Is the electronic cigarette really all it is cracked up to be?
Credit: NBN | ©Wikimedia Commons
Nicotine is Still Toxic; Who'd Have Thunk It?
Is the electronic cigarette really all it is cracked up to be? E-cigarette sellers would like you to think so, and even those who are looking at the science behind the electric cigarette might be swayed to agree. Are they overlooking a fatal flaw inherent to e-cigarettes?What is an E-Cigarette?
An e-cigarette looks like a pen and functions as a smokeless nicotine delivery system. With more public, as well as private, venues becoming unfriendly to the blue, toxin infused haze, e-cigarettes appear to be the logical next step for smokers. Critics, on the other hand, suggest that an e-cigarette is simply the latest technology that allows addicts to indulge their unhealthy cravings.
The inner workings of the electronic cigarette are deceptively simple: a battery provides the current needed to heat a vapor consisting of nicotine containing propylene glycol. The resulting mist is inhaled by the e-cigarette smoker and provides the nicotine fix.
E-Cigarette Marketers Highlight the "Fun" of Nicotine
Marketers are wasting no time setting up their market share for the e-cigarette. Highlighting the fact that instead of toxin laden smoke there is now pure nicotine vapor, marketing copy speaks of nicotine fun, as opposed to nicotine addition, and of course also highlights the eco-friendliness of no longer littering the highways and byways with butts.
The Electronic Cigarette Sounds Safe ... What's the Problem?
The problem lies in the fact that nobody is really sure if it is safe to inhale pure nicotine. Sure, there is the theory that the e-cigarette is safer, simply because its vapors lack the plethora of carcinogens that regular tobacco smoke contains, but at the same time, there is no officially accepted study that brands e-cigarettes as safe.
CNN reports that even the electronic cigarettes' biggest proponents shy away from promising product safety. Quoting Elicko Taieb, CEO of one of the electric cigarettes' leading sellers, it quickly becomes clear that the reports showcase that there is no 100% assurance, only an educated and hopeful guess that there is little harm associated with this nicotine delivery system.
Comments
Thank you all for stopping by and for commenting. Please note that I have deleted (and will continue to delete) self-serving anonymous posts that offer links to supposed further research in rebuttal to my arguments, yet which, curiously enough, lead to affiliate websites selling e-cigs.
li
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/28/2010
expensive????
All people seem to go on about are the start up costs and running costs! Has anyone realised the saving from actually buying ordinary cigarettes over a long period of time! not to mention saving on your health
li
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/28/2010
surely though it is preferable to 4000 chemicals in normal cigarettes!!!!!!!
I LOVE my e-cig. Yes, the intial startup cost was a little pricey, but actually a lot less then what I spent in cigarettes in one month alone! My breathing is SO much better and I have smoked a regular cigarette since and find it totally repulsive! yuck! I started smoking when I was 12, and I wished I never had picked up the habit! However, I have tried countless times to get myself away from cigarettes, and FINALLY I am away from them all together.
Imsmarturnot
(Guest)
(Guest)
06/05/2009
I am on my second day of trying the e cigarette. I have smoked for many years and to be honest. I had no intention on quitting. I began smoking them (e-cig) for three reasons. One- In hope that this is a safer alternative to smoking a real cigarette. Two- In consideration of what others feel about me smoking around them and their safety. And three- It costs less than regular cigarettes. Once again. I do not intend to quit smoking and believe that this is a great idea.
Pat Ovelson
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/20/2009
Strikes me odd that first of all antismoker groups were worried about 2nd hand smoke and now they concern themselves with nicotine addition of a smoker. So when are they going to take the steps to have real cigarettes banned and when are they going to take the steps to educate people how to eat properly so that they don't distroy their health and when are they going to take the steps to have alcohol banned so that we can stop that addiction and when are they going to take the steps to have casinos banned so they can stop that addiction and after they have fines imposed on people who leave their vehicles idling for too long, when will they decide what time we have to shut our electricity off in our homes to concerve energy. What's going to happen to the freedom we once enjoyed. What's happening to our freedom. We live in Canada, but maybe we should all look for shelter..maybe in a cocoon.
Anonymous
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/17/2009
This new idea is actually pretty good. I get my fix, for both something to do with my hands and the nicotine. And, there doesnt seem to be nearly as many drawbacks. No bad odor, no second hand smoke, no more littering. The only drawback i would have is that it can be smoked anywhere. Now granted, I like the idea of not having to leave the kid in the car while i stand outside to smoke a cigarette. But, not being limited to where I smoke may prevent me from stopping.
I have ADD (no excuse, but comes into play) and a cigarette really helps calm this down while driving. Not just while driving, but while relaxing outside also. There are some e-cigarettes that containe no nicotine, that I hope to someday get to. This is possibly the best thing that could come around to a safe alternative to smoking. I have a lot of trouble quitting (and staying a quitter). I have tried the patch and chantix. They dont satisfy the motion, just the actual nicotine fix. Cigarettes are not just addicting bec
Hmmm...to me it would seem to fuel the addiction, but I see E-Smoker says otherwise!
Theresa3
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/16/2009
"Children who must be cautioned that some candy flavors are simply not safe." Firstly, yeah, that works so well with sex and booze and tobacco, let's start shrieking that something else is forbidden. Secondly, which children? The ones you think will shell out $100+ for ecig supplies and lug around chargers and cords because they heard there is a chocolate flavor? In some other universe perhaps.
Theresa2
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/16/2009
they ask "Hey, does anyone know if I can put some vanilla in this?" Because people (even smokers!) are curious and inventive and excited about this product once they decide it's for them instead of tobacco cigarettes. So far as bright colors, I'm sure they will eventually become more popular for the same reason. I note the products at your link don't support your contention though, nor does the website design.
The flavors unintentionally have served to make tobacco cigarettes distasteful to e-cigarette users and make it harder to keep using or revert back to them. Presuming these are 90% safer, as they appear to be thus far, that should only be a good thing.
Colored LEDs are battery indicators for the user. Non-orange LEDs serve to indicate that the product is not a cigarette, which is particularly helpful in areas under smoking bans.
BTW, some of your clothes are brightly colored - is that because you're trying to date kids?
"Children who must be cautioned that some
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