Propylene Glycol

[pharmacist]

Hi 3dogs,

Propylene glycol is quite safe. It is used in cough syrups and other potable formulations. It tastes quite sweet, just as glycerol. I think the confusion is with the highly toxic ethylene glycol (antifreeze), which does taste sweet too, but it is very toxic, as it is converted to oxalic acid by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which immediately extracts the calcium from the plasma, causing muscles contractions and sever kidney failure.

This is the reason why ethanol is relatively safe, but methanol (with just 1 carbon atom less) is very toxic. Ethanol is converted to acetic acid and withdrawn from the body by the Krebs cyclus, but methanol is converted to formic acid, which corrodes the body tissues...

 

[Emulator]

Is that why Vodka can be risky?

What happens if you blow on a naked flame, with e cigs?

 

[3dogs]

Hi 3dogs,

Propylene glycol is quite safe. It is used in cough syrups and other potable formulations. It tastes quite sweet, just as glycerol. I think the confusion is with the highly toxic ethylene glycol (antifreeze), which does taste sweet too, but it is very toxic, as it is converted to oxalic acid by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which immediately extracts the calcium from the plasma, causing muscles contractions and sever kidney failure.

This is the reason why ethanol is relatively safe, but methanol (with just 1 carbon atom less) is very toxic. Ethanol is converted to acetic acid and withdrawn from the body by the Krebs cyclus, but methanol is converted to formic acid, which corrodes the body tissues...

@pharmasist
Being a paid up sceptic+conspiricy+any I have not thought of - (yet) my knee jerk response (without prior thought)
Is :-

So is a stick of dynamite.........till you light it.

We use many "safe" chemicals that occur in nature, and are part of our 'natural' food we have supposedly eaten from the beginning.

The problems started when we learned to refine and concentrate IMHO

You are probably right, and I am sure what you explain is 100% correct as we know it today, I'm just an ol' sceptic
and anyway, eCiggies scare the hell out of me.

Cheers

Andrew

 

[pharmacist]

I am afraid of any cigarettes: tobacco based AND eCigs.

Anyhow, a bit of aspartame in my softdrink and a heap of MSG in my soup makes: I like it . Despite the conspiracists' doom of hell, these substances are safe. I don't like Stevia, which is overhyped to me, as it as a tangy and bitter aftertaste.

 

[crenedecotret]

I wouldn't recommend ecigs if you're not smoking anything.. why put something in your body that doesn't belong there? But if you are still stuck on tobacco, it's a great tool to quit.

Anyways, sorry for steering this thread off topic

 

[The Hat]

@crenedecotret if it even gives one guy the incentive to stop then it will be worth it..

 

[stratman]

What happens if you blow on a naked flame, with e cigs?

My recommendation is to not be naked around flames.

 

[stratman]

... the highly toxic ethylene glycol (antifreeze), which does taste sweet too, but it is very toxic, as it is converted to oxalic acid by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which immediately extracts the calcium from the plasma, causing muscles contractions and sever kidney failure.

In the old days, ethylene glycol poisoning was treated with ethyl alcohol (booze) which was preferentially bound to/used by alcohol dehydrogenase over the antifreeze. This made for a drunk but alive patient.

 

[George in Georgia]

In the old days, ethylene glycol poisoning was treated with ethyl alcohol (booze) which was preferentially bound to/used by alcohol dehydrogenase over the antifreeze. This made for a drunk but alive patient.

Interesting! I recall reading a piece about the first usages of sulfa drugs. While they were sold IIRC as tablets in the northern US, it seems that syrups were judged to be more marketable in the southern US. Someone noted that the drug would dissolve in ethylene glycol, which has a sweet taste. After a number of deaths that formulation was withdrawn.

 

[Łukasz]

In the old days, ethylene glycol poisoning was treated with ethyl alcohol (booze) which was preferentially bound to/used by alcohol dehydrogenase over the antifreeze. This made for a drunk but alive patient.

Yes, yes, yes!
It is because of some kind of chemical reactions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_acidosis

Ł.