Actual paper: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2016/09/15/tobaccocontrol-2016-053205.full.pdf+html
This is surprisingly useful information rather than a hit piece. Good find, MillCreek. I'm relatively shocked. Decent methodology, good controls, accurate scaling (favorite 'mistake' of hit pieces), good unbiased summary. They correctly point out that cigarette smoking is worse. Higher voltage/temperature is bad. I'm shocked that it LOOKS legit, even after they admit to receive "grants from and served as an advisory board member to pharmaceutical companies that manufacture smoking cessation drugs." Of course they're not sharing the raw data, but even still.
Granted, they don't name the supplier but it's enough to tentatively toss out strawberry flavoring. And as always, use lowest wattage possible to get the job done. Though it'd be better if listed the ohms as well as voltage for more accurate results. I use 1.7/1.8 ohm coils and around 4V for around 9.8W. I've pondered dropping that down, but toxicity results aren't hugely significant. Will keep things well below 4.8V. That seems to be the consistent largest factor in toxicity.
Some folks are working on ultrasonics for vaping, to completely remove the heating coil. It is technologically and medically possible to engineer a 99.999% safe aerosol nicotine solution that people enjoy. At the moment, it's difficult because there's not good standards, there isn't standardized testing, medical papers can be almost as shady as Chinese manufacturing, supply chain issues (counterfeiting) and the US government is significantly more interested in prohibition/taxation aspects than safety. Plus there's the general consensus that recreational nicotine usage is a sin that needs to be wiped out, even if it isn't a carcinogen (though it can make cancer harder to treat after you get it).
Once the Chinese enter the vaping fluid area in a big way, vapers (vapors?) will be getting nice big doses of lead, cadmium, PCBs, and other interesting things with their vapes . . .
Except for the cheapest non-chain gas station suppliers buying the cheapest counterfeits off alibaba.com, pretty much already addressed. Most vaping supplies are manufactured in China (along with pretty much everything else), but with stronger supply chain protection. Counterfeiting those brands is a problem.
Smartest money is mixing everything yourself from certified US Pharmacopeia grade components. Cheaper, safer.
