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Article: Electronic cigarettes set to light up our livesIn a world where everything is set to become faster, cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and digital or electronic to boot, how can this possibly affect cigarette smoking, I hear you ask? Well actually, it is a far more environmentally-friendly option to consider.An electronic cigarette is an alternative to the cigarette, providing small amounts of the chemical nicotine with each inhalation. The device takes the form of a tiny rod which is slightly longer than a normal cigarette. The mouthpiece of the device contains a replaceable cartridge filled with liquid. The main substances contained in the liquid are nicotine, propylene glycol, and is enhanced with optional flavours or aromas. When the user inhales through the device, the air flow is detected by a sensor. A microprocessor then activates an atomizer, which injects tiny droplets of the liquid into the flowing air and vaporises the nicotine. This produces a vapour mist which is inhaled by the user. The addition of propylene glycol to the liquid makes the mist better resemble normal cigarette smoke. The microprocessor also activates an orange light emitting diode, or LED, at the tip to simulate real smoking. Electronic cigarettes generally use a rechargeable battery as a power source. Battery life varies between devices, with some lasting a day between charges, and others lasting a week. Cartridges for electronic cigarettes are usually offered in a variety of formulations, with different flavours, namely fruit, mint, and coffee, and nicotine concentrations. At the upper range of nicotine concentrations, electronic cigarette smoking is equivalent in nicotine delivery to average tobacco cigarettes. Most companies also offer a range of milder options, including completely nicotine-free cartridges. Depending on the device, the solution cartridges are good for between one hundred to six hundred inhalations. An empty cartridge can be replaced with a new cartridge or it can be refilled with solution. This solution is sometimes called e-liquid and is often sold in bottles of ten millilitres. Electronic cigarettes are generally considered to be a healthier alternative to tobacco smoking, since most of the harmful materials produced by the combustion of tobacco in traditional cigarettes is not present in the atomised liquid of an electronic cigarette. They can also be used as a way to curtail an addiction to nicotine. Various toxicological studies of the electronic cigarettes have been conducted, with some concluding that electronic cigarettes are less harmful than traditional tobacco cigarettes, because they can deliver nicotine into the lungs without the carcinogens and toxicants. Nevertheless, the device still delivers nicotine. With all the negative publicity surrounding the act or smoking, including a “Smoking Kills” campaign around the world, the emphasis on providing a healthier option, especially amongst teenagers is becoming a top priority. The electronic cigarette may well lead the way towards this end. The upside of this is that anyone can light up now, among family and friends who are non-smokers, and be socially acceptable at the same time. In the United Kingdom, electronic cigarette use is currently unrestricted, with celebrity nightclub “Chinawhite” allowing use of the devices indoors, where traditional cigarette smoking is prohibited. Click here to return to the articles page |
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