Many states have passed laws banning smoking in public buildings, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants as well as public areas outdoors. This ban on cigarettes means that smokers must step outside to enjoy their vice, and in some cities, can not smoke anywhere outside of their home or car. While lighting up traditional cigarettes may be illegal in many places, electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs, can provide the flavor of tobacco and deliver nicotine to smokers without producing any smoke or the negative, adverse health effects of second hand smoke or cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes, an alternative to tobacco smoking, are designed to resemble cigarettes or cigars and are perfectly legal to use in most places so smokers can get their nicotine fix without any inconvenience. However, the biggest benefit of an electronic cigarette is that most people claim they stop smoking cigarettes after buying e-cigs, and primarily use electronic cigarettes for their nicotine cravings.
History of Electronic Cigarettes
The first electronic cigarette was invented in 1963 by Herbert A. Gilbert and though he applied for a patent, the device was never manufactured due to limited technology and the fact that tobacco was not considered harmful at the time. In 2003, a Chinese pharmacist, Hon Lik, invented the modern electronic cigarette, which had many advantages over the original patent, largely due to advances in technology. The modern electronic cigarette was first marketed in 2005 and e-cigs now operate on the same principal as inhalers and nebulizers used to deliver medications through inhalation.
How Do Electronic Cigarettes Work?
All electronic cigarettes share 3 common essential components: a cartridge, atomizer, and battery or power supply. Electronic cigarettes use a rechargeable battery to create heat, which warms a liquid contained in a cartridge to create a vapor. The liquid is a mixture of propylene glycol, liquid nicotine and flavorings of your choice, and the cartridges are either refillable or disposable, depending on the type of e-cigarette. The device is activated when the smoker inhales on the e-cigarette, and the amount of vapor and nicotine delivered depends on how hard the smoker inhales and the type of cartridge purchased, just as in tobacco cigarettes. For example, cartridges come in varying strengths of nicotine, allowing you to regulate your nicotine intake and choose between no nicotine, light, medium and full strength. Electronic cigarettes are also available in cigar and pipe configurations to accommodate different types of smokers.
Electronic Cigarette Nicotine
As mentioned before, electronic cigarettes and cartridges come in varying strengths of nicotine. In general, electronic cigarette liquids are available from e-cig companies in four different strengths, classified below as no nicotine, light, medical and full, similar to the classification for tobacco cigarettes.
No Nicotine – contains 0 milligrams (mg) of nicotine and is tailored to e-cig users who enjoy the act of smoking, do not have nicotine cravings, or simply need to continue their oral fixation but do not want any nicotine.
Light – contains 4-8 milligrams (mg) of nicotine per bottle, is satisfying for casual smokers, and is most similar to a Marlboro Ultra Light.
Medium – contains 10-14 mg of nicotine per bottle, best e-cig for light to medium smokers, and is equivalent to a Marlboro Light cigarette.
Full – contains generally 16-24 mg of nicotine per bottle, best e-cigarette for heavy smokers with deep cravings, and about the same strength as a Marlboro Red.
Nicotine, Tobacco and E-Cigarettes
Nicotine is a highly addictive drug which enters the blood stream rapidly and reaches the brain within 10 to 20 seconds. Nicotine is unique since it is classified as both a stimulant and a relaxant depending on the dosage. Both electronic cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes contain nicotine, although it has been discovered that nicotine is much more addictive when combined with the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) found in tobacco than it is by itself. E-cigarettes do not contain MAOIs, and studies have shown e-cigs to be a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, especially considering that e-cigs facilitate the pure intake of nicotine versus the thousands of carcinogenic chemicals in tobacco.
Cigarette Smoke
The primary reason for the bans on smoking in public places is the second-hand smoke produced by cigarettes, which is inhaled by anyone in the vicinity of a smoker. In addition to producing a smell, which many people find disgusting and unpleasant, a burning cigarette emits the byproducts of combustion including CO2, carbon monoxide and tar, and it is common knowledge that second hand smoke creates health problems for non-smokers. Electronic cigarettes don’t use combustion to deliver nicotine and therefore don’t emit any second-hand smoke except in the form of harmless water vapor, which is why smoking e-cigarettes is sometimes referred to as “vaping”.
