E-cigarettes

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Electronic cigarettes, also called “e-cigarettes,” are battery-operated devices that generally contain cartridges filled with nicotine, flavor and other chemicals. The electronic cigarette turns nicotine, which is highly addictive, and other chemicals into a vapor that is inhaled by the user.

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsro.../ucm173222.htm

Here is what one model, a T-rex, looks like:


E-cigarettes, which are being termed “Personal Vaporizers” or PVs, by some users to remove the public’s impression that it’s just another form of cigarette, have been banned in some countries and is still not approved by the US FDA and WHO as a smoking cessation device despite praises from some in the smoking community. It is still not as widely recognized in our country.

John Britton, a lung specialist at the University of Nottingham, UK and chair of the Royal College of Physicians Tobacco Advisory Group said “if the levels are as low as in nicotine replacement therapy, I don’t think there will be much of a problem.”

The study conducted detailed quantitative analysis and concluded that carcinogens and toxicants are present only below harmful levels.

The final conclusion of the safety report is: "Based on the manufacturer’s information, the composition of the cartridge liquid is not hazardous to health, if used as intended."

The PV itself is composed of three basic components:

• Battery, which powers the device
• Atomizer, which heats up the liquid
• Cartridge, which contains the liquid.

The liquid (some call it an e-liquid or e-juice) contains the following components:

• Vegetable Glycol
• Nicotine
• Food flavoring

It used to contain Propylene Glycol but due to the FDA’s claim that it is being used for anti-freeze, newer e-liquids now contain Vegetable Glycol (VG). Proponents of PVs have tried to explain to the public that anti-freeze actually contains Diethylene Glycol which is very toxic, and that PG was actually added to anti-freeze to make it safer, e-liquid makers now prefer to use VG instead of PG 1) to remove the misconception and 2) to lessen allergic reactions to PG, since one of the main disadvantages of PG was an allergic reaction.

Cigarette smokers from different forums swear by its efficacy. They generally advise to stop conventional cigarettes (some are now calling them analogues) for a week and use PVs exclusively. When you try puffing another death stick, they claim they actually develop an aversion to the conventional cigarette’s taste and their lungs rebel against the smoke.

What’s your take on this?