There is an equal amount of excitement and confusion surrounding the electronic cigarette’s burst onto the U.S. Market in the past 12 months. In reality, it has just started to produce media attention, and the beginnings of a frenzy, in the past 30-60 days. Let’s try to clear up a few of those lingering questions and possible misconceptions about the e-cigarette.
The electronic cigarette was originally developed in China in 2004 and was designed by the Runyan corp. It was designed to replace tobacco cigarettes and cigars because, in spite of globally-spreading smoking bans, many smokers just find it too hard to quit entirely. There are numerous nicotine replacement products on the market, such as gum and patches, but these in no way replicate the smoking experience which has been proven to be a part of the addictive ritual of smoking. The e-cigarette is revolutionary in that it’s aim is to both deliver nicotine to user and simulate the experience of smoking a traditional tobacco cigarette.
The electronic cigarette, or e-cig, in most cases looks just like a traditional cigarette and is made of a mouthpiece that holds a nicotine cartridge, a heating element or atomizer, a battery and an LED at the tip of the device. The way e-cigarettes function is that they hold an airflow meter that is triggered when the user inhales on the device. This activates the circuitry and delivers the nicotine to user by a short burst of vapor that is inhaled. The LED at the tip lights up showing that the battery is working and also making the device appear similar to a lit cigarette. The vapor that is exhaled may look like smoke but it is actually just a water, propylene glycol based vapor that is odorless and harmless.
E-cigs are offered in numerous shapes, flavors and colors. There are the models that look like traditional cigarettes and also some that are made to look like fountain pens. Flavors are endless, from Camel and Marlboro to Mint and Chocolate, with new flavors being released constantly. The cartridges can also be obtained with different levels of nicotine in them should you want to decrease you intake or even eliminate it entirely.
There is a lot of controversy and confusion with regards to the legality and safety of electronic cigarettes and the media does not seem to be sorting the facts out for us very well. E-Cigarettes ARE available for sale in the United States but they are NOT approved or endorsed by the FDA. Electronic Cigarettes CAN be sold as “Alternatives” to tobacco cigarettes but they are NOT approved as “Smoking Cessation” devices. E-cigarettes have NOT been declared to be unsafe by any US or European health organization and in fact part of Europe have even deemed the e-cigareete to be a public-friendly device.
Aside from the over 4000 harmful chemicals found in a tobacco cigarette that you will no longer be polluting your body with, there are few other pluses to making the switch. How about being able to get around those annoying smoking bans? Incredibly, you can smoke electronic cigarettes in most bars, restaurants, malls, airports, workplaces, you name it. There is no flame or smoke, therefore the smoking ban does not apply. Have you noticed all of the new ridiculously high tobacco taxes? How could you not? E-cigarettes are actually cheaper to smoke than tobacco cigarettes. Aside from the initial moderate investment in the starter kit, you’ll save a ton of money by switching. It really just keeps getting better.
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