Electronic Cigarettes by Krystle Cole

An electronic cigarette or "e-cigarette" is an alternative to smoked tobacco products, like cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. It is a battery-powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine by delivering a vaporized propylene glycol and nicotine solution. According to E-Cigarettes Choice, "E-Cigarettes perform similarly to traditional smoking. It looks similar, feels similar and tastes similar to a real cigarette and delivers all the pleasures of smoking, without all the problems."

Electronic cigarettes are often designed to resemble the outward appearance of cigarettes and/or other real smoking products, like cigars or pipes. Another common design is the "pen-style", named because it looks like a ballpoint pen.

When a user inhales through the device, air flow is detected by a sensor, which activates a heating element that vaporizes the nicotine solution that is stored in the mouthpiece. It is this vapor that is inhaled by the user. E-Cigarettes Choice explained that, "Since e-cigarettes do not burn anything, there are no ashes and no mess associated with them." To help e-cigarettes look like real cigarettes, an LED light on the end of the device opposite the mouthpiece is activated during inhalation. E-Cigarettes Choice also explained that, "While cigarettes emit about 4,000 identifiable chemicals as they are smoked and 69 are known to cause cancer, e-cigarettes contain less than 10 to 20 chemicals on average, depending on the brand or strength purchased. No more tar blackening your lungs and no more carcinogens."

Clinical trials were carried out in New Zealand by Health New Zealand. They studied the Ruyan® brand e-cigarette and found that it was "...designed to be a safe alternative to smoking. The various test results confirm this is the case. It is very safe relative to cigarettes, and also safe in absolute terms on all measurements we have applied. Using micro-electronics it vaporizes, separately for each puff, very small quantities of nicotine dissolved in propylene glycol, two small well-known molecules with excellent safety profiles, – into a fine aerosol. Each puff contains one third to one half the nicotine in a tobacco cigarette’s puff. The cartridge liquid is tobacco-free and no combustion occurs."

According to Wikipedia, "Due to the relative novelty of the technology and the possible relationship to tobacco laws, electronic cigarette legislation and public health investigations are currently pending in many countries.

In Australia, the sale of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine is illegal.
In Austria and Denmark, electronic cigarettes are considered medical devices, and nicotine cartridges medicinal products. Therefore electronic cigarettes need to be CE-marked, and nicotine cartridges registered as medicinal products, before either can be legally sold.
In Canada, compliance of electronic cigarette use with public smoking bans is currently under review. In March 2009, Health Canada called for the immediate cessation of imports, sales, and advertising of electronic smoking products containing nicotine, and advised Canadians not to purchase or use any electronic smoking products. Under the Food and Drugs Act, electronic smoking products containing nicotine require market authorization before they can be imported, marketed, or sold. No market authorization has been granted for any electronic smoking product.
In Finland, cartridges containing nicotine are illegal to sell, or to purchase with intent to sell, but are not illegal to purchase from overseas sources for personal use only.
In Hong Kong, the possession or the sale of electronic cigarettes is illegal.
In Malaysia, electronic cigarettes are considered medical devices, and nicotine cartridges medicinal products. They can be purchased over the counter at a pharmacy with proper prescription.
In The Netherlands, use of electronic cigarettes is allowed, but advertising is forbidden pending European Union legislation.
In New Zealand, the Ministry of Health has ruled that cartridges containing nicotine fall under the requirements of the Medicines Act, and cannot be sold except as a registered medicine.
In the United Kingdom, electronic cigarette use is currently unrestricted.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers electronic cigarettes to be a nicotine delivery system, subject to its approval. The agency is currently investigating electronic smoking devices, and has blocked a number of import shipments of electronic cigarette products to the country."