Electronic cigarette how do they work

Some mimic the appearance of tobacco cigarettes, while others look like cigars, pipes and even pens. Consumers also can purchase bottles of e-liquid and refill the cartridges themselves. This reduces the cost of use, generally making e-cigarettes cheaper to use than tobacco cigarettes.

But even if they're affordable and fun to use, are e-cigarettes safe? Some health experts are concerned about marketers promoting them as a healthier alternative to tobacco. So before you trade in your pack of smokes for the electronic version, read on as we fill you in on the potential health risks of e-cigarettes.

Quality control is one of the main issues health experts have with e-cigarettes. They argue that manufacturers may not disclose all of the chemical ingredients used in their products. This means it may be impossible for users to know exactly what they're consuming.

There is also not much known about the short- or long-term health effects of exposure to nicotine vapor. The U.

Food and Drug Administration FDA conducted a small study in to analyze a sample of nicotine cartridges from two manufacturers. The results showed that the amount of nicotine delivered did not always match the amount stated on the label.

The study also revealed that some cartridges labeled nicotine-free in fact contained nicotine. And cancer-causing compounds found in tobacco were also found in some e-cigarette cartridges, along with other toxins. One of the toxins found was diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical used in antifreeze. Despite these findings, electronic cigarette manufacturers claim that their products may have the potential to improve the health and lives of people addicted to nicotine.

But many health experts say e-cigarette makers haven't conducted the research needed to back up their claims. The World Health Organization WHO , for example, says there is not enough evidence to show that e-cigarettes are safe. Health experts are also concerned about companies marketing e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy NRT products like the nicotine patch or gum have been tested for their safety and effectiveness as smoking cessation aids.

E-cigarettes have not. Some experts have expressed concern that marketers' claims -- or positive word-of-mouth from e-cig users -- may convince people to use e-cigarettes to try to stop smoking, instead of a method that has been proven effective.

Another question is whether nonsmokers will be attracted by the novelty or the perceived safety of e-cigarettes and take up the habit, thus becoming addicted to nicotine. This is especially important where younger consumers are concerned -- the candy-like flavors may particularly appeal to children and adolescents. And because e-cigarettes are sold online, young people may have easy access -- most companies don't check or confirm the age of their Internet customers.

While e-cigarettes may help consumers avoid many of the health risks of smoking tobacco, they still give users a dose of an addictive substance. Regulatory authorities are struggling to classify electronic cigarettes and introduce the right controls. Instead, someone could spend that money on other things that they need or enjoy. To go against tobacco company advertising: Many e-cigarettes are made by the same companies that produce regular cigarettes.

Their marketing targets young people by making fun flavors for e-cigarettes and showing young, healthy people vaping. They are trying to make kids and teens of today into their new, lifetime customers.

The signs of withdrawal are strongest in the first few days after stopping. They get better over the following days and weeks. Talk to your kids about the reports of serious lung damage, and even deaths, in people who vape. Call your doctor right away if your child or teen vapes and has:. Reviewed by: Lonna P. Gordon, MD. Adolescent Medicine at Nemours Children's Health.

Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Vaping? Vaping puts nicotine into the body. Nicotine is highly addictive and can: slow brain development in kids and teens and affect memory, concentration, learning, self-control, attention, and mood increase the risk of other types of addiction as adults E-cigarettes also: irritate the lungs may cause serious lung damage and even death can lead to smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco use Some people use e-cigarettes to vape marijuana , THC oil, and other dangerous chemicals.

How Do E-cigarettes Work? Here are some others: Unknown health effects: The long-term health consequences of vaping are not known. In addition, acute nicotine exposure can be toxic. Children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing, or absorbing e-cigarette liquid through their skin or eyes. Top of Page. What are the risks of e-cigarettes for youth, young adults, and pregnant adults? E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth.

In the United States, youth are more likely than adults to use e-cigarettes. In , 2. More information. The devices and brands presented in this pamphlet are intended to highlight the different e-cigarette, or vaping, product generations and substances used in these devices. Federal regulation of e-cigarettes: Provides an overview of FDA regulations of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.

State laws and policies regarding e-cigarettes : This CDC fact sheet reports on laws pertaining to sales, use, and taxation of e-cigarettes in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. E-Cigarettes Fact Sheet. E-cigarettes Fact Sheet. Nicotine levels in electronic cigarette refill solutions: a comparative analysis of products from the U. Int J Drug Policy. Preventive Services Task Force. Evidence Synthesis No. Can electronic cigarettes help people stop smoking, and are they safe to use for this purpose?

Prev Chronic Dis ; Bjartveit K, Tverdal A. Tobacco Control ;14 5 — Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, ; —9. Find your local stop smoking service. They're not completely risk free, but they carry a small fraction of the risk of cigarettes. E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful elements in tobacco smoke. The liquid and vapour contain some potentially harmful chemicals also found in cigarette smoke, but at much lower levels.

Almost all of the harm from smoking comes from the thousands of other chemicals in tobacco smoke, many of which are toxic. Nicotine replacement therapy has been widely used for many years to help people stop smoking and is a safe treatment. Little research has been conducted into the safety of e-cigarettes in pregnancy, but they're likely to be much less harmful to a pregnant woman and her baby than cigarettes.