E-CIGARETTES
Please note that electronic cigarettes are illegal in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Dubai, Hong Kong, Israel, Jordan, Mexico and Singapore.
The Electronic Cigarette was invented in 1963 by Herbert Gilbert.
What is an Electronic Cigarette?
Available in many forms, electronic cigarettes are battery powered devices capable of vaporizing a liquid, sometimes containing nicotine and flavourings, through a process of heating a coil or by ultrasonic vaporization.
The usual components are the battery, switch, atomizer and cartridge. In most models the switch and battery are a single unit, with the switch activating the vaporization process with a push button switch, or activated when the user sucks on the mouthpeice. The atomizer performs the vaporiztion and the cartridge/mouthpeice section supplies liquid to the atomizer as it is used up.
The units are often painted to look like a cigarette and usually have an activation indicating LED light at the end to emulate a lit cigarette being smoked.
For those not wanting their e-cigarette to look like a traditional (sometimes called 'analog') cigarette, models are available with completely different designs
The electronic cigarette is unique in coming very close to the smoking experience. Not only do some of the units look like a cigarette, they produce a very visible vapour much like cigarette smoke (although it does not stink like cigarette smoke and leaves no brown residue on surfaces) plus they are able to provide a physical sensation often called a throat hit.
Flavours are varied, from tobacco to fruit and even pudding flavours.
The safety of these devices has come into question recently and it is likely to be decades before we know for sure whether any long term health risks should be associated with their use. However it is widely accepted that any risk they do represent is likely to be a tiny percentage of that posed by tobacco smoking.
Some absolutely crazy claims have been made in the press and by the FDA in the USA about the content of the liquid used in e-cigarette cartridges and some home research will soon demonstrate that these devices do not run on antifreeze at all!
If you want to be absolutely sure of what you are inhaling, it is easy to make your own liquids for the devices and these also make the system very economical.
It should be noted that batteries have a limited life and atomizers are disposable items. Taking up 'e-smoking' does require an investment in hardware but enthusiasts feel it is well worth it and still save money over their old tobacco spend.
What is the liquid made of?
There are three main types of liquid;
PG - Propylene Glycol (most common)
VG - Vegetable Glycerine
PEG - Polyethylene glycol
Some liquids contain a mixture of PG and VG. Most also contain flavourings and nicotine in various strengths. The atomizer vaporizes the liquid so that it can be inhaled and the vapour is visible like cigarette smoke though does not leave residue on surfaces.
Are they easy to use?
Not entirely. The truth is that many e-cigarettes are unreliable and it takes time and willpower to work at using them to get the most out of them. It is easy to flood an atomizer or let it get too dry. Many new users complain about the cartridges not lasting very long, of getting juice in their mouths or not getting enough vapor or flavour. If you want something that 'just works' with minimum problems I would recommend the KR808D-1 model sold as the Creator, Vapor King and Nebula. The long lasting cartridge and atomizer come as a single disposable unit although they can be refilled to improve economy.
Which model should I buy?
This is a very personal thing. Most people using e-cigs for the first time want something similar to a cigarette. Most popular 3 peice model at this size is the Janty Dura / 510. Battery life for the average user will be about 4 hours although a carry case that charges the battery in your pocket is available. The cartridge holds about 6 cigarettes worth of liquid. For larger cartridges, look at the 801/penstyle/kissbox model with a larger atomizer, the cartridge holds about 10 cigarettes worth of liquid. For longer battery life, look at the ‘mod’ style devices such as the Silver Bullet, Mako, ScrewDriver, JantyStick etc. For an easy to use model with the best cartridge life of all and good battery life, try the KR808D-1, this is the model I use myself.
Which vendors should I avoid?
Visit the forums linked on the right hand side for feedback about vendors.
How long do cartridges and liquid last?
This depends on how much you use it! For the average user, 3-10 cartridges a day or 2ml of e-liquid is normal. Some users get through more than twice this. For the KR808D-1, 1-3 cartomizers a day is usual. You can buy bottles of liquid and refill cartridges and cartomizers yourself instead of disposing of them, making things much more economical.
What strength of cartridges or liquid do I need?
We do not know enough about the body’s absorption of e-liquid to say for sure, users vary a great deal. Most use a selection of strengths, with stronger liquid when they need more of a hit such as in the morning and after meals. I would recommend starting with 11-12mg liquid and 18mg for a big hit. You can go higher later if you find you are not satisfied.
Will e-cigarettes get me off smoking right away?
They may. Some users quit as soon as they use an e-cig for the first time. Others take weeks or months to stop smoking completely. Some people never stop all together. Many users report that they found it surprisingly easy to stop smoking cigarettes.
Which e-liquid tastes like a cigarette?
None do. Tobacco flavours try to emulate the taste of a cigarette, but much of what you taste is the small bonfire in your hand and not the tobacco.
Can I use my e-cigarette in places where smoking is not allowed?
Possibly. However if you are on private property you should ask the owner first to avoid any dispute. In law, smoking bans tend to refer to ‘smoke’ and ‘tobacco products’ neither of which apply to our e-cigarettes.
What is dripping?
This is avoiding using cartridges at all, but instead dripping a couple of drops of liquid directly into the atomizer bridge. This also aids in controlling your intake as two drops is about equal to one cigarette's worth of puffs and nicotine.
What is a USB passthrough?
This is a device allowing you to power your atomizer from a USB source instead of a rechargeable battery. It is handy if you spend time vaping while sat at a computer.
I heard these are going to be banned in the USA?
There is currently a legal battle in the USA, the FDA say that these devices and cartridges are drugs and need approval. Several companies and campaign groups are challenging this and currently the future of e-cigarettes in the USA is uncertain.
Are these legal in the UK?
Yes, liquids containing nicotine are controlled by local trading standards teams who work to ensure that packaging is correctly labelled and childproofed. There are no other restrictions on sale, purchase or use.
For more detailed information, I recommend watching Spikey's 'Introduction to Vaping' video
RESOURCES
SuperSmoker eliquid toxicology report - http://www.supersmokerjp.com/images/...anslatiion.pdf
The Electronic Cigarette Co eliquid toxicology report - http://www.tobaccoharmreduction.org/tox1.pdf
Gamucci eliquid toxicology report - http://www.ecigaretteschoice.com/GamucciLabStudy.pdf
EcoPure report - http://www.intellicig.com/images/pdf...2009-04-14.pdf
Spikey's collection of research about propylene glycol - http://www.vapersclub.com/pg.html
Spikey's collection on Studies showing simple rebuttal to FDA report - http://vapersclub.com/safe.html
Ruyan, NRT effectiveness - http://www.healthnz.co.nz/ecig_effect-2.pdf
Ruyan, eliquid analysis - http://www.healthnz.co.nz/RuyanCartr...t30-Oct-08.pdf
Ruyan, summary of research - http://www.healthnz.co.nz/DublinBenchtopHandout.pdf
E-cig study for metals - http://acceptablechoice.si/GeneralView.htm
Toxicology report on PVLiquid from e-cigs.co.uk - http://www.e-cigs.co.uk/docs/E249A.pdf
Research on long-term effect of nicotine inhalation - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8614291
