As you walk through the mall, you might notice a small kiosk that sells something that resembles a cross between a tobacco cigarette and a small Bic pen. It resembles a tobacco cigarette because it looks exactly like one, but it resembles a Bic pen because it has a smooth, sheen surface and doesn't have a rough, paper-like texture. As you continue your walk, you might notice an odds and ends store that sells miscellaneous products, and on their window display, you see what appears to be a cigarette carton with a picture of the shiny, cigarette-like item you saw in the kiosk.
If you have not already heard of or seen this device, then you will soon because it is growing in popularity everyday. This device, which was originally created in 2004 by a Chinaman but has only recently made its way to the United States recently, is called the electronic cigarette, or e cigarette. This device looks, acts, and feels like a traditional tobacco cigarette but is oh-so-different!
A single e cigarette is fueled by an atomizer, which can be charged by a wall plug, USB cord, or a car charger. Cartridges that you plug into the e cigarette contain a liquid solution that can contain several levels of nicotine or none at all. The liquid solution, or "e liquid" as the industry calls them, can come in many flavors such as tobacco, mint or menthol, peach, chocolate, strawberry, and even coffee. Each cartridge allows a certain amount of puffs and once the liquid is used up, the user has a choice to discard the current cartridge and replace it with a refill cartridge or to purchase e liquid and place a few drops in the current cartridge, which also helps to minimize waste.
The biggest and most important factor that sets the e cigarette apart from a traditional tobacco cigarette is the issue of health and safety. While many "health" advocates and organizations, private interest groups, and even the U.S.'s own FDA is weary about the use of e cigarettes because of their safety, there is no doubt about how safe the e cigarette is when you look at the list of ingredients. The ingredients are but a few and propylene glycol usually constitutes the largest amount in the liquid solution. The other ingredients can include alcohol, natural and artificial flavorings, vinegar, and a couple of other items that make up no more than 1% of the total solution.
Because e cigarettes do not contain tar, carcinogens, cancer-causing agents, and smoke, they are being dubbed and heralded as the safer alternative to smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes. When a user inhales the liquid solution, which is being called "vaping", the vapor that is released by the inhaler is not smoke, contains no odor, and does not cause second-hand smoke. In fact, recent laboratory findings show that the nicotine cannot be found in the vapor that is exhaled.
Sound too good to be true? Just ask the thousands of smokers who have not smoked a traditional tobacco cigarette and who claim to feel better because of the e cigarette.
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