Menthol and mint-flavored vaping liquids may be crisp and refreshing, but some of them may also be hazardous to your health. The hazard comes from a potential carcinogen called pulegone. While studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown many e-liquids marketed in the U.S. contain substantial amounts of pulegone, Black Note’s menthol vaping liquids have absolutely none.
Where Pulegone Comes From
Pulegone is found in the essential oils of a variety of plants, such as peppermint, mentha piperita, and catnip. It can also be created synthetically when attempting to mimic the natural mint flavors of such plants.
The FDA Ban on Pulegone
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of synthetic pulegone as a food additive, it still shows up in many mint and menthol e-liquids. And it shows up in rather high amounts.
What is ‘Rather High?’
“Rather high” amounts mean amounts that exceed the threshold of concern or the amount the FDA noted caused tumors in animal studies. Researchers out of Duke University compared the levels of pulegone in various mint and menthol products against the FDA threshold of concern. The products were:
- Three e-cigarette brands: Above the threshold of concern
- One smokeless tobacco brand: Above the threshold of concern
- Menthol cigarettes: Below the threshold of concern
Since the tobacco industry has long been aware of the hazards of pulegone, it would explain why menthol cigarettes have levels below the threshold of concern. Yet e-liquid manufacturers may not be aware of the concern and focused on using the least expensive ingredients.
It must also be noted that the high levels of concern are for pulegone used as a food additive. No available data shows the effects of pulegone when inhaled, which could be even more damaging. Toxicologists consider the lungs to be more sensitive to toxins than the digestive system.
Why Black Note Does Not Contain Pulegone
As with all our tobacco vaping liquid, the menthol flavoring used in our Solo blend Menthol contains mint flavoring derived from the mint extract. But that mint extract does not come from plants containing pulegone. It comes from a menthe Arvensis, a species of mint plant that does not contain the potential carcinogen.
If you vape menthol and mint e-liquids, it pays to do your research. This way you can ensure you’re choosing a product that does not contain pulegone. Or you can skip the research and go right for a product you know and trust: Black Note real tobacco vaping liquid.
SOURCES:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2751245
https://corporate.dukehealth.org/news-listing/flavoring-ingredient-exceeds-safety-levels-e-cigarettes-and-smokeless-tobacco
https://www.futurity.org/pulegone-e-cigarettes-smokeless-tobacco-2161592/
