A History Of Electronic Cigarettes – Short But Yet Hotly Debated
Electronic cigarettes have a rather short history. Introduced in 2003 by SBT Co. Ltd of Beijing, China the first e-cigarettes were short on both design and function. After the initial launch of the new products, Ruyan developed the design further using new e-cigarette technology and introduced electronic cigarettes to the European market in 2006. “Electro fag” was the name used in European promotions for the electronic cigarettes.
The first electronic smokes were not envisioned as a replacement for tobacco product. The concept was to provide a nicotine delivery system that smokers could use to soothe their need for a “fix” when they were in situations or locales where smoking tobacco was unacceptable. Marketers trying to sell electronic cigarettes quickly began advertising te products as a way to quit the tobacco habit. This did not gain approval from the e-cig manufacturers and was quickly condemned by the World Health Organization. The safety of electronic cigarettes had not been thoroughly tested and the WHO claimed there was no proof as yet of any benefits to users.
Many consumers referred to the use of electronic cigs not as a habit but as a hobby. Flavors and nicotine concentrations were debated on forums by people who called themselves “vapers”, They discussed vapor volume and the quality of taste of e-liquid brands used for refills.
Initial products attempted rather unsuccessfully to mimic the appearance of tobacco cigarettes. As the e-cig has become a product in its own right those designs have been joined by colored and brightly decorated models and with e-cigarettes displaying logos. The electronic products that do resemble standard smokes are much more realistic in detail than those early products on the market.
A trade association was recently formed by electronic cigarette suppliers to promote the e-cig as a safer nicotine delivery system than tobacco. Popularity of the electronic products continues to grow rapidly. The association has a mission to spread accurate information about the products to the public.
A significant amount of opposition has been aimed at electronic cigarettes by tobacco and pharmaceutical companies and the powerful lobbies that represent them in Washington, D.C. Bowing under pressure from these large corporations, the FDA has issued statements against e-cigarettes and last year imposed a ban on imports of the product from China. Recent court decisions may help counter the FDA’s policies and limit the ability of the lobbies to influence decisions of a government agency.
The large tobacco companies have partnered with big pharma to spread misinformation about their competing electronic products. In the guise of protecting public health, opponents of electronic smoking products innocently claim to be concerned for the public even as they sell the most dangerous consumer product legally available today.
Perhaps the most innovative new design in the e-cigarette market is the disposable cartridge model. A small mouthpiece that can be unscrewed, discarded and replaced with a new cartridge pre-loaded with flavor and nicotine makes smoking electronically as easy as opening a pack of cigarettes. One replaceable cartridge is equal to about 400 puffs which is one pack of standard cigarettes. No e-liquid is required and no cleaning is not needed.
The future is bright for electronic cigarette products even though the history of the product dates back only six or seven years. The safety of the product become more apparent with each passing year while improved quality of currently available e-cigarettes is generating a steadily increasing demand for this alternative smoking product.
Mary Kay Rivers is a true expert on all facets of electronic cigarettes. Her articles about the story of electronic cigarettes and the FDA or about the best e-cigarette have become very famous.
