A History Of E-Cigarettes – Short But Yet Hotly Debated

Electronic cigarettes have a short history as they were introduced in 2003 by the SBT Co. Ltd. of Beijing, China. After the first launch, Ruyan developed the electronic products further and introduced electronic cigarettes to the European market at a 2006 Austrian conference. Marketing promotions assigned the name “Electro fag” to 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.

In 2009, electronic cigarette suppliers formed their own trade association with a goal of providing factual information about electronic cigarettes and correcting misinformation spread by others. The focus is to promote electronic smoking as an alternative to smoking tobacco.

A significant amount of opposition has been exerted by big tobacco and big pharma who have targeted electronic cigarettes as the enemy (i.e., the competition). The powerful lobbyists of these conglomerates have exerted pressure on the FDA to regulate or ban electronic smokes. The FDA appears to have folded under the pressure and has issued its own warnings about e-cigs. However, a recent court decision that reversed an import ban imposed by the FDA may counteract at least some of this government agency’s bias.

Misinformation and outright lies have been issued by big tobacco in an attempt to damage the market for e-cigarettes and generate fear in the public. From a distance, it is strange to hear expressions of concern for public health issued by companies that sell the most dangerous product legally available to that public.

An innovative new e-cigarette design is a two piece product with a replaceable cartridge. The mouthpiece is pre-loaded with nicotine solutions. One mouthpiece is equal to approximately one pack of tobacco cigarettes (about 400 puffs). The ability to replace a cartridge with no more effort than is needed to open a pack of cigarettes has been a hit with e-smokers. They no longer need to carry bottles of e-liquid with them wherever they go and no cleaning is required.

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 has become an expert on all facets of electronic cigarettes. Her articles about an interesing story of the FDA and electronic cigarettes and about the best electronic cigarette are very famous.

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