size of vapor as oposed to smoke

I read somewhere that one reason pot smoke may not do the same damage as tabaco smoke, is that it doesnt penetrate as far in to the small passage ways of the lungs.
do to its lager size molecules or something to that effect.

so.. im wondering if the same applies to the size of vapor molecules. does any one know the answer to this. thanks..

it doesnt penetrate as far in to the small passage ways of the lungs. do to its lager size molecules or something to that effect.

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I've never heard that, and even if there's a difference in molecule size, I doubt that's the difference, harm wise.

Some interesting info on this subject:

"In conclusion, while both tobacco and cannabis smoke have similar properties chemically, their pharmacological activities differ greatly. Components of cannabis smoke minimize some carcinogenic pathways whereas tobacco smoke enhances some. Both types of smoke contain carcinogens and particulate matter that promotes inflammatory immune responses that may enhance the carcinogenic effects of the smoke. However, cannabis typically down-regulates immunologically-generated free radical production by promoting a Th2 immune cytokine profile. Furthermore, THC inhibits the enzyme necessary to activate some of the carcinogens found in smoke. In contrast, tobacco smoke increases the likelihood of carcinogenesis by overcoming normal cellular checkpoint protective mechanisms through the activity of respiratory epithelial cell nicotine receptors. Cannabinoids receptors have not been reported in respiratory epithelial cells (in skin they prevent cancer), and hence the DNA damage checkpoint mechanism should remain intact after prolonged cannabis exposure. Furthermore, nicotine promotes tumor angiogenesis whereas cannabis inhibits it. It is possible that as the cannabis-consuming population ages, the long-term consequences of smoking cannabis may become more similar to what is observed with tobacco. However, current knowledge does not suggest that cannabis smoke will have a carcinogenic potential comparable to that resulting from exposure to tobacco smoke.

It should be noted that with the development of vaporizers, that use the respiratory route for the delivery of carcinogen-free cannabis vapors, the carcinogenic potential of smoked cannabis has been largely eliminated [47,48]."

http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/2/1/21

thanks max. thats some good stuff, and i have been reading similar stuff with regards to cancer,and i think its awesome.
what an amazing plant with all its counter balancing really like a gift from earth to us all.
but what i was thinking was not the threat from cancer, just wondering more along the lines of incrusting the air passages, so as to be more of a sufficating problem.
like copd only not from the smoke not the carcinogen. maybe like silicocios or something.
there is one that cotton workers can get from breathing to much dust. maybe not cancer but these other things can be a death sentence too. i was just wondering thinking about... i dont know maybe just thinking to much lol call me a worry wort

If I recall correctly cannabis smoke has something like at least three times the amount of carcinogenic compound benzene when combusted but still doesn't give you cancer how you like them apples lol

no clue where, mabye on here idk, but I recall reading somewhere that the molecules of vapor are larger than smoke molecules which is why the vapor needs to be held in longer for better absorbtion.

I wonder if this is true.

that would've been droplets I think, not molecules, a thc or other cannabinoid-moleculedoesnt suddenly increase in size

From studies I have read, the average size of the droplets (aerosols) in vapour is ~ 0.5 to 1 micron (um), or 500-1000 nanometers (nm), while in smoke it's more like ~ 50 nanometers (nm), or so. While these are only rough numbers, they do make sense to me since combusting is a much more violent reaction, compared to the gentler action of vapourizing. This would result in more "pulverizing" of the organic materials into particulates, relatively.

As far as harm wise, the smaller the particulate, the deeper into the lung it would penetrate. Humans inhale at ~ 10 microns, while we respire at ~ 2.5 microns.

thanks toasted. thats kinda what i was wondering so that means the vapor is huge in comparsion to the smoke, all the more reason to vape

Titamius said:

no clue where, mabye on here idk, but I recall reading somewhere that the molecules of vapor are larger than smoke molecules which is why the vapor needs to be held in longer for better absorbtion.

I wonder if this is true.

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at least with respect to the active components this is not true, because there is no smoked form of THC; it is always vapor whether you vape or smoke; only with smoking there is a lot of other combustion products which are the bad things

i have read a couple things regarding vapor i also wanted to add and ask hear.
ok.. read a couple times that if there is visable vapor then its not really vapor but smoke.
so seems like alot of people hear, my slef included like the big thick visable hits through my vapor bonging
what are your guys thoughts of this? is it true? if so then we {most of us hear} are still smoking and not just vaporizng ?? is this true or what? if we see thick clouds is it actully smoke and vapor??

chris 71 said:

i have read a couple things regarding vapor i also wanted to add and ask hear.
ok.. read a couple times that if there is visable vapor then its not really vapor but smoke.
so seems like alot of people hear, my slef included like the big thick visable hits through my vapor bonging
what are your guys thoughts of this? is it true? if so then we {most of us hear} are still smoking and not just vaporizng ?? is this true or what? if we see thick clouds is it actully smoke and vapor??

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I can get large vapor clouds, and then look through the cannabis used and see it's still green. I don't see how it could possibly be smoke. The air passing through the plant matter isn't even hot enough to combust it. I'm sure there are points when people try for too large of clouds, or let a surface get too hot and "smoke" mixes in with the vapor. But if you have a decent vape, and use good technique, there shouldn't be any smoke at all.

chris 71 said:

i have read a couple things regarding vapor i also wanted to add and ask hear.
ok.. read a couple times that if there is visable vapor then its not really vapor but smoke.

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Stop reading wherever you saw that crap and don't trust anything else from that source. This is pure nonsense, as X24 describes.

Many of today's vapourizers can't reach combustion no matter how hard you try, yet are perfectly capable of visible vapour. Steam is visible vapour, but nobody confuses it with smoke.

ok thanks pakalolo thats what i was looking for thanks

peterchen said:

Titamius said:

no clue where, mabye on here idk, but I recall reading somewhere that the molecules of vapor are larger than smoke molecules which is why the vapor needs to be held in longer for better absorbtion.

I wonder if this is true.

Click to expand...

at least with respect to the active components this is not true, because there is no smoked form of THC; it is always vapor whether you vape or smoke; only with smoking there is a lot of other combustion products which are the bad things

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Vapor condenses in the air to form droplets much larger than ones in smoke. In fact, the vapor is nearly invisible, and what you see is condensed vapor, which theoretically won't get very far into your lungs because of particle size (and may just get absorbed onto your throat or something along the way).

chris 71 said:

i have read a couple things regarding vapor i also wanted to add and ask hear.
ok.. read a couple times that if there is visable vapor then its not really vapor but smoke.
so seems like alot of people hear, my slef included like the big thick visable hits through my vapor bonging
what are your guys thoughts of this? is it true? if so then we {most of us hear} are still smoking and not just vaporizng ?? is this true or what? if we see thick clouds is it actully smoke and vapor??

Click to expand...

Unless you taste smoke, you're not combusting. I can vape my herbs to an almost black level without combusting them (can taste bad, but not burnt at that point).
Related to my above answer, what you're seeing is condensed vapor. You're getting more of the active ingredients, but if you're exhaling vapor you may not get as much out of your herb as if you had used a lower temperature. And smoke is visible due to carbon (for the most part)