An electronic cigarette is a battery-operated device that emits vaporised solution to inhale. Usually, solution contains nicotine. Aim is to provide sensation of inhaling tobacco smoke, without smoke. These devices have various names, including e-cigarettes, e-hookahs, vaporiser cigarettes, vapes and vape pens.

They come in range of shapes. Some look like USB drives and others look like pens, for example. Manufacturers market e-cigarettes as tools for quitting or cutting down on smoking, but Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classes them as tobacco products. United States federal law does not allow sale of tobacco products to people under age of 21-Trusted Source. However, a major concern about vaping is its attraction for young people. Vaping is popular among teens. In fact, it is now most popular Trusted Source form of tobacco use among young people in US, according to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An e-cigarette is a device that may look like a cigarette, a cigar, a pipe, a pen or a USB drive. Liquid inside may smell fruity, but it can have a high nicotine content. JUUL devices, for example, look like USB drives. They appeared on US market in 2015 Trusted Source and are now top-selling brand of e-cigarette in country.

In e-cigarettes, tobacco combustion is replaced by e-liquid heating, leading some manufacturers to propose that e-cigarettes have less harmful respiratory effects than tobacco consumption. Other innovative features such as adjustment of nicotine content and choice of pleasant flavours have won over many users.  Electronic nicotine dispensing systems (ENDS), commonly known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, have been popularly considered less harmful alternative to conventional cigarette smoking since they first appeared on market more than a decade ago. E-cigarettes are electronic devices, essentially consisting of a cartridge, filled with an e-liquid, a heating element/atomiser necessary to heat e-liquid to create a vapour that can be inhaled through a mouthpiece and a rechargeable battery. Both electronic devices and different e-liquids are easily available in shops or online stores. There is concern about young people using JUUL. Refills come in flavours such as cool cucumber, mango, and mint, which may seem natural and harmless, but a single JUUL refill contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes Trusted Source.

Most e-cigarettes are made up of following parts: Mouthpiece: This is a cartridge fixed to end of a tube. Inside is a small plastic cup containing absorbent material soaked in a liquid solution. Atomiser: This heats liquid, causing it to vaporise so that a person can inhale it. Battery: This powers heating element. Sensor: This activates heater when user sucks on device. Solution: E-liquid, or e-juice contains a combination of nicotine, a base which is usually propylene glycol, and flavouring.  When user sucks on mouthpiece, heating element vaporises solution, which person then ‘vapes,’ or inhales. Nicotine of liquid can range from ‘very high’ to zero. Flavours vary widely, from ‘traditional’ and menthol to watermelon and ‘lava flow.’  Risks Manufacturers claim that e-cigarettes bypass many of health risks of tobacco smoking, providing a healthful alternative. While these devices may help Trusted Source some people quit smoking, there is growing evidence that e-cigarettes can pose serious health risks, especially to people who do not smoke traditional cigarettes. * E-cigarettes have potential to benefit adult smokers who are not pregnant if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products.

* E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults and pregnant women, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products. * While e-cigarettes have potential to benefit some people and harm others, scientists still have a lot to learn about whether e-cigarettes are effective for quitting smoking. * If you’ve never smoked or used other tobacco products or e-cigarettes, don’t start.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 07 2022

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