The real myths and facts about electronic cigarettes
As electronic cigarettes become more popular there are more and more myths floating about which unfortunately dilutes the positive message that these products can provide. At cheapelectroniccigarettes.co.uk we believe in complete openness and honesty with our customers and as such the following information dispels some of the myths surrounding electronic cigarettes and vaping and we thank the author for the time put into this valuable resource of informatio.
1.) It's just like smoking a cigarette.
No, it's not - not really. Yes, there's a dense cloud of vapour, but the taste is very rarely close to that of a traditional cigarette - in most cases, it's considerably better. It's almost always going to be sweeter than a ciggie, and usually a lot more satisfying, after a week or so of vaping more than you smoke purely due to the fact that you are not inhaling all those thousands of chemicals that are found in traditional tobacco cigarettes.
2.) E-Cigs are Smoking Cessation Devices
Nope - as of this point in time, no electronic cigarette has been granted that title by any governmental authority in the world. That doesn't mean that they can't get you off tobacco, or that you can't use them for that purpose (I know of plenty of people who no longer smoke "analogue" ciggies, and who now only use e-cigs) - but they ought not to be sold as smoking cessation devices until they've been through the appropriate testing and authorisation.
3.) E-cigs are a healthy form of smoking
Here, again, opinion is touted as fact. So let's look at the facts, shall we? The primary constituents of e-liquid (the stuff that gets boiled to produce the vapur) are one of three Glycols - all of which are approved for food and/or cosmetic use, and all for internal intake, flavourings and nicotine. Of the three, if there's any concern to be voiced it would be about the nicotine which is a poison.
However, there have been no published peer-reviewed studies on the long term effects of the direct inhalation of the glycol vapour. Empirical evidence would suggest that someone who regularly inhabits venues where smoke machines (which use the same glycols) are permanently pumping out great clouds of precisely the same vapour suffers no harmful effects, and the relevant authorities are happy enough for smoke machines to be used, so that would suggest that we're probably safe, but it would be more beneficial if companies producing the e-liquids would have full testing done, just to be safe.
This would also have the happy by-product of potentially having e-cigs and liquids approved as smoking cessation devices, which would be very nice.
Now, let's look at tobacco cigarettes. There are 40 acknowledged carcinogens in an average cigarette, and upwards of 1000 other chemicals and additives, some of which are food grade and others which are perhaps less savoury. Never mind the tar and the stuff addicts crave - the nicotine - on balance it looks as though an e-cig ought to be a whole lot healthier than a ciggie.
However, as yet, no scientific evidence exists to support the anecdotal evidence that the vast majority of e-cig users report feeling much more healthy than they felt while smoking tobacco. At the moment, you have to make your own decision. That's actually something I welcome, being the furthest thing from a supporter of the Nanny State that there can be. I've made mine, and I choose e-cigs.
4.) A cartridge is the equivalent of 20 cigarettes
Very, very doubtful. A e-pipe cartridge might hold 15 or more ciggies' worth of e-juice, but I can guarantee you that, no matter what you read, a super-mini cartridge is worth around three or four at best, and a mini will give you perhaps six to seven - no more.
5.) A battery will last you the day
Not if you normally smoked more than five a day, it won't - guaranteed. That applies to minis, super-minis and pen-styles. Probably not e-pipes and super-battery types, but pretty much definitely for all super-minis.
As an ex-60 a day man, I carry a fully-charged electronic cigarette with PCC (five batteries worth) and three charged batteries - and the PCC gets a recharge at least once during the day. I'd need two PCCs for super-minis at least, I reckon.
6.) Why tell us this?
At the moment, almost all e-cigs are sold online, and in my travels I've come across more than a few web sites that distort the truth in order to sell their product. I'm very keen on e-smoking (or vaping), and my personal belief is that it's the way forward - so much so that I've got every intention of creating a sales organisation for them. However, if sellers continue to mis-inform their customers, then e-cigs will get a bad name. In the USof A, for instance, various states (and even the FDA) are making e-smoking very difficult for their inhabitants. In the UK, Trading Standards take a much more sensible view and insist on clear and unambiguous labelling - but, even so, they seem not to be taking too much interest in the claims that various sites are making - so far.
So, this note is, basically, a primer for those folks who are new to vaping, and might all too easily misled by over-enthusiastic sales outfits.
So - and this is merely my opinion, no claims made - I'd encourage anyone who already smokes to consider e-smoking as an alternative to a habit which is known to carry very high risks of disease (a 50/50 chance of it killing you, basically). I haven't covered the "it's cheaper" claim (it can be, but I seriously doubt the "80% cheaper" - cheaper yes, but not by that much), but hey, even if it costs the same, it's very probably (remember - my opinion, not necessarily fact) going to vastly reduce the risk to you and those around you. And that's a good thing - in my opinion.
This information was orignially posted at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sunderland/Electronic-Smoking-Nu-Cig-Northeast/104886493370?ref=search&sid=661624528.1726872899..1&v=wall#/note.php?note_id=128324665949&ref=mf
Created: September 25, 2009
