Weed Feed: New Study Links Dabbing to Increased Levels of Carcinogens and Toxins in Cannabis Concentrates

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WEED FEED / John Ross Ferrara / Monday, Oct. 2, 2017 @ 10:45 a.m.

Weed Feed: New Study Links Dabbing to Increased Levels of Carcinogens and Toxins in Cannabis Concentrates

Dabbing. Photo from Max Pixel.

A new study published in the American Chemical Society’s ACS Omega last month claims that dabbing may expose marijuana users to higher levels of carcinogens and toxins compared to other forms of cannabis ingestion.

Researchers at Portland State University found that the amount of carcinogens and toxins in the smokable vapor increased when concentrates were exposed to heat levels used in the dabbing process.

According to the study, Forbes reports, concentrates exposed to high temperatures produced vapor with increased levels of methacrolein — a “noxious irritant” — and benzene, a known carcinogen.

Researchers also stated in the study that while there’s a growing demand for cannabis concentrates in the U.S., the products have not been extensively investigated.

“The results of these studies clearly indicate that dabbing, although considered a form of vaporization, may, in fact, deliver significant amounts of [toxins],” researchers wrote. “The difficulty users find in controlling the nail temperature put[s] users at risk of exposing themselves to not only methacrolein but also benzene.”

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