Featured Image Credit: thisdadtiktoks/ YouTube
Vaping is becoming increasingly popular, especially amongst younger people.
Whilst it's been advertised as a healthier alternative to smoking, we don't yet have any long-term data on how vaping affects lung health. Or what the chemicals in them do to our bodies.
But a popular TikToker picked up on some disturbing news when his friend took a puff of his vape in his car.
In a clip showing off his new Mercedes Benz, thisdadtiktoks, also known by his community as Sheldon | TikTok Dad, posted a clip showing the vehicle's HEPA system.
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HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air [filter] and can theoretically remove at least 99.97% dust, pollen, bacteria and any airborne particles.
'It literally takes the outside air and puts it through these HEPA filters,' he said, showing how the filter cleans the outside air and interior air particles.
Pointing at the car's fancy digital dashboard, Sheldon showed exterior air quality rated at 8 PM (particulate matter), which is considered ‘Good’. Inside, it’s even better, rated at 1 PM which is also ‘good’.
But then when his friend takes a puff of his vape, the air quality reading skyrockets from ‘Good’ to ‘Very Unhealthy,' reaching a rating of 198 PM.
The TikTok then proceeds to talk about his personal experience with vaping, describing how he often gets chest pains from doing it.
'Everytime I vape, my chest hurts. It doesn't hurt immediately but it'll hurt if I spend a day vaping or a month,' Sheldon added.
'That was insane,' he dramatically commented in response to what happened.
He continued: 'I am so thankful that my car had that feature because it just opened my eyes to the fact that that was just a little bit of vape smoke in my car and my car said what the f*ck is happening in here?!'
Some viewers are totally shocked at the car's capabilities alone: 'HEPA filter!?!?? My car doesn’t even have a muffler and leaks transmission oil', wrote one user.
It's even convinced some to try to quit vaping.
Others weren't so convinced and looked further to see if the car’s air filter could detect any kind of particulate matter, not just vape smoke.
'PM = particulate matter. You could spray air freshener, or put a humidifier in there, and it would give you a high reading because it would increase the amount of particulates in the air,' replied another user.
Even if this video doesn't illustrate the full impact of vaping on health, it does highlight the need for more research into the long-term effects of vaping.
