80-year-old research relevant again
Can propylene glycol, one of the main ingredients in the vapor of e-cigarettes, provide protection against viruses and flu? Vejpkollen has looked at old research and found a truth - with modification.
Propylene glycol (PG) has antibacterial and antiviral properties. It has been clear since the 1940s. PG, in its vaporized form, has been shown to be an effective aid in sterilizing hospital environments, for example. We also find propylene glycol in various inhalation medicines and smoking machines. But it is also one of the main ingredients of e-liquid - a vapor that is inhaled daily by vejpers worldwide.
Steam kills bacteria - and viruses
The doctor and e-cigarette researcher Konstantinos Farsalinos has previously analyzed research on propylene glycol conducted in 1941-1942. The 80-year-old studies were primarily concerned with identifying the antibacterial properties of propylene glycol. At the same time, the researchers wanted to find out how PG in vapor form (yes, they used smoking machines even in the 1940s) affected humans. The results were convincing: humans were minimally affected in the experiments and the substance has since been successfully used to sterilize spaces in various hospital environments.
But that's not all.
The 1940s studies also showed that mice, who breathed in the steam, received strong protection against diseases. In particular, against influenza viruses. When the mice that inhaled PG vapor were subsequently exposed to an airborne influenza virus, they were completely free of disease. This was in contrast to other mice in the experiments, which all died from the flu.
PG kills flu, in other words. Quite effectively too.
But can the vapor from e-cigarettes kill all viruses, like the current coronavirus?
Konstantinos Farsalinos warns not to jump to conclusions. Since the 1940s, research supporting the anti-viral effects of propylene glycol has been hard to find.
"And there is currently no evidence that propylene glycol kills coronavirus. Other flu viruses, maybe, but we have no modern studies to refer to. We can definitely not say that vejpning prevents people from developing influenza. That said, we know that in its vaporized form it is both anti-bacterial and anti-viral. At this point, we should explore the possibilities and find out if and how propylene glycol affects the coronavirus" says Konstantinos Farsalinos.
You can read the full Konstantinos Farsalinos article on Corona and Propylene Glycol here