Electronic Cigarette Benefits
Since electronic cigarettes produce a vapor which will not irritate the eyes or noses of non-smokers, especially children, e-cigarettes are legal for use in many places where cigarette smoking is banned. Conventional cigarettes produce ashes and leave unsanitary butts or filter tips that require disposal. Electronic cigarettes produce almost no waste because they are reusable (unless you purchase disposable e-cigs), and there is no need for ashtrays. Tobacco smoke can also leave an unsightly yellow-brown film on your teeth, car interiors or in homes from tar that is deposited on surfaces, but the vapor from electronic cigarettes evaporate and leave no residue.
Electronic Cigarette Safety – No Fire Risk
Every year, thousands of accidental fires are caused by careless smokers and cigarette lighters left within the reach of children. E-cigarettes were built with safety in mind, and do not generate enough heat to cause fires and do not give off hot ashes that can ignite other materials like clothing, bedding or dry leaves. Since no lighters are required, there is no chance of a child starting a fire with a lighter or matches left within reach. In many states, it is illegal to flick cigarette ashes from a car window or convertible since the hot ash may cause brush or forest fires. Electronic cigarette safety can help you avoid all these risks.
The High Cost of Smoking – Cheap Electronic Cigarettes
As more federal, state and local taxes have been added to the cost of a pack of cigarettes, cigarette smoking has become a very expensive habit. Electronic cigarettes are reusable and the liquid cartridges are refillable and provide the equivalent of several packs of cigarettes, depending on the brand of e-cigarette and size of the cartridge you buy. When compared to the cost of smoking conventional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes are cheap and can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year.
The cost of quality electronic cigarette starter kits can be around $100, which usually come standard with 2 rechargeable batteries, a charger, and 5 nicotine cartridges. However, after your initial purchase of a starter kit, smokers only need to purchase refills on their liquid cartridges, which usually cost $10 – $15 for a package of 5 cartridges, depending on the nicotine strength and size. One cartridge is approximately equivalent to 1 to 1.5 packs of cigarettes, which means you end up paying around $2-$3 per pack of cigarettes. Overall, electronic cigarettes are much cheaper than tobacco cigarettes in the long run.
Where To Buy Electronic Cigarettes
Because electronic cigarettes are still a new concept, most brick and mortar stores like gas stations, tobacco shops, or retailers do not carry e-cigs yet. The best electronic cigarettes are found online, with most online retailers and e-cig manufacturers offering great customer service and a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee. We recommend consumers read our Electronic Cigarette Reviews before buying e-cigs to learn more about what each brand has to offer, and what consumers are saying about their experiences with e-cigarettes.
Are There Health Benefits?
Electronic cigarette brands do not claim that their product has any health benefits over conventional cigarettes, but while the vapor produced does contain nicotine, it does not contain CO2, carbon monoxide or tar which are found in cigarette smoke. Since there is no tar in electronic cigarette smoke, it will not cause yellowing of the teeth or fingers, and e-cigarettes do not contain the same carcinogenic chemicals as traditional cigarettes. Although e-cigs are not considered a method for smoking cessation, but instead are intended to replace tobacco cigarettes as a nicotine delivery system, electronic cigarettes are a healthier choice.
A Tobacco Alternative
Electronic cigarettes are marketed as an alternative to tobacco for smokers and it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to minors. E-cigs are not recommended for use by pregnant women and no studies on the effects of electronic cigarette use by pregnant women have been done. Although electronic cigarettes do not contain many of the harmful ingredients found in tobacco, there is very limited evidence that they represent a lower health risk than tobacco because not many medical trials have been conducted.
Electronic Cigarettes
Electronic cigarettes provide smokers with a convenient way to practice their smoking habit legally in places where traditional cigarette smoking is banned and illegal. Unlike tobacco cigarettes, e-cigs do not produce any unpleasant odor or irritating smoke to annoy those who do not smoke. Other advantages of e-cigarettes include lower cost, no yellowing of teeth, less chemicals and carcinogens, and no risk of accidental fire, making electronic cigarettes an excellent alternative to tobacco. Electronic cigarettes can provide the satisfaction of smoking while avoiding many of the unpleasant aspects of the tobacco habit. Read our electronic cigarette reviews to learn more about the different brands, cartridges, starter kits, and user experiences to choose the best e-cigarette for you.