Electronic cigarettes are seen as a healthy alternative by many smokers and non-smokers to consume nicotine, but is it really that much better? To understand the answer to that question then one will have to comprehend how electronic cigarettes work and when they were invented. “The first commercially successful electronic cigarette is created in Beijing, China by Hon Lik,” (“Historical Timeline of Electronic Cigarettes”). Then they were introduced to the Europe and United States market in 2006 (“Historical Timeline of Electronic Cigarettes”). The electronic cigarette works by multiple pieces coming together to make a whole. There is the tank which holds the e-liquid that is burned to create vapor. Then there is the battery which is charged and used to heat the e-liquids to very high temperatures. Some electronic cigarettes have closed systems where one cannot refill them and they are usually disposable because of this design.
Many smokers use electronic cigarettes as a way to quit combustible cigarettes. “Tobacco use remaings the leading cause of preventable death in the United States,” (Breland, Soule, Lopez, Ramôa, El-Hellani, and Eissenberg). They believe it is a way for them to intake nicotine in a safer manner as they are inhaling vapor instead of smoke. One thing that has always been harmful in electronic cigarettes and combustible cigarettes alike is nicotine because it is a highly addictive substance, but some smokers use electronic cigarettes without nicotine just
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are devices that deliver aerosolized nicotine to the user by heating a liquid (typically propylene glycol) containing nicotine and flavoring agents. Most devices share a common design – a plastic tube containing a battery, an airflow sensor, a heating element and a cartridge containing the liquid (Figure 1).
The popularity of e-cigarettes and vapes has grown exponentially within the last couple of years. These two alternatives offer a “safe” way to consume nicotine or just a substitute to regular cigarette smoking. These products omit water vapor instead of tobacco smoke, constructing it as less of a health risk. Nicotine can be added to the mixture to help quit smoking or offer a healthier option to those with nicotine dependence. There has not been widespread research on conventional e-cigarettes, in addition to data on vapes been relatively premature. These smoking devices have not be regulated by the FDA yet, but the FDA has looked into e-cigarettes and its contents (FDA, 2015). Many e-cigarettes that are thought to be free of nicotine, have
Smoking is an addiction that can risk one’s health, which in turn can lead to death. As time advances, both smokers and non-smokers are beginning to understand the harm in this deadly habit because not only does it harm smokers, it can impact anyone who encounters the smoke second-hand. Since the public has become aware of the health risks induced by smoking, cessation tools such as nicotine replacement therapy are being invented to help terminate the desire to smoke. As technology improves, smoking devices like the electronic cigarette are invented and can be considered an effective cessation tool. Electronic cigarettes can deliver low doses of nicotine to ease withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, as electronic cigarettes increase in
The addiction to tobacco, nicotine, and smoking is something the humans have embraced and battled since the early 1800’s. With more and more people falling into the habit and becoming addicted, many detrimental health effects on the body caused people to question what was going on and what was causing these negative reactions in the body. Soon enough, the healthy and “cool” cigarettes that everyone was smoking became the face of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, and many other deadly bodily reactions. In the early 2000’s electronic cigarettes (ECs) were developed by a Chinese pharmacist that hoped to allow smokers to maintain their nicotine addiction, but limit or end the harmful and detrimental effects of tobacco on the body, due to his father’s death of tobacco-attributable lung cancer.1 A typical EC consists of a rechargeable lithium battery, a heating tool called an atomizer, which vaporizes a humectant (typically propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and/or polyethylene glycol 400). The humectant contains liquid nicotine. When the smoker inhales, the heating tool is activated by an airflow sensor, and the nicotine is vaporized.1 2
The profitable business of electronic cigarettes has raised over $3 Billion dollars annually, vastly spread across over 466 brands which have joined the ordeal. Above all, known as a “gateway drug”, electronic cigarettes have claimed the once-ordinary lives of people, specifically to those who have turned from tobacco cigarettes. What is more, scientists have determined that not enough research has been executed to automatically assume the healthiness of e-cigarettes. Despite this, many have claimed that e-cigarettes, are, and will be the new “healthy” drug, so to speak. Provided that e-cigarettes do not release harmful smoke, they are still not safe for one’s health given that not enough research has been performed on them.
E-cigarettes have exploded onto the scene in the past three years. Whole stores dedicated to these devices have opened their doors to the public and business is thriving. E-cigarettes are battery-charged devices that have an atomizer, or heating element, in them to vaporize liquid nicotine. The user is able to inhale this vapor and get the nicotine without the other 4,000 chemicals present in tobacco cigarette smoke (Schroeder). Nicotine is a chemical that is produced by the tobacco plant. People have discovered that by smoking the leaves of a tobacco plant the nicotine in the leaves is delivered into the bloodstream. Nicotine by itself is not an awful drug as far as drugs go, although it is highly addictive, it is the tar in cigarettes that does so much damage. Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S. with 480,000 Americans dying prematurely from tobacco related disease. Kicking this habit remains difficult for most (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Mark Twain once wrote “It’s easy to quit smoking, I’ve done it hundreds of times.”
