TheGinni
Keeping Canada Green!
Greetings All
The thread Stainless Steel How safe is it was closed.
I apologize if I posted the thread or the quotes in the thread in an inappropriate manner. It was not my intentions to do so. I was merely trying to show the conversation that had been started in the Brass safety thread. I have been following Vaporization and this site for a long while, but I am new here so please be patient with me. I am only trying to inspire some good thinking and talk!
I AM NOT CLAIMING THAT STAINLESS STEEL IS UNSAFE!!! HIGH QUALITY STAINLESS AND MEDICAL GRADE STAINLESS ARE CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE SAFE TO VAPORIZE FROM AND SAFE FOR USE IN MANY OTHER APPLICATIONS!!! I MAKE NO CLAIMS AS TO THE SAFTEY OF STAINLESS GOOD OR BAD!!! THIS IS ONLY TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO TALK AND BE CRITICAL OF ALL THE PARTS THEY USE IN THEIR DAILY VAPORIZING!!! LETS KNOW WHAT PARTS WE ARE USING AND BE CONFIDANT IN THEM!!!
Although I have used many many vaporizers, I will be buying my first unit of my own this week( I have a few friends that are licensed Medical MJ users and have a good deal of knowledge of and experience with vaporizers through them). I have got it down to two units.. Eventually I want them both... but one at a time ... #1 Extreme Q ( The manufacturer Arizer has been really great in answering all of my questions and seem to use only the highest quality 440 titanium blended stainless steel) #2 VaporBros, although, there are many other units that I would like to own as well, I wanted to put all of their health claims to the test!!, . If anyone wants to comment on that I posted in the New Extreme Q thread by Rockwise. I am also interested in getting a Purple Days from Tom... but again one a time. When I buy something I pick it apart to sometimes absurd levels. This got me to where I am in my decision of those two models, .. this got me thinking about all components right down to the very screens that hold the sacred herbs........
I would like to express interest in starting a discussion over some questions that I had after watching a review Video by the one and only KADS in support of the VaporBrothers new EZ Change Whip system. While there were many excellent features discussed in the video the one that got me thinking was this: that the ez change whip had new ceramic screens! The video and VapBros seem to be making a big deal of these ceramic screens. They seem to claim that they are much better then the metal screens for cleaning purposes and also for the same principals behind the thought that ceramic is better in the heaters as well (Maybe Kads or VB can clarify?). Well way to go KADS! ..lol...By the end of the video you had me thinking!
I know that even with ceramics you need to be careful of the content of ceramic. The VaporBros heating element is made from an all natural clay is supposed to be third party tested for its capabilities of being completely safe an non-toxic (Seriously though, can anyone find any such reports or findings? Just would like to see some hard data to back up the claims, not saying it is untrue). So this really got me thinking... How safe are the stainless steel screen that are provided with most vaporizer units out there? What grade and type of stainless are the individual manufacturers using? Even the better companies.
Dont get me wrong I am not screaming foul on the part of stainless, we all know of its great heat resistant properties, and I know there are many very wonderful and dedicated individuals and companies out there that are making very health conscious units using stainless and I am not knocking you. I use stainless. That is why I am asking these questions. Now I know we are not talking aluminum here. It is stainless steel. It is used in our cookware and eating utensils even in surgical implants and in surgical tools! I am sure we are all familiar with the statement it is industry standard, well IMHO their is nothing in nature that dictates industry standards of the materials we use for our everyday use or vaporizing. By that I mean that humankind dictates industry standard even in medical practices, sometimes for centuries, before we realize we were dead wrong. Sometimes we use things that can seem harmless but in retrospect we often realize we did not fully understand the health or environmental issues and impacts when dealing with substances/products.
So dont go throw out all your stainless steel stuff, but here is some food for thought!
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The United States Department of Labour ; Occupational Safety & Health Admin.(www.osha.gov) says:
All forms of hexavalent chromium are regarded as carcinogenic to workers. The risk of developing lung cancer increases with the amount of hexavalent chromium inhaled and the length of time the worker is exposed. Studies of workers in chromate production, chromate pigment, and chrome electroplating industries employed before the 1980s show increased rates of lung cancer mortality. Certain hexavalent chromium compounds produced lung cancer in animals that had the compounds placed directly in their lungs.
Hexavalent chromium is used in Stainless steel. The amount and type varies depending on the type and quality of the stainless.
Now I know the melting/vaporization points for chromium are at an extremely high temperature and is much much higher than what is used in a common herb vaporization unit, but that is not true of some types of chromium, and depending on the type that is used in your screen... well is it possible that some screens are letting off chromium vapors?
Here is what the CDC (www.cdc.gov) says:
Noncombustible Solid in bulk form, but finely divided dust burns rapidly if heated in a flame.
Now, many units are made with high quality screen that you would not have to worry about this, but some manufactures of cheap stainless use chromium finishes to make it look better, this is a spray on chromium similar to that used to chrome decorating. I am certainly NOT accusing any manufacturer of using such products, but I think the consumer should look in to it. I AM CERTAINLY NOT ACCUSING ANY VAPORIZER MANUFACTURER OF USING ANY SUCH SCREENS!!! Just make sure you verify the quality of the screen that you use. Make sure the manufacturer of your products stands behind the composition and construction of their products.
