By: Mike Kane, Christopher, Chris, & Alex Herrera

What are electronic Cigarettes? “E-cigarettes, also known as electronic cigarettes and vaporizer cigarettes are devices that emit doses of vaporized nicotine that are inhaled. The device is battery- operated and can also emit non-nicotine vaporized solutions.”

Who created them? Hon Lik - a Chinese pharmacist They were created in He decided to create electronic cigarettes after his father had passed away from lung cancer because of smoking.

What was the original mission for the E-cigarette? To smoke them whenever! It has the same concept as a regular cigarette. It give the person the same effect as nicotine but without the delivering effects of tobacco in a normal cigarette.

How does it work? Well first, it has three main parts: A rechargeable lithium battery A vaporization chamber A cartridge The lithium battery charges the e-cigarette. The charged battery is connected to the vaporization chamber, which is connected to another component called the atomizer and helps create the vapor. The cartridge is the piece that contains the nicotine. The person would attach this piece to the vaporization chamber.

Continued… The user would inhale like they would normally do on a cigarette. The inhalation activates the atomizer to heat the liquid in the cartridge and convert the liquid to a vapor. Inhaling the vapor through the mouthpiece delivers nicotine to the lungs. The smoker would then exhale the vapor.

Claims Electronic cigarette manufacturers claim that their products may have the potential to improve the health and lives of people addicted to nicotine. The makers of e-cigarettes have conducted any studies to back up their claim, and do not have enough evidence to say it will improve the health and lives of others. Users claim they are using it as a way to quit smoking. However, there has been no evidence of e-cigarettes being able to help a user quit smoking There is no secondhand smoke so it is safe to smoke in public. Wrong. While there is no secondhand smoking in e-cigarettes, there is secondhand vapor. People with health conditions, have said the vapor irritates their eyes, nose, throat, and affects their breathing while making them nauseous as well!

Here are the facts and RED FLAGS ! In , e-cigarettes were brought to the United states, but by March 2009, the FDA adds electronic cigarettes to Import Alert and directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reject the entry of electronic cigarettes into the United States. The FDA and some health experts are concerned that the side effects of inhaling pure nicotine have yet to be adequately studied, and are therefore unknown. The FDA is also concerned about quality control, asserting that some manufacturers may not adequately disclose all the chemical ingredients in their e-cigarettes, and that the amount of nicotine listed on a cartridge label may not match the actual amount in the cartridge. (E-cigarettes are known to have more nicotine in them than regular cigarettes)

More Red Flags! The U.S. law requires consumers to provide proof that they are at least 18 years of age to buy tobacco cigarettes, but this law does not apply to e-cigarette sellers. THEY ARE NOT FDA REGULATED ! The FDA is in the process of having e-cigarettes labeled as a drug-delivery device so they can be regulated [source: FDA]. Manufacturers, however, say the e-cigarette is simply recreational, and should not be subject to FDA regulation. Two e-cigarette companies, Smoking Everywhere and NJOY, sued the FDA in the district court of the District of Columbia for impounding their products, and won. The judge ruled that "there is no basis for the FDA to treat electronic cigarettes as a drug-device combination when all they purport to do is offer consumers the same recreational effects as a regular cigarette" [source: U.S. District Court].

Current research Findings Cons research found that e-cigs lacked proper important regulatory factors such as essential health warnings, proper labeling, clear instructions on how to use them, and safe disposal methods. Some e-cigs cartridges, which could cause toxic exposure to nicotine A study in 2011 revealed that only after 5 min of smoking an e-cig caused acute pulmonary effects after smoking it. After 5 min the test show that the e-cig increased impendence. Airflow restriction and oxidative stress in the lungs of healthy smokers. This study was only done after 5 min. Since most e-cig consumers use it throughout the day might increase the risk. Article- Leader, Deborah. "Should I Use E-Cigarettes to Stop Smoking?" About.com COPD. About.com, 3 Apr Web. 30 Apr

Current research findings Pros- A study of 50 smokers who wanted to reduce the health risks associated with smoking, concluded that the Eclipse brand of e-cigs dramatically decreased the consumption of cigarettes. Also, the nicotine concentrations in their blood remained fairly stable and their desire to quit altogether remained intact. However, the study concluded that because the E- cig increased carbon monoxide concentrations in the blood, it may not be a safer choice of cigarette. Article- Leader, Deborah. "Should I Use E-Cigarettes to Stop Smoking?" About.com COPD. About.com, 3 Apr Web. 30 Apr

DANGEROUS? YOU BE THE JUDGE !