Yes, you read it right – you can now get Electric Cigarettes (AKA e-Cigarettes and electronic cigarettes). This page is to advise you what they do, how they work and why they are a great idea!

Read on to find out why these products are rapidly growing in popularity across the world…

Put simply, an e cigarette is a synthetic smoking device, which is widely considered to be much less damaging than a traditional (or analogue) cigarette or tobacco.

As opposed to producing smoke, these devices produce a vapour of nicotine which is inhaled – you can even blow smoke rings!

While there are numerous sizes (from small cigarettes, to pens, to huge cigars) they are designed to simulate smoking tobacco as closely as possible.

However, as you are not smoking, but vaporising a liquid, there is virtually nothing to prohibit the use of an electronic cigarette, meaning they can be used in pubs, restaurants, night clubs and bars – even hospitals and aeroplanes!

Put simply, an e cigarette is a synthetic smoking device, which is widely considered to be much less damaging than a traditional (or analogue) cigarette or tobacco.

As opposed to producing smoke, these devices produce a vapour of nicotine which is inhaled – you can even blow smoke rings!

While there are numerous sizes (from small cigarettes, to pens, to huge cigars) they are designed to simulate smoking tobacco as closely as possible.

However, as you are not smoking, but vaporising a liquid, there is virtually nothing to prohibit the use of an electronic cigarette, meaning they can be used in pubs, restaurants, night clubs and bars – even hospitals and aeroplanes!

While the taste of electric cigarettes isn’t identical to that of a tobacco cigarette, that may not actually be a bad thing! Various alternative flavours are becoming available such as menthol.

Aside from this small point, the benefits are massive

- Acceptable; use in places blocked by the smoking ban

- Cheaper; if you smoke heavily, you could save £2000+ per year

- Instant; works faster than other Nicotine-based products

- No Cancer; these product produce no carcinogens*

- Safer; no lighters, matches, burning stubs or passive smoke

- Cleaner; no smoke, no smells, no ashtrays

- Happier; less cravings

*trace amounts detected, but considered to be harmless levels. More info

Electronic Cigarettes typically combine three parts:

1. Battery, often with a light which makes the end glow when puffed

2. The atomising device, powered by the battery, which heats the liquid

3. Tip which contains the nicotine in a cartridge and looks like a filter

Picture of an electric cigarette in 3 parts: 1. Battery, 2.Atomiser, 3.Tip

1. The Battery – This is a long white stick, designed to look like the tobacco part of a cigarette. It is often fitted with a light at one end to simulate the glowing end when puffed on. These typically last for several days between charges.

2. The atomiser – When the battery detects a puff on the cigarette, it heats the atomiser up, so that the liquid drawn through it is vaporised into a synthetic smoke (like a mini disco-style smoke machine)

3. Tip or Nicotine cartridge – A disposable cartridge which looks like a cigarette filter and holds liquid nicotine. A typical cartridge will contain nicotine equivalent to approximately 15 cigarettes and cost around £1 each.

Once you have purchased your starter kit containing the battery, atomiser, and a few cartridges for around £40, replacement cartridges typically cost under £1 each, and contain the equivalent nicotine levels of around 15 cigarettes, meaning you smoke less, and feel more satisfied.

In May 2009, in the USA’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted tests on two brands of nicotine cartridges used in electronic cigarettes. Trace (detectable but not measurable) amounts of a solvent called diethylene glycol were found in just one of seventeen cartridges tested. Trace elements (again not measurable) amounts of TSNAs were detected in more than one of the tobacco-flavoured cartridges tested. In July 2009, the FDA released a statement of their findings and discouraged the use of electronic cigarettes.

Since this, in May 2009 the FDA’s report was heavily criticised by Exponent Inc – a scientific consulting firm, commissioned by a manufacturer featured in the FDA’s study. Exponent claimed that TSNA levels were equivalent to that found in many other nicotine-replacement products, and that claims by The FDA about adverse health from e-cigarettes were unfounded.

Health Canada in March 2009 stated that “…these electronic smoking products may be marketed as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco products…”

While New Zealand’s Health Authority (Health New Zealand), following quantitative* research in October 2008, concluded that while TSNAs were present, the amounts of carcinogens and toxicants were “below harmful levels”, and deemed electronic cigarettes to be “a safe alternative to smoking”.

*Quantitative research means that unlike the FDA, Health New Zealand actually measured quantities of these chemicals, rather than simply detecting them – making this arguably the most accurate independent test of electronic cigarettes.

All research taken from Wikipedia’s electronic cigarette section.