Secondhand Aerosol: What Vaping Does to the Air Around You
Vape aerosol dissipates faster than cigarette smoke—but it's not harmless. Secondhand aerosol contains nicotine, ultrafine particles, and volatile organic compounds. The risks are dramatically lower than secondhand smoke—but they're not zero.
Cigarette smoke lingers for hours, depositing carcinogens on surfaces (thirdhand smoke). Vape aerosol dissipates in seconds—the propylene glycol and glycerin evaporate, leaving little residue. But the aerosol contains nicotine, ultrafine particles, and trace carbonyls. **The secondhand risks of vaping are real—and dramatically lower than the secondhand risks of smoking. The difference is orders of magnitude. The policy question is whether the difference justifies different rules for smoking and vaping in shared spaces.**
