The electric cigarette is popularly known as e-cigarette. Ir runs on battery and contains nicotine solution. It does not contain any tobacco. It even has an LED which emits an orange light which glows at the tip, making it look like a real burning cigarette.
How does an electric cigarette work?
The battery is fitted inside an atomizer. The electric cigarette is inhaled just like a normal cigarette. This causes the atomizer to heat up. When this atomizer heats up, it makes the nicotine solution vaporise. This vapor is inhaled and blown out, just like in a normal cigarette.
The batteries are generally lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged as and when necessary. Battery life depends on the usage.
Is it safe?
Because the e-cigarette does not contain tobacco, there is no secondhand smoke. Other harmful ingredients associated with tobacco and real cigarettes like tar, nitrosamines ans other carcinogens are also done away with. But it has not yet been tested for safety.
- It contains nicotine which, in any form, is addictive.
- No one really knows what are the effects of vaporised nicotine on the human body. It has not been tested yet.
- There are no safety regulations for e-cigarettes.
- We do not know the amount or concentration of nicotine that enters the body.
- Even though many use it as a cessation device, it had not been proven to help.
The electric cigarette comes in various forms, the most popular being those that look like real cigarettes and the ones styled like ball point pens. Till regulations come to be enforced and the product comes to be tested, those who enjoy the product can keep using it.
2 Comments
While e-cigarettes are not perfect it is hard to argue that they are not a better alternative.
Nicotine is addictive but alone not anymore harmful than caffeine