De ‘mist’ ifying the electronic cig craze

THEY’RE said to emit no harmful toxins, provide less nicotine than a conventional cigarette and are used by some as an aid to quit smoking.

Electronic cigarettes, known as e-cigarettes, have been hailed as the perfect alternative to smoking for those looking for a nicotine hit without the associated health risks.

Though shaped like a standard tobacco cigarette, the e-cigarettes differ in that they use liquid nicotine instead of burning tobacco leaves.

A cartridge containing this liquid is heated by coils located inside the device, much like a kettle heating water also produces steam.

The vapour produced by this process is then inhaled by the user. The devices are powered by rechargeable batteries.

E-cigarette distributor Johan Kruger, owner of Pretoria-based Shipwreck Vapes, said the e-cigarette had originally been launched to replace the traditional cigarette but had since become a hobby in its own right as the quality of the devices became better with technological improvements. “It became like hubbly bubblies. People want to have each of the different variants,” Kruger said.

A basic start-up device goes for around R600 but a really grand design, including a built-in battery and LCD screen offering user information – including the duration of the previous vape (inhalation) – can go for up to R3 000.

The “juice” (liquid before it is vapourised) starts out at R50 for a 10ml bottle. Imported brands can be at least double that.

Some have nicotine and others are nicotinefree. They also come in different flavours.

Explaining a few different smoking methods, Kruger called one “mouth to lung” and another “direct lung inhale”.

“The mouth to lung, or MTL as we call it, is where the user inhales the vapour and keeps it in their mouth first before taking into their lungs, much like they would a traditional cigarette.

“This method is commonly found in the old ecigarette version. This way they can savour the flavour of the juice.

“Direct lung inhale, a system used on the newer devices, creates more vapour per puff. Users inhale the vapour straight into their lungs without keeping it in their mouths for long. This is where you get the people who do cloud chasing or who blow huge clouds. There is less nicotine inhaled with this method,” he said.

Kruger said the price of the juice had dropped in recent months thanks to competition in the market. “The other day I saw one [30ml] bottle going for R130 and the quality of the juice and the flavour has remained the same.

“The juice comes in hundreds of different flavours. I'm currently vaping a fruit salad flavour and it’s very nice indeed.”

Holly Nivison, general manager of Johannesburg-based Vape Shop, said with e-cigarettes there is no burning involved, which means no dangerous toxins are released into the air.

Nivison said research has shown that the amounts of nicotine found in vapour juice could be the same amount found in certain vegetables.

She said the major aim of the e-cigarette was to offer people a safer and healthier alternative to smoking. “These e-cigarettes have helped many people quit smoking. Yes, they have nicotine but it’s in much lower doses than a normal cigarette. I have had so many customers coming here trying to quit smoking and these have done wonders for them.

“I recently had a 60-year-old customer who needed to quit after smoking for about 40 years. Using the e-cigarette, she said she can now perform tasks without wheezing and she can actually pick up a packet of cigarettes and touch them without feeling the urge to smoke them.”

But just how safe are they to the user? that they are a safe alternative.

“However, these products have not been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other similar scientific body for evaluation or approval, so the public don’t know the levels of nicotine or the amounts or types of chemicals they contain,” Balona said.

“Furthermore, when the FDA analysed samples of two popular brands of electronic cigarettes, they found traces of toxic chemicals, including known carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals). This prompted the FDA to issue a warning about the potential health risks associated with electronic cigarettes.

“Recommendations by the American Heart Association (AHA) cardiologists’ group urged that e-cigarettes be subject to the same laws that apply to tobacco products, and they recommended that governments ban the marketing and sale of e-cigarettes to young people.”

According to Nivison, there is currently no legislation regulating the age restriction on ecigarettes, although they refuse to sell them to under-18s.

Kruger said no matter what age, vaping was safe, using both the nicotine-infused or nicotinefree juice. He added that, despite having never smoked a cigarette in his life, he had been smoking e-cigarettes since 2009 with no health repercussions. “Since I’ve been using it I’ve never had any health issues ever.

“I've been to doctors and for full physicals numerous times and I have no issues with my lungs at all. And remember that I'm a non-smoker but I'm in perfect health,” he said.

Fellow vaper Luke Charter said his journey with vaping began six months ago when he bought a device for his wife.

After getting home, Charter said he decided to try it out. He immediately threw his cigarettes out and bought a device for himself.

“It was easy for me because I used to smoke menthol cigarettes so I bought menthol-flavoured juice and it tasted the same,” Charter said.

“I guess people who smoke normal tobacco cigarettes may struggle a bit with the switch but there are tobacco flavoured juices although the taste is not the same.”

Although – arguably – a healthier option to cigarettes, Charter said it was not cheaper.

Apart from the device and the bottles of juice – about 10ml a week – the coils have to be replaced every few weeks, at around R50 or more per set.

Despite the lack of legislation dictating where users can and cannot vape, Charter said he seldom used his device in public areas.

“I had a security guard look at me funny in Woolworths the other day and I’ve had other people ask me if I know that what I’m doing is dangerous. But other than that there has been no real negativity from people – more like a few curious glances.” —

The public don’t know the levels of nicotine or the amounts or types of chemicals they contain