For all the smokers out there tired of stepping outside in the freezing cold, running out of breath every time you run 20 feet or smelling and tasting like an ashtray, the answer may have been invented.

These new devices have been called “e-cigarettes,” but they are really just a method of ingesting nicotine without using combustion or tobacco.

The purpose for creating e-cigarettes was to allow smokers to satisfy their cravings while avoiding the stigma attached with being a tobacco user.

E-cigarettes work by releasing water vapor containing a dose of nicotine when the user inhales.

“They really do satisfy your cravings. I expected to be disappointed, but I was wrong. They even tasted pretty good,” said James Wilson, senior American studies major.

Since e-cigarettes do not use combustion or raw plant material, many of the carcinogens present in tobacco products are absent.

There is also a significant reduction in preservatives and chemicals used to make tobacco burn slower, many of which are toxic to inhale.

Also, since no combustion occurs, there is no release of carbon monoxide, an extremely toxic gas which competes with oxygen in the bloodstream.

A significant decrease in carbon monoxide consumption allows smokers to breathe easier and keep their heart rate down during strenuous exercise.

There are, however, some risks associated with using e-cigarettes. A recent FDA study by B.J.
Westenberger, Deputy Director of the Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis, shows that the propellant used in e-cigarettes is propylene glycol, an ingredient in antifreeze production.

Propylene glycol is relatively safe in small amounts, but consuming large quantities will produce a toxic effect on the body as well as irritation of the eyes and throat.

The materials safety data sheet for propylene glycol says that it “may cause damage to the central nervous system” if ingested, though not enough data exists to retort or confirm this
claim.

Though propylene glycol poses a potential threat, the pros outweigh the cons in this scenario.

The lack of carcinogens, preservatives and carbon monoxide likely makes e-cigarettes the better choice for nicotine consumption.

Being a smoker myself for almost eight years, I have been waiting for an invention like this to come around for a long time. I cannot speak for every tobacco user, but I am tired of being treated like an outcast because I have a habit that non-users look down upon.

Additionally, since they satisfy the oral fixation associated with the tobacco experience, e-cigarettes may be more effective than patches when tying to quit, though this claim is entirely subjective to each individual smoker’s perspective.

Fellow smokers should take this opportunity to make the switch from tobacco to e-cigarettes.
The health benefits are plentiful and the social taboo that comes with a smoker’s habit will disappear.

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