Last updated on March 19th, 2022
Electronic Cigarette Safety – Is it Safe to Vape?
Many people who are considering e-cigarettes are concerned about electronic cigarette safety. Since the FDA has now made the move to regulate ecigs, the world is seeing more positive reports based on scientific evidence. Unfortunately, many non-scientific or incomplete reports are still used by those who, for political and financial reasons, oppose these life saving products.
One of the earliest and most controversial tests performed on e-cigarettes was reported in 2013 by the French Consumer Report-style magazine, 60 Million Consumers.
The magazine which focuses on health scares and scams, reported that a test conducted by France’s National Consumer Institute, (Conso.net), found certain brands of e-cigarettes were “potentially carcinogenic” because they contained minute amounts of formaldehyde, acrolein, and acetaldehyde in e-liquids tested.
Is There Dangerous Formaldehyde in Vape Products? – Here’s the Story
Media Controversy Over E-Cigarette Safety
The world’s media pounced on the report creating a sensational anti-e-cigarette story. After taking a closer look at the findings, e-cigarette users, supporters and reputable e-cigarette organizations reacted strongly to the lack of real facts.
Several facts; however, have been confirmed. 60 Million Consumers is published by the National Consumer Institute. That same institute is a government-funded organization and coincidentally the “report” was released after the French government announced its intent to ban electronic cigarette use in public places.
The methods of testing and the incomplete results reported by 60 Million Consumers Magazine was vehemently challenged. In addition, the actual study was nowhere to be found and is still unavailable on National Consumer Institute’s website.
Way back in September of 2013, under pressure from pro-vaping groups, 60 Million Consumers Magazine released a second article which, this time, included the previous withheld list of the e-cigarettes tested. Also presented was a statement in which the editor admitted the fact that despite their sensational report, e-cigarettes were far less harmful than tobacco cigarettes.


Here is a List of the E-Cigarettes That Were Tested for Safety in the French Safety Study:
Cigway – Disposable
Hhoss – Disposable
Joyetech e-roll + e-liquid Clopinette menthol- with nicotine
Joyetech e-roll + e-liquid Clopinette menthol- without nicotine
Joyetech e-roll + e-liquid Alfaliquid menthol- with nicotine
Joyetech e-roll + e-liquid Alfaliquid menthol- without nicotine
Cigartex- eliquid Conceptorome mentol
Maygalia- cartridge- Maygalia mint
Edsylver cartridge Edsylver menthol- with nicotine
Edsylver cartridge Edsylver menthol- without nicotine
In three cases out of the ten listed above, formaldehyde levels were equal to those found in some conventional cigarettes. Those particular cigarettes were not mentioned.
Traces of Acrolein molecules were emitted in quantities that exceeded the amount found in the smoke of some cigarettes, although those particular cigarettes were not mentioned either.
According to dictionary.com, Acrolein is a liquid used chiefly in the synthesis of commercial and pharmaceutical products.
Traces of Acetaldehyde molecules, another potentially toxic chemical was found to be at levels far lower than conventional cigarettes. Acetaldehyde was the chemical that prompted some reviewers to say e-cigarettes contain trace metals.
It’s interesting to note that baking powder and sodium aluminum phosphate, both FDA approved food additives used for leavening is found in McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets and contains aluminum, a metal that University of Toronto researchers link to Alzheimer’s disease.
Speaking of “potential toxicity”; there have been no studies carried out on the long term affects of smoking e-cigarettes.
Draw Your Own Conclusion
The tests cited in this article are typical of those performed in the past. Readers are encouraged to visit CASAA – The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association where newer, scientific reports on electronic cigarette safety may be found.
Until world-wide safety regulations and long-term testing of e-cigarette usage is established, it’s up to the consumer to do the research.
E-cigarette companies are in the spotlight. The most reputable companies know this and are a step ahead of the final regulations to come. They proudly display their battery, cartomizer and e-liquid safety testing credentials on their websites.
Which ecig companies are on top of safety regulations? We’ve interviewed several and with ecigarette regulations at hand, there are few that lag behind. I have found that best sellers Direct Vapor and VaporFi are the most transparent in backing up their safety testing measures.
2 comments
What brands of “e-liquid” do you recommend as safest? cleanest?
Hi Ann,
Thanks for asking! I recommend our article, E-Liquids That Are Diacetyl Acetoin & Acetyl Propionyl Free.