E-cigarettes originated in China, but are popular in Europe, America, and the Middle East. As a substitute for cigarettes and the advantages of "draw activation" and flavoring, electronic cigarettes are becoming more and more popular among people.

 

However, as a new product, electronic cigarettes face many uncertainties, such as the non-convergence of the concept and evaluation of electronic cigarettes, the non-uniformity of product standards, and the non-standardization of electronic cigarette behavior. All these need to be clarified, unified, and standardized. The editor has integrated various types of online materials and integrated the common sense of electronic cigarettes that you should know, for your reference and learning.

 

 

1：Definition of Electronic cigarette

1. Concept of Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette)

An E-cigarette is an electronic product that turns nicotine-containing e-liquid into vapor using atomization and other means.

 

Q: Are e-cigarettes cigarettes?

A: E-cigarettes consume e-juice and concept vapor. Except for the possibility of nicotine, it is a completely different category from cigarettes.

 

 2. The structure of the electronic cigarette

The mainstream e-cigarette is mainly composed of three parts: the smoke pipe (also called an atomizer, atomization chamber, and cartridge) containing the e-liquid, the evaporation device, and the battery.

 Classification of electronic cigarettes

1). According to the classification of e-liquid devices, it can be divided into the pre-filling type and fillable type:

• Pre-filling e-cigarette: E-liquid and atomizer are integrated, disposable, and portable. Generally, the integrated atomizer that is pre-filled with juice is also called a pod.
• Refillable electronic cigarette: the atomizer can be reused, and different brands of e-liquid can be selected.

2). According to the classification of the device body, it can be divided into mechanical vape and electronic vape:

• Mechanical type: There is no control chip in the device, which has a long life but is not easy to control.

Electronic type: There is a control chip in the cigarette rod, which can control voltage, power, and temperature, but the life of the chip is limited.

3). According to power classification, it can be divided into low-power vape and high-power vape:

Pod system vape: generally drawn through the mouth, the atomizer and battery can be connected to start working, no need to start the button.

Mod system vape: It mainly uses a 18650-type lithium battery, which is larger and has the obvious characteristics of an atomizer and rod.

Pod Mod System: vape products between pod system and mod system/

 

4 . E-juice

E-juice is mainly composed of three substances: nicotine, flavors and fragrances, and PG/VG.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines PG as "generally safe for humans". PG (Propylene Glycol) is the carrier of flavor, which can enhance the taste of e-liquid. After heating, a small amount of mist will be produced, with a certain throat-hit feeling.

Like PG, VG (vegetable glycerin or glycerol) is also a very widely used raw material in daily life. The main role of VG in e-liquid is to be responsible for the generation of "fog".

Spices and flavors are generally food-grade and do not affect the human body.

 

5. What are the effects of e-cigarettes on people?

The main influencing substance is nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance that may increase heart rate and blood pressure; ingestion of large doses (above 50mg) in a short period can cause vomiting and nausea; but regular e-liquid will control the dose of nicotine within a safe range, even without Nicotine has little effect on people.

Do e-cigarettes produce harmful substances? Since electronic cigarettes use physical atomization technology, no new substances and hazards will be produced. Generally speaking, the maximum temperature of mainstream e-cigarette equipment is 300-400°C, while the cracking reaction of organic matter requires a temperature of 700-800°C. It can be seen that compliant e-cigarette equipment does not produce harmful substances due to cracking reactions.

In contrast, cigarettes are much more harmful. When a cigarette burns, the temperature reaches 600~900°C. In the case of incomplete combustion, many harmful substances will be produced, such as aromatic amines (carcinogenic), condensed aromatic hydrocarbons (carcinogenic), heterocyclic amines (carcinogenic), metals (carcinogenic, DNA damage), radioactive substances (carcinogenic), the mixture of which is tobacco tar. According to WHO official data, there are more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, among which there are at least 250 known harmful substances and more than 50 known carcinogens. [1]

In 2012, in an experiment by Lauterbach [2] et al., the release of aerosol chemical components in the mainstream smoke of e-cigarettes and cigarettes was compared.

Among them, the harmful substances released by electronic cigarettes are much lower than those of cigarettes, formaldehyde is 8.6% of cigarettes, and the release of many other harmful components is 98% less than that of traditional cigarettes. The NHS (UK National Health Service) once issued a document stating that e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than cigarettes.

[1]WHO Open Tobacco Fact Sheet.

Lauterbach J H, Laugesen M and Ross J D. Suggested protocol for estimation of harmful and potentially harmful constituents in mainstream aerosols generated by electronic nicotine delivery systems[R]. Poster 1860 presented at the 51st annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology in San Francisco, 2012.

 

Q: E-cigarettes are banned in Hong Kong and some countries. Is it because they are harmful to the human body?

A: E-cigarettes are banned in some countries and regions, mainly due to policy factors. For example, Hong Kong recently proposed to ban e-cigarettes, the most important reason is to protect the health of children and young people.

 

[2]How does it affect those around you?

