Shocked at colleague vaping in the office

[dazedandconfused2016]

Just that really. I think it's selfish, irresponsible and rude.

I work in several offices as I'm freelance, thankfully not very often at this particular workplace. I know that vaping is banned in another department of the same company so one would assume the ban applies throughout all departments.

Obviously the rest of the team are turning a blind eye to it. Perhaps because the individual concerned has a level of seniority.

I do not accept that vaping is "safe". Too little is known about it to say that definitively. In fact, some studies have indicated that there are health risks associated with vaping:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/vaping-with-nicotine-is-heart-risk-r5tfssgt7

www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/concerns-explode-over-new-health-risks-vaping

Of course, some might say that if I don't like it I could stop accepting work from that employer but I imagine that I will be confronted by the same problem at other workplaces.

[Slarti]

Trying to argue with anti vapers who think -
and I quote - "vaping is smoking" is like arguing with flat earthers. Utterly futile.

[Slarti]

BTW I neither smoke nor vape, I just get annoyed with idiocy.

[donquixotedelamancha]

"which is why I can legally vape in the car with my kids in tow."

Please, please don't do this. Vaping is much safer than smoking for adults, but not around pregnant women and children.

• Fewer/no carcinogens means much, much lower risk of cancer.
  
• No tar means no emphysema.
  
• Most vaping formulas have much lower amounts of toxins like formaldehyde.
  
• Doesn't produce CO.
  
• BUT it delivers nicotine more efficiently.
  

It is fairly certain that vaping significantly harms unborn children, though likely less than cigarettes. The nicotine inhibits development, particularly in the womb. There is not enough evidence about the effects on children, but it's likely to be somewhat harmful to (at least) young kids.

PPs are right that there is a lot of paranoia and misinformation about vaping; but it is important to understand that 'not enough evidence has been gathered' and 'much safer' are not the same as 'no harm'.

[Yambabe]

What Slarti said. Never smoked, never vaped. Do work occasionally for a company that makes vape juices though.

The ingredients that go in are now heavily regulated by the MHRA (www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency) and apart from the nicotine, which only affects the vaper themselves, all harmless. Most of the flavours are the same as those used in food production.

As someone up thread said, exhaled vape is very little different to exhaled breath when analysed. The smell is surely no worse than someone dousing themselves in perfume or deodorant?

I have no problem with someone vaping near me, I don't think there is any risk to me at all from "passive vaping", but I agree that the so-called steamchasers or cloudchasers who like to make a big show of it are bloody irritating.

[Ollivander84]

Vaping is a NRT therapy effectively. So the harm to a foetus is the same as patches, gum etc
Nobody is recommending a pregnant woman suddenly takes up vaping nicotine liquids but if they can't quit nicotine then vaping is 100x better than continuing to smoke

[TattyCat]

For all those complaining about the health risks of vaping, how many will also happily put their child in a pushchair at the same height as a car exhaust and not worrying themselves to death about that???!!!

I don't smoke, or vape. But the pollutants in our every day lives are far, far more significant than the 'fumes' from vaping. Additionally, if everyone knew the truth about plastics... and I don't mean marine life (hitting the press more heavily at the moment)...

[TattyCat]

I agree that the so-called steamchasers or cloudchasers who like to make a big show of it are bloody irritating.

And, this. I don't get it. Why the need to produce clouds of steam/cloud/vapour? The early days were better because the implements were smaller and more 'cigarette' sized. They were definitely less 'cloudy' than the bloody great tanks being used now. They are getting bigger, and sillier.

[lljkk]

I profoundly would not care, as long as a colleague vaped quietly.

[Sn0tnose]

it's far less invasive than strong perfume or body odour I'd say it's on a par. Bloody awful smell.

[RedForFilth]

I think a study should be done to find out what's more harmful...the fumes from vaping or the stress from being hysterical about it

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Tattycat More vape cloud is because they now provide a better liquid/air mix to the heater, keeping the inhaled mix wetter, which is less harmful to the vaper.

