Where does the vaping liquid go after it gets into the lungs?

At present, the main components of e-atomized cigarette oil on the market are nicotine, simple organic acid, propylene glycol, glycerol and a small amount of flavor compounds.

The inhale-exhalation process of smoking an e-cigarette may seem very brief, but it is actually a very delicate and complex process. During this process, the components are left in different places.



The specific migration process of tobacco oil in human body is as follows:

1. Evaporation to form high temperature fog: after the smoke oil is heated to about 200℃ in the smoker, it is evaporated into high temperature fog, which is inhaled by smokers through the cigarette nozzle.



2. The formation of aerosol: the high temperature fog in the cigarette holder after a certain cooling, contact with the low temperature of the air in the mouth. Due to the strong hygroscopic properties of propylene glycol and glycerol, the propylene glycol and glycerol in the fog will absorb the water in the mouth and condense, and dissolve or absorb other components to form aerosols. At present, many scholars are conducting research on the effects of regular inhaling and exhaling aerosol on the human body. There is no evidence that the aerosol has harmful effects on the human body. However, if the user's respiratory tract is sensitive, it is possible to have an allergic reaction to propylene glycol vapor.



3. Aerosols enter the alveoli: Aerosols enter the lungs through the respiratory tract. Most of the aerosol particles reach the alveoli except for a small amount of aerosol particles and the mouth, trachea, bronchi and other respiratory mucous membranes.



4. Nicotine enters the bloodstream and nerves: Nicotine in aerosol particles enters the blood circulation through the surface of the alveoli and reaches the nervous system through the blood-brain barrier, thus stimulating the secretion of dopamine and making people feel happy and happy. This is the feeling of withdrawal (therefore, nicotine is addictive and can cause certain damage to the nervous system, but it is not the carcinogenic component in cigarettes). Aerosol particles reaching the alveoli can be completely nicotinized in a short period of time due to the nearly 100% efficiency of nicotine gaseous exchange on the alveolar surface.



5. Residual components are exhaled: With exhalation, nicotine removed aerosol particles (mainly propylene glycol and glycerol) return along the airway route. On the way back, the highly hygrogenic propylene glycol and glycerin fill the aerosol particles with water, which causes the particles to become many times larger. This is why we often feel that the vapor we exhale is much thicker than the vapor we inhale. This is also why our mouth feels dry after a long time of vaping.