electronic cigarettes

Question 1

what are e-cigs

Answer 1

• a family of non-tobacco, non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems
• invented in 2003

Question 2

what was the 1st generation of e-cigs

Answer 2

• cigalikes

- rechargeable or disposable

Question 3

what is the 2n generation of e-cigs

Answer 3

• tank
• refillable
• looked like a long pen

Question 4

what is the 3rd generation of e-cigs

Answer 4

• big tank

- customisable = make more personal

Question 5

what makes up an e-cig

Answer 5

• mouthpiece, battery, cartridge, atomiser or cartomiser

Question 6

how does an e-cig work

Answer 6

• current passes through a resistance coil that is in contact with a fluid
• heat generates an aerosol, the vapour

Question 7

what are the components of an e-cig

Answer 7

• LED light
• battery
• microprocessor to control heat and light
• sensor to detect when smoker takes a drag
• heater to vaporise nicotine
• cartridge that holds nicotine dissolved in propylene glycol

Question 8

what are the different formats of e-cigs

Answer 8

• e-pipe
• e-cigar
• large/medium tank devices
• re-chargeable e-cigs
• disposable e-cigs
• cartridge pod systems = Juul systems

Question 9

what’s in the liquid

Answer 9

• propylene glycol = thinner, throat hit
• vegetable glycerine = thicker, smooth
• natural/artificial flavourings
• nicotine levels

Question 10

what can the level of PG and VG be

Answer 10

• can change
• culture = 75% VG, 25% PG
• vaporised coconut = 65% PG, 35% VG

Question 11

what level of nicotine will a heavy smoker have

Answer 11

• 12-18mg/ml

Question 12

what level of nicotine will a light smoker have

Answer 12

• no more than 6mg/ml

Question 13

what is vaping

Answer 13

• the act of inhaling and exhaling the water vapour produced by an electronic device

Question 14

what is nicotine

Answer 14

• the addictive element in both cigarettes and e-cigs

- not harmful to health

Question 15

what is the maximum liquid nicotine level

Answer 15

• 20mg/ml

- many are below this

Question 16

who uses e-cigs

Answer 16

• ex smokers the most = 58%
• smokers = 38%
• non-smokers = 2.9%

Question 17

what are the main reasons for people using e-cigs

Answer 17

• advised to
• cut down amount smoked
• enjoyment
• for places where they can’t smoke
• suggested by a friend
• help quit
• save money

Question 18

where can you get e-cigs

Answer 18

• online suppliers
• lots of shops
• liquids now legally only sold in smaller sizes (10ml)
• banned for under 18s

Question 19

why do people use e-cigs

Answer 19

• aid to quitting
• less toxic
• cheaper alternative
• harm reduction/reduce smoking
• hand to mouth habit maintained
• psychosocial aspect of addiction maintained
• recreation and socialisation
• vaping community

Question 20

what are the public health benefit of e-cgis

Answer 20

• public health costs of smoking are vast

- they are also not as lethal as cigarettes

Question 21

what are the public health risks of e-cigs

Answer 21

• renormalisation of smoking
• gateway or pathway to smoking
• involvement of big tobacco firms

Question 22

what is the safety of devices

Answer 22

• number of examples of exploding batteries

- people burnt from device batteries

Question 23

what is the safety of the liquid

Answer 23

• much safer than cigarettes
• many constituents have been used in food and drinks before
• but don’t know the long term effects of it as they are so new

Question 24

what are the oral side effects of e-cigs

Answer 24

• largely unknown
• mouth and throat dryness
• lichenoid reaction more common
• bacterial infections

Question 25

what should you tell co-users

Answer 25

- encouragement that they are reducing their exposure to tobacco by using e-cigs

Question 26

what should you tell e-cig users (ex-smokers)

Answer 26

- strong encouragement that they have quit tobacco