CDC also says this about chromium of ANY kind:
Exposure Routes inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact
Symptoms irritation eyes, skin; lung fibrosis (histologic)
Target Organs Eyes, skin, respiratory system
I think this is something that is worth while talking about.
Most people don't know or realize but we absorb metals like nickel and chromium that are in things like stainless steel cookware through our food even when you cook in low temperatures.
The Canadian government says this:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/cook-cuisinier-eng.php
Stainless steel, made from iron and other metals, is strong and resists wear and tear. It is inexpensive, long-lasting and the most popular cookware in North America. The metals used in stainless steel or iron cookware which may produce health effects are iron, nickel and chromium.
Small doses of chromium, like iron, are good for your health, but they can be harmful in higher amounts. The safe intake range is about 50 to 200 micrograms per day, what most Canadians take in. One meal prepared with stainless steel equipment gives you about 45 micrograms of chromium, not enough to cause concern.
Again I am not making any definitive statements here about absorption through use of you vaporizer, but it would be nice to see some clear evidence through scientific trial of screens to shed light on such things!
Another point to mention is that some chromium is very water soluble (only in some circumstances, in high quality stainless there is more chance of Nickel leaching into the water), so depending on the quality of the stainless, the type and amount of chromium used is the deciding factor on how much the chromium is affected by water. What happens to the chromium when you are cleaning your screen? humm ...Makes me think! What is the quality and level of the chromium in my screen? Is it only properly molecularly bonded to the iron and nickel to form quality stainless steel? Is there any other type of chromium in the screen? any added after to make it shiny? I would like to know !! I dont know about you!
Last point I will make is this: No matter what anyone can find out about the safety of heating, cleaning and smoking over hexavalent chromium filled stainless steel, that hexavalent chromium is absolutely, unequivocally, hands down one of the most horrible substances on earth for the environment and the people that work with it.
I want to know ... Is there and alternative? Is there an answer? Is it ceramic screens? Can we stop using any and all horrible chemicals to make our vaporizers?! Just looking to keep the world and our selves happy and healthy for the long vap!
Any Thoughts??
The thread Stainless Steel How safe is it was closed.
I apologize if I posted the thread or the quotes in the thread in an inappropriate manner. It was not my intentions to do so. I was merely trying to show the conversation that had been started in the Brass safety thread. I have been following Vaporization and this site for a long while, but I am new here so please be patient with me. I am only trying to inspire some good thinking and talk!
I AM NOT CLAIMING THAT STAINLESS STEEL IS UNSAFE!!! HIGH QUALITY STAINLESS AND MEDICAL GRADE STAINLESS ARE CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE SAFE TO VAPORIZE FROM AND SAFE FOR USE IN MANY OTHER APPLICATIONS!!! I MAKE NO CLAIMS AS TO THE SAFTEY OF STAINLESS GOOD OR BAD!!! THIS IS ONLY TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO TALK AND BE CRITICAL OF ALL THE PARTS THEY USE IN THEIR DAILY VAPORIZING!!! LETS KNOW WHAT PARTS WE ARE USING AND BE CONFIDANT IN THEM!!!
Although I have used many many vaporizers, I will be buying my first unit of my own this week( I have a few friends that are licensed Medical MJ users and have a good deal of knowledge of and experience with vaporizers through them). I have got it down to two units.. Eventually I want them both... but one at a time ... #1 Extreme Q ( The manufacturer Arizer has been really great in answering all of my questions and seem to use only the highest quality 440 titanium blended stainless steel) #2 VaporBros, although, there are many other units that I would like to own as well, I wanted to put all of their health claims to the test!!, . If anyone wants to comment on that I posted in the New Extreme Q thread by Rockwise. I am also interested in getting a Purple Days from Tom... but again one a time. When I buy something I pick it apart to sometimes absurd levels. This got me to where I am in my decision of those two models, .. this got me thinking about all components right down to the very screens that hold the sacred herbs........
I would like to express interest in starting a discussion over some questions that I had after watching a review Video by the one and only KADS in support of the VaporBrothers new EZ Change Whip system. While there were many excellent features discussed in the video the one that got me thinking was this: that the ez change whip had new ceramic screens! The video and VapBros seem to be making a big deal of these ceramic screens. They seem to claim that they are much better then the metal screens for cleaning purposes and also for the same principals behind the thought that ceramic is better in the heaters as well (Maybe Kads or VB can clarify?). Well way to go KADS! ..lol...By the end of the video you had me thinking!
I know that even with ceramics you need to be careful of the content of ceramic. The VaporBros heating element is made from an all natural clay is supposed to be third party tested for its capabilities of being completely safe an non-toxic (Seriously though, can anyone find any such reports or findings? Just would like to see some hard data to back up the claims, not saying it is untrue). So this really got me thinking... How safe are the stainless steel screen that are provided with most vaporizer units out there? What grade and type of stainless are the individual manufacturers using? Even the better companies.
