Can smoke (Propylene Glycol) from a cigarette or e-cigarette be transferred from an object to someone?

[Sangel78]

Hello everyone, I have a cat that is allergic to Propylene Glycol, maybe Glycol in general. My friend smoked cigarettes and vaped e-cigarettes with 55% Propylene Glycol. It all started with my cat's ears being very dirty and despite the ear cleaner (there were 3 ingredients with glycol at the end) they didn't really get clean. Only when it was no longer given did the ears become clean. Now I'm kind of scared to even touch my cat. When my friend is there he vapes in the bathroom with VG Liquid. If now there is something from the liquid on the door handle from him and I touch the handle a little later. Can I also get it in my hand and pass it on to my cat or would it just be that my cat is not allowed to have direct contact. How is it with you who are familiar with something like this? In addition, my friend is not there for 4 days and works outside. He smokes at work. Then the smoke can get into his pocket, or if he had the cigarette in his hand and touches a pocket, do I have to wash the pocket too, or is it enough if I put it under a blanket where my cat can't get to it? And if the bag is under the blanket, can the blanket get some of it too? I hope you know what I mean and would be very happy about answers.

[kerrykuzak]

Vapors are inhaled through breathing and also absorbed through the skin when in contact with PG. Contact/cross-contamination transfer can occur. Residual PG/smoke/vapors will cling to the body and clothes. IMO no smoking should be done anywhere in the house. Showering and washing the clothes daily would be a must at my home.

[gothchiq]

I feel this. My husband works in a vape shop and they sell lots of PG products. When he gets home he changes clothes, washes his face, arms, and hands, and goes over his hair with a wash cloth. I wear gloves to put the worn items in the wash so I don't break out. Ideally, this person would shower and put on fresh clothes before coming to your house. For me at least, it only takes the barest amount of any glycol to cause a massive breakout.

[Sangel78]

Many thanks for the answer kerrykuzak and gothchiq, that helps me a lot. Unfortunately, my friend doesn't believe that this could be the cause. You can't have a test done like it is with humans, unfortunately. But what I've observed all fits together. After smoking it got worse, the skin on the ears was already affected. So far I have hopefully banned everything where glycol of any kind can be in it. Unfortunately I haven't found any shaving foam without glycol yet. But it's definitely gotten better, he doesn't scratch himself as much as he used to. My hope is that my cat simply came into contact with too much of it through the ear cleaner, so that the body can no longer cope with it, because before that there was nothing. The ears were very dirty. What about bags or other items where smoke could have gotten. Is it enough if you wash it off with a rag and water? So smoke/vapor residue can't be transferred from one object to another or person once it's stuck on clothes or can it get there when you sit down on the couch?

[gothchiq in reply to Sangel78]

You can shave with hair conditioner. Avalon Organics makes them without glycols.

[gothchiq in reply to Sangel78]

As for washing....do the best you can. If something can be washed with soap and water, that's best, if it can only be wiped off, try that. It's just a matter of what is possible.

[Sangel78 in reply to gothchiq]

Thank you gothchiq, so my friend needs it to shave. Is hair conditioner also suitable for this? So far I've always washed everything off with water and that's not enough? How about a steam cleaner, is it possible to get rid of objects with it? I have now changed everything where there is a touch of glycol or propylene glycol. I got Weleda vegetable soap, vegan washing-up liquid, vegan shower soap so that my little one no longer comes into contact with the stuff. Bad the whole where everything is included. And the worst thing is that I don't even notice it, it can be on me and bring my cat into contact with it. 😔May I ask how your allergy to propylene glycol developed? Sorry for asking that many questions.

[gothchiq in reply to Sangel78]

The glycol free conditioners I use are by Avalon Organics. Amazon or Whole Foods carry them. To get glycols out of things that can't be thrown in the washing machine, it depends what the item is whether and how it can be cleaned. I use Sal Suds by Dr. Bronner. A small amount combined with water in a carpet shampooer will get it out of rugs. For upholstered furniture, a steam cleaner in which you could use this same solution (the kind that suctions the solution back out) should do the trick. I assume that I developed the allergy through exposure to various cosmetic products and foods over time.

[kerrykuzak]

There's probably lots of variables as to how long chemicals from cigarettes and vapors stick around and re-contaminate the air and surfaces (ventilation/type of surfaces). Regardless, these chemicals can be EXTREMELY harmful to living creatures' skin, eyes and respiratory systems. Chronic exposure can lead to severe problems with the liver, kidneys, endocrine and nervous systems. A harmful habit needs to be broken if good health is to be had. newscenter.lbl.gov/2014/11/...

[Sangel78 in reply to kerrykuzak]

Thank you very much for the article. After I found out that propylene glycol is contained in cigarettes even 100 times more than in the vapor of an e-cigarette, my friend stopped immediately. It's been about 6 weeks now and he started using VG Liquid which he vapes in the bathroom away from my hangover. However, I'm wondering if I didn't overlook something to clean. How can I clean it at all so that it doesn't damage my hangover. The worst thing is I don't even notice it when I have it on my hands, for example through washing-up liquid, and then touch it and it comes into contact with it. 😔 I read (I don't know if it's true) that Propylene Glycol breaks down in the environment after about 7 - 9 days. soil or water. But I also want to be able to clean it. I've gotten a steam cleaner now to see if I can steam everything again and I have more security. I'm sorry I have so many questions.

[kerrykuzak]

It's good to hear you're trying to find safer soaps for cleaning. I basically only use distilled vinegar and water (1 to 4 ratio) and baking soda for hard surface cleaning. The bottom line, however, concerns the dangers of vaping for the person inhaling the e-cigarettes AND the resulting potentially dangerous residues. Studies have now been done which confirm that inhaling heated up PG, vegetable glycerin, flavorants and nicotine can turn these ingredients into even more dangerous chemicals. E-cigarettes are bad for the lungs, the heart, the brain and the gums. They also increase the bad cholesterol (LDL); decrease vascular function (blood flow) to the heart; and expose the person to the additive vitamin E acetate which is a thickening agent associated with serious lung injury and death. Who would ever KNOWINGLY expose themselves to such bodily injury? Please encourage your friend to quit altogether. It won't be easy, but you'll be saving at least one life in doing so. Best wishes. hopkinsmedicine.org/health/...