VAPING AND SARS-CoV-2 AND COVID-19 TECHNICAL INFORMATION FOR VAPERS
There is no compelling evidence that vaping (intrinsically) increases the risk of infection or progression to severe condition of COVID-19, and there is no evidence on whether this effect will work on SARS-CoV-2 and in the context of vaping.
Abstract
WHY THIS DOCUMENT? The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic provides fertile ground for spreading misinformation on vaping. Vapers must be equipped with solid information and data to counterargue. ON SMOKING. The relation between smoking and the progression to severe conditions of COVID-19 is still uncertain, though identified vulnerability conditions for this progression (cardiovascular and respiratory disease, diabetes) in mostly senior patients are strongly correlated with long term harms from smoking. ON VAPING. There is no compelling evidence that vaping (intrinsically) increases the risk of infection or progression to severe condition of COVID-19. When evaluating risks on vapers it is necessary to consider that most are ex-smokers or still smokers. Vapers with a long previous smoking history could exhibit conditions seen in vulnerable patients. However, this would not be an effect of vaping but of previous smoking. Since completely switching from smoking to vaping improves cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, smokers who switch to vaping are expected to have a better prognosis if infected by SARSCoV-2 ON PROPYLENE GLYCOL AS A PROTECTIVE AGENT. Because of its hygroscopic nature propylene glycol (PG) vapor (but not PG droplets) can act as environmental disinfectant wiping out pathogens under specific physical conditions. However, there is no evidence on whether this effect will work on SARS-CoV-2 and in the context of vaping. ON ENVIRONMENTAL VAPOR. There are no reported and verified cases of contagion. Exhaled vapor from an infected vaper is a negligible contagion factor: it can spread very few virus carrying droplets, as much as blowing or mouth breathing, slightly more than sedentary breathing and far less than coughing or sneezing. However, exhaled vapor can only spread the virus when vaping, thus infected vapers (or any infected person) will spread much more viruses over time from their continuous regular breathing. RECOMMENDATIONS. Vapers who no longer smoke should not go back to smoking. The precautions to prevent contagion from virus carried by e-cigarette vapor are the same “social distancing” measures recommended to all the population including non-vapers: avoid physical contact and proximity to others. For vapers specifically: vape with low powered devices when accompanied, avoid vaping in public indoor spaces and in outdoor spaces vape at least 2 mts away from others.