In recent years, ways to potentially reduce the harm associated with tobacco use have gained in popularity. One such solution is e-cigarettes, which can be found more and more in many different places. Over the time since their appearance on the market, many different myths have arisen about e-cigarettes. Today we are going to deal a bit with this topic and consider which myths about e-cigarettes may contain a grain of truth and which have nothing to do with reality. What are the facts and myths about e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes - an electronic alternative to smoking
E-cigarettes are a way to reduce the harm resulting from classic tobacco smoking. This is possible thanks to the elimination of the combustion process, which significantly affects the dangers of smoking. The tobacco contained in classic tobacco products, such as cigarettes or cigarillos, must be set on fire in order for the nicotine contained in it to begin to be released and be accepted by the smoker. Unfortunately, along with it, many other dangerous substances are released during smoking, and it is they that pose the greatest threat to the user of cigarettes.

In the case of e-cigarettes, there is no combustion process. We are not even dealing with real tobacco. The action of e-cigarettes is based on liquids, i.e. special liquids containing glycol, glycerin and nicotine. Liquids are heated by a heating system, commonly known as a heater, located in the e-cigarette tank.

Due to the fact that e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, we are not exposed to ash during their use. You can also forget about smoke, which, like ash, is a characteristic product of the combustion process. E-cigarettes release a volatile substance that we can call steam.

Despite the absence of smoke and ash, e-cigarettes should be considered by us as a way to potentially reduce the harm associated with smoking. We cannot consider them as a completely safe alternative for two reasons. First, they still contain nicotine, which is a dangerous substance even without smoke. Second, it should be remembered that e-cigarettes still require further research to help look at their harmfulness across a broader spectrum.

With the growing popularity of e-cigarettes as an alternative to classic tobacco smoking, a lot of different information has started to appear about them. Many of them are completely untrue. So what are the facts and myths about electronic cigarettes?

E-cigarettes are completely safe - a myth

By far one of the most popular myths about e-cigarettes is that e-cigarettes are completely neutral to our health. Unfortunately, it does not look like this, as we already explained in the previous paragraphs. E-cigarettes should be considered as a way to reduce the harms associated with classic tobacco smoking, and not as a completely safe alternative.

Electronic cigarettes are more dangerous than classic cigarettes - a myth

Although there are many people who believe that e-cigarettes are completely safe for the body, there is also an example on the other side of the barricade, which assumes that e-cigarettes are definitely a worse option than smoking traditional tobacco. This is also a myth - although e-cigarettes still need long-term research into their impact on humans, we already have access to many scientific views on this issue. Most of them show that e-cigarettes are less dangerous to the body than classic cigarettes.

To maintain adequate safety, the heater should be replaced regularly - true

Although there are far fewer potentially dangerous compounds in e-cigarettes than in classic tobacco, there are still a few things to keep in mind. One of them is the issue of replacing the heater - in order to maintain the best possible experience and user safety, it is necessary to regularly replace the heating system. The heater is an consumable element that wears out over time. This problem is solved in a way by e-cigarettes with a closed heating system, which use liquid cartridges - in their case, the tank is integrated with the heater and when the liquid runs out, the cartridge is replaced with a new one, equipped with a new heating system.

E-cigarette batteries are potentially dangerous - a myth

From time to time you can hear that the battery in the e-cigarette can be dangerous for the user. In fact, in e-cigarettes we can find exactly the same type of batteries as in today's cell phones, i.e. lithium-ion batteries. The risk associated with their use is minimal if we remember about all the rules of safe battery charging, such as not discharging the battery to the very end or recharging it regularly.

All you need to do is pay attention to high quality when buying e-cigarette batteries and all other e-cigarette components. Ideally, the battery should have a surge protector and a sleep timer. Such security measures are used in proprietary devices.

The e-cigarette contains tobacco  - a myth

Fact: This is not true, the electronic cigarette does not use tobacco. E-liquids consist of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, distilled water, flavor and nicotine. It is obtained as natural nicotine from tobacco leaves. While this means the e-cigarette cartridge does not contain tobacco, it may still have a tobacco-like flavor. In addition, there are also nicotine-free liquids available. In addition, all liquid ingredients are subject to strict EU standards.

E-cigarettes should be disposed of as mixed waste - a myth

Fact: Batteries and e-cigarette cartridges must not be disposed of with mixed waste as they may contain electrical components. Disposing of accumulators and batteries with mixed waste is strictly forbidden. The e-cigarette components are electronic waste. Old devices and cartridges can be delivered to a separate municipal waste collection point.

The ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes also applies to e-cigarettes - a myth

Fact: Not true, the sale of menthol e-liquids is currently allowed. However, on May 20, 2020, the sale of traditional menthol flavored tobacco cigarettes was banned across Europe. As an e-cigarette user, you don't have to worry about it.

What is true and what is not? Critical analysis of information about e-cigarettes

There are probably as many myths as facts about e-cigarettes. Since information on e-cigarettes comes from many different sources, the truth is not always clear. It turns out that much of the information available is poorly founded and often makes false statements about electric cigarettes. It is likely that the facts about e-cigarettes will fight the myths around them in the future as well. So remember to get information about e-cigarettes from trusted sources like Eirhorse.