As popular as vaping has become, it isn't what anyone could call universally understood. This is partly due to novelty. After all, it's only relatively recently that vaporizer use has really taken off in the US. Vaping also suffers from some associations with smoking, and it's not unusual for concerned critics to simply attribute some of the well-known health effects of cigarette use to vaporizers.


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We're here today to run through a few of the more prevalent myths that still dog vaping, and hopefully clear a few of them up. Whether you're already using vaporizers, thinking about making the jump, or just curious about this increasingly widespread phenomenon, we've got some basic facts for you.

Myth 1: Vaporizers and E-Cigarettes are the Same Thing

Plenty of sources use the two above terms interchangeably, but e-cigs and vapes are far from identical. E-cigarettes actually had their start long before the current generation of vaporizers. While they function similarly – by heating and atomizing e-liquid, which can then be inhaled – they look and behave differently from more modern products.

First, aesthetics. E-cigs are designed to look like cigarettes, right down to color and shape. Many even come with a distinctive light-up tip to simulate traditional smoking. Functionally, they were designed to be relatively disposable, with cartridges or entire e-cigs tossed once used up.

Recently made vaporizers have diverged from this design – check out this Pax 2 review from Paint the Moon for an example of how far things have come. They look vastly different from their  “cigalike” forebears, and come in an array of ever-changing shapes and sizes. They've also seen a boost in terms of e-liquid delivery with improved heating coils and reusable cartridges.

Myth 2: Vaporizers Produce Formaldehyde

Here's one that you may have heard about earlier this year. A team of researchers from Portland State University found relatively high levels of formaldehyde (a nasty, cancer-causing chemical also found in regular cigarettes) were produced by vaporizers used at higher voltages. Mainstream media predictably jumped all over the story, spreading serious concerns over the health effects of vaping.

One catch: very, very few users actually come anywhere close to reaching the voltage levels that produced formaldehyde. Doing so cooks the e-liquid, and instead of a puff of whatever flavor you've chosen to vape, you'll get a mouthful of foul-tasting smoke.

We can't claim that vaporizers are absolutely safe. Most health authorities agree that they at least cause less harm than cigarettes; however, more research is needed before we understand the actual risks they pose to your health. But for now, read articles like the above one with a bit of skepticism – in this case at least, the panic never matched the facts.

Vaping is Totally Legal/Totally Illegal

Like any polarizing issue, vaporizer regulation can be a tricky subject to get solid facts on. Until quite recently, popular opinion was that vaping was almost completely unregulated. Lately though, the battle seems to be swinging around. New government regulations have many vapers crying foul with a little too much abandon.

In reality, federal rules covering vaping...don't really exist yet. For all the complaints, the FDA has yet to begin regulating the industry. While there was plenty of buzz after the agency announced plans to police vape manufacturers and retailers in 2014, the change hasn't happened yet.

Some states and cities have adopted local regulation of vapes. New Orleans, a famously cig-friendly city pondering a future ban, was careful to include vaporizers while drafting smoke-free guidelines. Hawaii, North Dakota, and other states, have already come down on vaping with similar bans.

Fact from Fiction

It's best to take most popular information on vaping with at least a couple grains of salt. The next few years will be formative ones for alternative tobacco, with new rules, new studies, and new products all going public.

Can you expect to always see a fair, unbiased report on each emerging story? Heck no. Vaping is controversial, and before you make a decision based on new information, check who happens to be carrying that information, and if other sources agree with them.

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