subject: The Truth About The Electronic Cigarette [print this page] The modest e cigarette has come a long way in a few short years. Despite dubious claims and reports from large health organisations and false information from major pharmaceutical and tobacco companies the electronic cigarette continues to evolve and spread and aid tens of thousands of people overcome their addiction to smoking. Behind the talk and misinformation what's the honest truth about the electronic cigarette, is it really safe and could it be used to help people stop smoking cigarettes.
Compared to the cigarette with it's 5,000 known chemicals and 100,000 unknown chemicals the electronic cigarette is a relatively simple device. Nicotine dissolved in liquid is vaporised and the mist is inhaled. People are provided with a nicotine hit whilst experiencing a simulation of the smoking experience. Many critics have stated that we don't know enough about the electronic cigarette but as some experts have pointed out we know more about what is in an ecig than we do the cigarette.
It's important to note that the e-cigarette has been designed as a nicotine delivery system, and that ultimately nicotine is still one of the most addictive substances known to man. Despite common perception though it is not the nicotine within a cigarette that causes the health problems, it is the process of combustion. The e cigarette delivers the nicotine without the process of combustion and there are simply a handful of substances as opposed to the chemical mixture that gets supplied with a cigarette.
The smoke like vapor that gets created with an electronic cigarette is a result of a substance called propylene glycol. The long-term effects of inhaling this substance are unknown but propylene glycol continues to be deemed by the Food and drug administration to be generally recognised as safe'. The substance has a extensive application and can be found in a good many everyday products like cosmetics and toothpaste. It's also already found in many foods and it is not known to possess any carcinogenic properties.
The question that everyone wants to know though is can it successfully be used as an aid to help people stop smoking. It can be slightly confusing because it will not say on makers websites that it can be, but that's because to do so they need to have a special license which they don't have. In such a situation then you have to rely on your judgment or seek out the opinions of those that have actually used one. It stands to reason that if you were smoking and you replaced your cigarette with an electronic cigarette then to all intensive purposes you are no longer smoking. The switch is clearly not successful for every person, but judging from the thousands of testimonials you can find on the web then it obviously is for many.
Released findings from organizations like the Food and drug administration have been heavily criticised by analysts and health experts for incorrect testing approaches and inaccurate reporting, with some even going as far to brand it propaganda. The hysteria has led some countries like Denmark to ban the product but recently the British Government have labelled that kind of reaction a mistake and they have stated they are keen to explore the increased use of electronic cigarettes as they recognise the potential for saving lives.
So it seems that the e cigarette is a healthier alternative to smoking, a way to quit smoking and it is actually a lot cheaper than buying cigarettes. Legislation and control are not as tight as they could be and the lack of long term testing is an issue and so you will need to personally weigh up the pros and cons before deciding if you are going to try it. But as Professor Michael Siegel, associated Professor at the Boston University of Public Health has stated - Inhaling nicotine cannot be nearly as dangerous as inhaling nicotine plus thousands of other chemicals, including more than 40 carcinogens."