Most smokers want to quit and make attempts to do so, but the majority of these attempts fail. Electronic cigarettes are these peoples best choice if they want to quit but the first generation e-cigarettes failed severely. Luckily the second generation personal vaporizers are working out great. Vape pens have a benefit over traditional nicotine replacement treatments, in that they feel and perform like a traditional cigarette, without the smoke, tar and other damaging materials.
In 2003, Han Lik, a Chinese pharmacist, developed the electronic cigarette after the death of his father due to lung cancer. Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that are filled with flavored liquid that may or may not contain nicotine that can be inhaled by the user. The device gives smokers that experience of a traditional cigarette but without all the tar, tobacco, and carcinogens. The vaporization in electronic cigarettes is started by the battery heating up the liquid solution, then creating a vapor that can be inhaled. Some are in the form of a regular cigarette while others are in the shape of a pen (Prono). The FDA does not currently regulate e-cigarettes and there are no long-term studies on the effects of the chemicals used in the vapor solutions.
The way all e-cigarettes work is basically the same way. Inside, there's a battery, a heating element, and a cartridge that holds nicotine and other liquids and flavorings. The first ever concept of the electronic cigarette was created by Herbert A. Gilbert in the 1960’s, but it saw little promise in the heavily emerged society of cigarette smoking. It was only a matter of time before
People are lead to believe that electronic cigarettes do not contain tobacco and that they are safer than real cigarettes. Little do they know, electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs, expose their inhalers to harmful and toxic gases that cause health problems and harm the lungs. In most cases the solvent in an e-cig is considered “food grading,” which means it should be safe enough to eat, but manufacturers are changing the configuration of the solvent so it contains both the flavoring and nicotine. As a person inhales, the flavored liquid flows through the e-cig and as it passes over hot coils the liquid changes into a gas. The more frequently an e-cig is used, the toxicity of the fumes increases. Nicotine is always added to the starting
Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, were invented in 2004 by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik following his father’s death from lung cancer (CASAA, 2012). With the intention of offering a safer alternative to traditional tobacco, e-cigarettes quickly emerged in other markets around the world including Europe in 2006 and the United States (U.S.) by 2007 (TCLC, 2011). The device works via battery to heat liquid nicotine and an atomizer then turns the liquid into a vapor which is inhaled by the user. E-cigarettes, now readily available in convenience stores, mall kiosks and gas stations, come in many forms ranging from disposable cigarette-like devices to pen-like refillable devices with flavors such as bubblegum, chocolate and mint (TCLC, 2011; NIH, 2014). The speed with which e-cigarettes have gained popularity across the U.S. has placed manufacturers, tobacco control lobbyists and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at odds regarding the regulation of sales, marketing and use of the devices (TCLC, 2011).
Electronic cigarettes (EC) are dominating the community at a faster rate. There are some users in some parts of the world such as the United States and Europe. Electronic cigarettes are powered by batteries. The nicotine released EC is limited as compared to tobacco cigarettes (Farsalinos et al. 1). Additionally, it lowers addiction to smoking. EC has extraordinary feature making it be the best substitute for tobacco, and it is harmless to health. The liquid that is used in the EC contains the certain substance, for instance, propylene glycol, and glycerol, nicotine, and flavorings. There are some varieties of flavors: sweets, fruits, and nuts. Similarly, the flavors added are compounds of foods that have been recommended by health organizations.
E-cigarettes have heating elements that are battery operated and hold cartridges of nicotine and other liquids and flavoring. They were produced to assist those who are trying to quit smoking or reduce the amount of nicotine that is actually inhaled in the body to make it a safer product for the consumer than actually smoking a cigarette. There is controversy on whether or not this product promotes a safer nicotine habit or stimulates someone to begin smoking habits. Most importantly, those who do not smoke at all are concerned whether or not the secondhand smoke emitted from these devices is harmful for those who do not wish to inhale nicotine products. There are states laws that
Through many decades, tobacco has been used very commonly through out of the world. Instead of using conventional cigarettes, many smokers today are using e-cigarettes in order to quit theirs long-term smoking habits. In fact, no one really knows whether the e-cigarettes are effective or not. However, they are very dangerous because the nicotine of e-liquids inside the e-cigarettes has been identified by some toxicologist of the Poison Control Center which contains a type of poison that kills both children and adults. According to the New York Times, “A dangerous new form of a powerful stimulant is hitting markets nationwide, for sale by the vial, the gallon and even the barrel” (Richtel). Nowadays, the e-cigarettes are available everywhere, and also, the e-liquids bottles have been sold dramatically in recent years. Therefore, using e-cigarettes is one of the most serious problems to public health because they induce toxicity which can trigger the oxidative stress and inflammatory response in lung cells, and even kill people with just one teaspoon.
Cigarette smoking is something people all over the world have been doing for about 2000 years. Back in 2003, the first electronic cigarette was successfully created by a gentleman named Hon Lik. Lik was a 52 year old pharmacist at the time, whom of which was also a smoker. The inspiration behind making the electronic cigarette came after Lik’s father passed away from lung cancer due to him also being a heavy smoker. “A Historical Timeline of Electronic Cigarettes.” cassia.org. Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives Association, 15 June 2017. The idea behind creating this device was to give smokers a way to still ingest nicotine, the most addictive chemical in tobacco cigarettes, without the countless negative health effects that