It is just water vapour - hence vaping

[dazedandconfused2016]

This from the following report:

fortune.com/2017/10/24/new-york-vaping-ban/

The U.S. Surgeon General noted in a December 2016 report, however, that the aerosol from vapes is “not harmless” and can contain potentially harmful chemicals, including nicotine, heavy metals and tiny particles.

But hey, according to the MN pro-vaping fraternity the US surgeon-general is wrong. I guess you guys know best.

[Ollivander84]

http://www.ecigarette-research.org/research/index.php/whats-new/whatsnew-2015/226-sp

Another study
https://www.gosmokefree.co.uk/latest-news/secondhand-vapour-from-vaping-scientifically-confirmed-as-safe/

Cancer research view
http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2016/05/17/10-common-questions-about-e-cigarettes-answered/

Public health England again
https://www.vapour.com/latest/let-workers-vape-in-the-office/

Unless you are with someone vaping constantly for 12hrs a day in an unventilated room for years, the risk is probably higher from the car fumes and general pollution outside

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

No... but a) the vape liquid in the US is not the same here in the UK, b) those same chemicals, particles etc are more likely than not in many other things around you every day. Nicotine itself is not the problem!

If you simply breath out, even your virginal,, non smoking exhalation will contain particles that would make you think twice, if someone made a scary headline out of them!

[ginteresting]

Frankie out the Saturday once described living with her footballer husband Wayne whatshisname vaping all the time as living with a bloody genie. It makes me laugh everytime I see someone vaping. I don’t think I’d be able to surround myself in a puff of smoke without saying ‘tonight, Mathew I’m going to be...’ - totally misses point of thread.

[Ylvamoon]

... and yet in other countries viping falls under the same laws as cigarettes.

[Rebeccaslicker]

Not vaping is definitely less risky than vaping. Even if a study claims to prove that vaping is almost entirely risk free, why should I be made to take that risk, or the risk that the study is incorrect, when I don't vape in the first place?

This is what I say to DP when he insists on vaping in the flat

[PrincessoftheSea]

I much preferred it when the smokers in my office stank of cigarettes. These days its apple and cinnamon or creme brulee
Not envy

[donquixotedelamancha]

"Nobody is recommending a pregnant woman suddenly takes up vaping nicotine liquids but if they can't quit nicotine then vaping is 100x better than continuing to smoke"

The data isn't firm yet, but it's almost certainly much better. Some evidence vaping is worse than gum for the fetus. Any NRT is definitely better than analogue smoking, however...

My comment was not about that. I was responding to someone vaping AROUND children in an enclosed space. My point is that people should avoid vaping around pregnant women and young children.

[ReginaldMolehusband]

Backing up one of the more sensible posts, here's latest info graphic on ecigs and pregnancy endorsed by Cancer Research UK, BMA, ASH etc. (Hopefully readable) and as for "The U.S. Surgeon General noted in a December 2016 report, however, that the aerosol from vapes is “not harmless” and can contain potentially harmful chemicals, including nicotine, heavy metals and tiny particles." ...heavy metals myth came from 2009 from a well dodgy bit of research that has never been replicated and "tiny particles"??? Of what?
The new surgeon general isn't so ideologically against vaping and doesn't lie about them any chance he gets so there's hope for the US.

[Welshmaenad]

@donquixotedelamancha I'm satisfied with research that indicates there is no harm from 'passive vaping'. I have read other studies where exhaled vapour was compared to exhaled breath and no significant differences were found. I'm not pregnant, I'm never going to be, my children are not tiny and they probably get a worse lungful of pollutants from the exhaust of the car in front than from whatever small proportion of my exhaled vapour that doesn't blow directly out of my window. Happy with my choices, thanks.

[Poisongirl81]

Myself and colleagues all vape in our office. Nothing has been said and it's accepted.

[Rebeccaslicker]

Welsh - but if you were sitting next to a pregnant woman, would you vape, or would you move?

[cathyclown]

This will always be a polarised debate.

Those who provide evidence and proof that vaping is not harmful are not listened to and dismissed.

So just forget it.