Dont get me wrong I am not screaming foul on the part of stainless, we all know of its great heat resistant properties, and I know there are many very wonderful and dedicated individuals and companies out there that are making very health conscious units using stainless and I am not knocking you. I use stainless. That is why I am asking these questions. Now I know we are not talking aluminum here. It is stainless steel. It is used in our cookware and eating utensils even in surgical implants and in surgical tools! I am sure we are all familiar with the statement it is industry standard, well IMHO their is nothing in nature that dictates industry standards of the materials we use for our everyday use or vaporizing. By that I mean that humankind dictates industry standard even in medical practices, sometimes for centuries, before we realize we were dead wrong. Sometimes we use things that can seem harmless but in retrospect we often realize we did not fully understand the health or environmental issues and impacts when dealing with substances/products.
So dont go throw out all your stainless steel stuff, but here is some food for thought!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The United States Department of Labour ; Occupational Safety & Health Admin.(www.osha.gov) says:
All forms of hexavalent chromium are regarded as carcinogenic to workers. The risk of developing lung cancer increases with the amount of hexavalent chromium inhaled and the length of time the worker is exposed. Studies of workers in chromate production, chromate pigment, and chrome electroplating industries employed before the 1980s show increased rates of lung cancer mortality. Certain hexavalent chromium compounds produced lung cancer in animals that had the compounds placed directly in their lungs.
Hexavalent chromium is used in Stainless steel. The amount and type varies depending on the type and quality of the stainless.
Now I know the melting/vaporization points for chromium are at an extremely high temperature and is much much higher than what is used in a common herb vaporization unit, but that is not true of some types of chromium, and depending on the type that is used in your screen... well is it possible that some screens are letting off chromium vapors?
Here is what the CDC (www.cdc.gov) says:
Noncombustible Solid in bulk form, but finely divided dust burns rapidly if heated in a flame.
Now, many units are made with high quality screen that you would not have to worry about this, but some manufactures of cheap stainless use chromium finishes to make it look better, this is a spray on chromium similar to that used to chrome decorating. I am certainly NOT accusing any manufacturer of using such products, but I think the consumer should look in to it. I AM CERTAINLY NOT ACCUSING ANY VAPORIZER MANUFACTURER OF USING ANY SUCH SCREENS!!! Just make sure you verify the quality of the screen that you use. Make sure the manufacturer of your products stands behind the composition and construction of their products.
CDC also says this about chromium of ANY kind:
Exposure Routes inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact
Symptoms irritation eyes, skin; lung fibrosis (histologic)
Target Organs Eyes, skin, respiratory system
I think this is something that is worth while talking about.
Most people don't know or realize but we absorb metals like nickel and chromium that are in things like stainless steel cookware through our food even when you cook in low temperatures.
The Canadian government says this:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/cook-cuisinier-eng.php
Stainless steel, made from iron and other metals, is strong and resists wear and tear. It is inexpensive, long-lasting and the most popular cookware in North America. The metals used in stainless steel or iron cookware which may produce health effects are iron, nickel and chromium.
Small doses of chromium, like iron, are good for your health, but they can be harmful in higher amounts. The safe intake range is about 50 to 200 micrograms per day, what most Canadians take in. One meal prepared with stainless steel equipment gives you about 45 micrograms of chromium, not enough to cause concern.
Again I am not making any definitive statements here about absorption through use of you vaporizer, but it would be nice to see some clear evidence through scientific trial of screens to shed light on such things!
Another point to mention is that some chromium is very water soluble (only in some circumstances, in high quality stainless there is more chance of Nickel leaching into the water), so depending on the quality of the stainless, the type and amount of chromium used is the deciding factor on how much the chromium is affected by water. What happens to the chromium when you are cleaning your screen? humm ...Makes me think! What is the quality and level of the chromium in my screen? Is it only properly molecularly bonded to the iron and nickel to form quality stainless steel? Is there any other type of chromium in the screen? any added after to make it shiny? I would like to know !! I dont know about you!
Last point I will make is this: No matter what anyone can find out about the safety of heating, cleaning and smoking over hexavalent chromium filled stainless steel, that hexavalent chromium is absolutely, unequivocally, hands down one of the most horrible substances on earth for the environment and the people that work with it.
I want to know ... Is there and alternative? Is there an answer? Is it ceramic screens? Can we stop using any and all horrible chemicals to make our vaporizers?! Just looking to keep the world and our selves happy and healthy for the long vap!
Any Thoughts??
... and thats it! ... Just trying to get some discussion going. Apparently not worth it in your opinion. For starters I am not sure that I want to fully believe that the levels of "safe" chromium in-take are what the the government says they are. The point is in 10 years they might come out and say: "don't use stainless for this or this because we now found that is causing lung cancer in people"... things like that happen all the time with even the most every day products we use.....I think the only way to evolve is to question what we do on a daily basis. Just trying to get some thoughts .. and well... thank you for yours!! 
not worth even thinking about :/ ,... your right 
...... Good point. 
.......