In terms of working principle, e-cigarettes are just atomized e-liquids, and will not produce second-hand smoke, nor will they remain on clothes and other places; in terms of taste, e-cigarettes are generally simulated fruit, mint, cream, etc. No unpleasant smell of smoke.

Therefore, e-cigarettes can be considered to be harmless to the surrounding population.

In contrast, cigarettes are not only harmful to the health of smokers, but second-hand and third-hand smoke can also affect the people around smokers.

 

Q: What is third-hand smoke?

A: The National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy found that "third-hand smoke" refers to tobacco residues left on furniture, cars, clothes, and even hair and skin after smokers "smoke", containing more than 250 Chemical substances, such as heavy metals, carcinogens, and even radiation substances. The stay time is as long as several months, and it may enter the human body through breathing, hand-mouth contact, skin contact, and other channels, causing harm.

Q: Do e-cigarettes have the problem of second-hand smoke and third-hand smoke?

A: Cigarettes produce smoke (solid combustion turns into gas), while e-cigarettes produce vapor (liquid turns into gas). Therefore, the smoke is easy to remain in the air and remains on the skin, clothing, and furniture, while the vapor of the electronic cigarette is easy to dissipate in the air without remaining.

 

6. Can e-cigarettes help quit smoking?

It is theoretically possible. It has been scientifically proven that what is addictive in cigarettes is nicotine, not the most harmful tar and carbon monoxide. The reason why many people always fail to quit smoking with "perseverance" is because of the discomfort caused by the sudden withdrawal of nicotine, which makes it easy to relapse.

F-cigarettes use low-temperature atomization to turn nicotine into water vapor. Because of the support of nicotine, it is easier to transition from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes, and there is no need to endure discomfort after quitting smoking. Therefore, many people unknowingly reduce smoking. Cigarette frequency.

However, don’t expect smokers to quit smoking after using e-cigarettes, because smoking is a complex habit-formed behavior and “taste” dependence. Therefore, quitting smoking with e-cigarettes is a long process, and In the process, the goal of "replacing cigarettes" should be carried out first - consciously replacing cigarettes partially, replacing cigarettes with e-cigarettes on special occasions, and gradually developing the habit of using e-cigarettes in the long run.

At the same time, the concentration of nicotine content in electronic cigarettes or whether it contains nicotine can be adjusted and selected. Through the process of continuous reduction of nicotine content and the gradual replacement of cigarette taste by the "flavor" in electronic cigarettes, the goal of smoking cessation can be slowly achieved.

Q: Do you advocate replacing smoking instead of quitting smoking? Do you have no confidence in quitting smoking?

A: The aroma and taste of cigarettes have accompanied people for 500 years, and humans have long been accustomed to everything about it. What e-cigarettes should do is gradually change people's smoking habits with more convenient, more beautiful, and better-sucking e-cigarettes.

 

7．Etiquette of E-Cigarette

So far, studies have concluded that smoking e-cigarettes do not cause harm to others, but people still have a long way to go in terms of awareness and acceptance of e-cigarettes. Therefore, the core of e-cigarette behavior etiquette is to respect public morality and respect for others.

1. E-cigarette smokers should try their best to do the following:

⊙ Try not to smoke e-cigarettes in public.

⊙ Try to smoke e-cigarettes in a place where the air is flowing.

⊙ Try not to smoke e-cigarettes in front of minors and avoid imitation.

Q: Since electronic cigarettes do not have the problem of second-hand smoke and third-hand smoke, why should these guidelines be stipulated?

 

A: One is to consider the impact of smell on others. For example, eating and drinking are not allowed in some vehicles. Although electronic cigarettes do not have the problem of second-hand smoke and third-hand smoke, they still produce odor. For the convenience of others, I hope everyone abides by public morality. The second is to protect children and minors, to avoid demonstration effects and imitation.

 Product Standard of E-Cigarette

2. Safety Standards

1). Body safety:

Unqualified batteries may cause electronic cigarette explosion accidents. It is necessary to ensure that the battery performance is stable and that the body material has good heat dissipation performance to ensure personal safety during use.

2). Ejuice safety

Food-grade PG, VG, and flavors must be used, without detection of heavy metals and radioactive substances, to ensure that the packaging of e-liquid is airtight, free from pollution and deterioration, and the dose of nicotine is controlled within a safe range.

2. Quality Standards

1). Body appearance:

Although the shape of e-cigarettes on the market is ever-changing and there is no unified standard, the shape is better with exquisite materials, compact and portable, and ergonomic design.

2). Operation and use:

Ease of operation is preferred. Including the one-piece design without buttons, instant enjoyment, quick replacement of pods, low-cost cleaning and maintenance, etc.

3). Performance standard:

Stable performance is better. Including leak-proof closed ejuice tank design, constant power and stable output, appropriate suction resistance, stable and long-lasting power supply, etc.

4). E-liquid standard:

It is preferred to have a realistic throat hit, a balance of sweet and sour, delicate and smooth, and a high degree of flavor reduction.

5). Atomizer standard:

It is better to have a durable atomizing core, high sealing of the oil tank, and constant heating.