An electronic cigarette or e-cigarette[note is a handheld electronic device that vaporizes a flavored liquid. The user inhales the vapor, which is called vaping. The fluid in the e-cigarette, called e-liquid, is usually made of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, and flavorings.
The benefits and the health risks of e-cigarettes are uncertain and the long-term health effects are unknown. There is general agreement that they are likely less hazardous than tobacco cigarettes. There is tentative evidence they can help people quit smoking although they have not been proven to work better than regulated nicotine replacement products, and the regulated medications are safer. Their usefulness in tobacco harm reduction is unclear but they could form part of future strategies to decrease tobacco-related death and disease. Overall their safety risk to users is like that of smokeless tobacco. No serious adverse effects from e-cigarettes have been reported in trials. Less serious adverse effects include throat and mouth inflammation, vomiting, nausea, and coughing. Non-smokers who use e-cigarettes risk addiction to nicotine, a harmful substance.
Some e-liquids contain ingredients such as cannabis, tobacco extract, or adulterants. E-cigarettes create a vapor made of ultrafine particleswhose composition varies across and within manufacturers. The vapor can contain small amounts of toxins, including traces of heavy metals detected at levels permissible in inhalation medicines, and some potentially harmful chemicals not found in tobacco smoke at levels permissible by workplace safety standards. However, chemicals may exceed the more stringent safety limits that apply to the public High aldehyde levels, which have been generated in laboratory settings by researchers overheating e-liquid, cause a highly aversive acrid taste that users would not subject themselves to.
The modern e-cigarette arose from a 2003 invention by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, and as of 2015 most e-cigarettes were made in China. Since their introduction to the market in 2004, global use has risen exponentially. For instance, in the UK user numbers have increased from 700,000 in 2012 to 2.6 million in 2015, In the United States e-cigarettes are used by a significant percentage of young people and adults. Most people's reason for using e-cigarettes involves trying to quit smoking, though many people use them recreationally. A majority of e-cigarette users still smoke tobacco, leading to concerns that dual use can "delay or deter quitting". About 60% of UK users are smokers and about 40% are ex-smokers, while use among never-smokers remains "negligible". Because of the potential relationship with tobacco laws and medical drug policies, e-cigarette legislation is being debated in many countries. The European Parliament passed regulations in February 2014, to come into effect by 2016, standardizing liquids and personal vaporizers, listing ingredients, and child-proofing liquid containers.The US FDA published proposed regulations in April 2014 with some similar measures. As of 2014, there were 466 brands of e-cigarette with sales of around $7
Function
An E-cigarette is made of 3 parts:
- a tank holding e-liquid
- an atomizer heating e-liquid
- a battery powering the atomizer
The e-liquid (propylene glycol and/or glycerin) is heated to make a vapour which looks like the smoke from real cigarettes. This caries thenicotine to the lungs where it is absorbed.
As of 2015, 3 generations of electonic cigarettes are known:
- cigalikes early e-cigarettes look like tobacco cigarettes. They're often thrown away after use.
- vapepens have replacable cartriges or refillable tanks. The atomizer parts can be replaced.
- mods are powered by laptop cells. They feature complicated electronics or no electronics at all. Their atomizers can be rebuilt with heating wire and cotton.
History
The modern electronic cigarette was invented by Hon Lik (regarded as the 'father of the electronic cigarette'), a Chinese pharmacist and inventor. Hon had himself quit smoking, after his father, also a heavy smoker, had died of lung cancer. Hon patented the modern e-cigarette design in 2003, and starting selling it domestically. Many versions made their way to the U.S., sold mostly over the Internet by small marketing firms.
However, many US and Chinese e-cig manufacturers copied his designs illegally, and as a result Hon Lik did not get the expected financial rewards for his invention (although some US manufacturers have recompensated him through out of court settlements).
In 2008, this attracted the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO) who said that these e-cigarettes were not proper nicotine replacement therapy and that this mis-information had to be taken away from any sites or advertisements saying that they were.
Starting 2012 Tobbacco companies also want a piece of E-Cigarette-cake and work on their own products. Marlboro goes for heating tobacco, Philip Morris tests a fizz-like method while British American Tobacco tries a medical-like inhaler. Many big tobacco companies didn't do their own research or stopped at some point. Instead they bought smaller e-cig companies to enter the market.
E-Liquid
These devices have a battery powered heating element and tank that contains a liquid solution made by combining nicotine, vegetable glycol or propylene glycol and flavorings. The gadget that can be bought in a variety of shapes and sizes usually resembles a pen or a regular cigarette, and it works like a vaporizer. The liquid used in e-cigs is commonly made of propylene glycol, glycerin, distilled water, artificial (fake) flavors and optionally nicotine. It often tastes like tobacco, fruit,mint/menthol or sweets.
Legal History
Many countries are not approving electronic cigarettes as healthy thing. The sale of tobacco cigarettes with flavor (except menthol) has been stopped in some countries but not yet in Europe or the USA. The EU is testing if the product is bad to the health and safety of persons in general. They are also researching if electronic cigarettes can be called a medical product. In 2009 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was provided authority by Congress to ban all sales of cigarettes with flavors, except menthol.
Because many countries are not sure if electronic cigarettes are a medical product, each country has their own opinion and rules on e-cigarettes.
Health institutions are more and more interested in E-cigarettes because they are much cheaper than smoking regular ones, making them popular alternative. In the United States of America, individual states have different rules on use and sale of electronic cigarettes.
Apart from medical reasons e-cigarettes have also been banned in airport and other high population-density public places due to a number of incidents where they have been a cause of fire.
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