monoxide, and other potentially harmful chemicals, though at generally lower levels than conventional cigarettes 3
• The aerosol from e-cigarettes contains nicotine, flavoring chemicals, propylene glycol, and other substances that may pose health risks when inhaled 1
• Flavored e-liquids have been shown to generate more carbonyls and carbon monoxide than unflavored liquids 3
• The type of device, power output, liquid composition, and puff topography all affect the levels of harmful emissions from e-cigarettes 3

Health Concerns Related to Vaping

• The health risks of electronic cigarettes have not been adequately studied, according to the Forum of International Respiratory Societies 1
• Nicotine, regardless of delivery method, is highly addictive and affects many body systems, mediators, and metabolic pathways 4
• Nicotine has significant cardiovascular effects and may play a major role in the development of coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, and aortic aneurysms 1, 4
• Growing evidence shows e-cigarettes and their constituents can have deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and brain 2

Secondhand and Thirdhand Exposure

• Nonusers can be exposed to e-cigarette emissions both from the aerosol that is exhaled as well as from the aerosol that is generated from the device 1
• Passive inhalation of vaporized droplets, particles, nicotine, and other substances into indoor air may have significant adverse health effects 1
• Thirdhand aerosol refers to e-cigarette emissions that remain on surfaces and in dust after use, which can be reemitted into the gas phase or react with oxidants in the environment to yield secondary pollutants 1

Vaping vs. Smoking: Comparative Risks

• Compared with combustible tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarette use likely poses less risk, but is not harmless 2
• The American College of Cardiology notes that while e-cigarettes may be less harmful than combustible cigarettes, they still pose significant health concerns 2
• Under certain conditions, some vaping devices (particularly top-coil devices) can potentially generate harmful levels of emissions that could exceed acute exposure limits 3

Clinical Recommendations

• The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends focusing on proven behavioral counseling and FDA-approved pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation rather than e-cigarettes 4, 2
• Healthcare providers should recommend that individuals avoid both smoking and vaping for optimal health outcomes 2
• The Forum of International Respiratory Societies recommends that electronic nicotine delivery devices should be restricted or banned until more information about their safety is available 1, 4

In summary, while vaping does not produce tar like combustible cigarettes do, it generates aerosols containing various potentially harmful substances. The long-term health effects of these emissions are still being studied, and caution is warranted regarding their use.