What is an e-cigarette?

E-cigarettes have become a popular alternative to traditional cigarette smoking.

An electronic cigarette uses vapour or an aerosol to imitate conventional tobacco smoke. The biggest difference between an e-cigarette and a traditional cigarette is that there is no combustion. It contains a battery that produces heat, which warms up a flavoured liquid (occasionally containing nicotine) and turns it into vapour after it passes through a piece of cotton-like material.

Battery:

E-cigarettes are typically powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. There are many different types of e-cigarette chargers, including USB cables or car chargers. The battery can be manual or automatic. Automatic batteries activate the e-cigarette as soon as the user takes a drag, whereas manual batteries activate the e-cigarette at the push of a button. While battery life depends largely on the user, e-cigarette batteries can last between 4 to 12 hours before needing to be recharged. Disposable e-cigarette batteries cannot be recharged. These generally have a much shorter battery life, usually ranging from two to four hours.

Atomizer:

The atomizer creates the vapour. It has two main compartments the base and the head. Inside the head is a heating coil. When the battery sparks the atomizer, the coil heats up. Attached to the coil is a wick, usually made of cotton. The wick draws in the liquid from the cartridge, bringing it in contact with the hot coil. The heat from the coil causes the liquid to vaporize. The base of the atomizer is lined with inlet holes. These holes allow air to flow through the e-cigarette when the user takes a drag. As the air flows through the cartridge to the mouthpiece, the user inhales e-cigarette vapour. The inlet holes at the base of the atomizer can be adjusted to allow for more or less airflow, which controls the amount of vapour being inhaled.

Cartridge:

The cartridge, also known as the tank, contains the e-cigarette liquid. There are many different types of liquid, also known as e-juice; they can be flavoured or can contain nicotine. Most e-cigarettes are refillable, meaning that the cartridge can be refilled when the amount of liquid is getting low. Most cartridges last between 300 to 500 puffs before needing a refill, although this depends mainly on the user. The cartridge is often clear so that the user can see how much liquid is left in the tank. On some e-cigarettes, the atomizer and the cartridge have been combined so that the heating coil is in the liquid tank. These are called cartomizers.

Mouthpiece:

The mouthpiece, also called the tip, is the end of the e-cigarette. This is where the user takes a drag and inhales the vapour. There are many different types of mouthpieces. Some are made to look and feel like actual cigarette tips, while others keep the metallic look of the e-cigarette. There is also a large market for custom mouthpieces, which can have different shapes, designs and colours.

Vapour:

When an e-cigarette is used, the smoker inhales the vapourized e-liquid. One of the major selling points of e-cigarettes is that this vapour does not contain many of the toxic chemicals that are in tobacco smoke. The vapour contains no tar or carbon monoxide – both of which have negative health effects and both of which are present in tobacco smoke. In contrast, e-cigarette vapour is mainly propylene glycol and glycerin, with some flavouring and nicotine.

Generations

The first iteration of the e-cigarette was made to look as much like an actual cigarette as possible. Often called “cigalikes,” these use a disposable cartridge with a rechargeable battery. The cartridge of a cigalike comes pre-loaded with e-liquid and also includes the atomizer and the mouthpiece. Once the cartridge has been used up, it has to be thrown out and replaced. The battery, which is automatic, can be recharged and reused. Disposable cigalikes, which do not allow for the battery to be recharged, are also available.

The second generation of the e-cigarette is similar to the cigalike, but offers more customization by the user. Instead of having two pieces, like the cigalike, this version – known as a “vape pen” – has four: the battery, the cartridge, the atomizer and the mouthpiece. This allows the vaper to mix and match with different types of mouthpiece, e-liquid and battery. While keeping the slender look of a cigarette, vape pens are slightly bigger and longer-lasting than a cigalike. Another advantage is that when the e-liquid has been used up, the vaper can simply refill the cartridge rather than having to buy a new one.

The latest version of e-cigarette is known as the “mod”. Similar to a vape pen, mods are four-piece e-cigarettes with a refillable cartridge. The difference between vape pens and mods is that mods have a much longer battery life and a bigger cartridge. This means less recharging and refilling. Of all e-cigarette types, the mod allows for the highest amount of customization, allowing the vaper to change the voltage output of the battery, which affects the temperature and amount of vapour inhaled.

A quick history

The original inventor of the e-cigarette is Herbert A. Gilbert. In 1963, Gilbert filed a patent for a “Smokeless non-tobacco cigarette.” Gilbert’s design very closely resembles the e-cigarettes of today. Unfortunately, he was unable to sell his idea of a healthier method of smoking.

Gilbert claimed pharmaceutical companies at the time preferred to wait for his patent to expire than buy the idea from him. Tobacco companies, at the height of their power in the early 1960s, refused to invest in a healthier alternative to cigarettes as it would mean admitting there were health risks associated with smoking. As with all marketing, timing is everything and Gilbert was simply ahead of his time. The idea of the electronic cigarette was revisited in the 1980s, but complaints from users who did not like the taste and public health officials who pushed to regulate e-cigarettes as a drug led to the idea being shelved once more.

In 2003, Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik filed a patent for an electronic cigarette. Hon Lik’s invention is often cited as the first modern e-cig. He presented and successfully sold his invention to Ruyan, the company he worked for. Ruyan, based in China, is now known as Dragonite International Limited.

Since then many different companies around the world have developed their own versions of the e-cigarette. Chinese pharma company Dragonite first introduced the product to its market in China, in 2004. The e-cigarette was introduced to the United States in 2006.

There are now three different types of e-cigarettes available. All three have the same functionality, but they differ in terms of appearance and use.

The original patent by creator Gilbert A. Herbert (Photo courtesy of © Google Images Patent US3200819 Aug. 17, 1965.)

The original patent by creator Gilbert A. Herbert. [Photo courtesy of Gilbert A. Herbert]

Research needed

Waterloo University PhD student Christine Czoli is a lead researcher in the study of electronic cigarettes in Canada. In 2015, she co-authored a report for the Waterloo-based Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, a research center focused on methods to reduce preventable cancer rates in Canada. The report analyzed the 2013 Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey. It was the first look at e-cigarette data in the Canadian population.

Czoli admitted that there has not been enough research done on e-cigarettes to date and because of this adequate regulation is lacking.

Health Canada did not agree to multiple interview requests on what was being done on e-cigarette research.

Health Canada spokesperson André Gagnon wrote in an emailed response, “Health Canada is committed to moving forward with an evidence-based approach to vaping products that is tailored to the Canadian context. The Department is actively reviewing health and safety data and scientific studies.”

Gagnon would not comment on whether the department is funding any scientific studies to better understand e-cigarettes. In a phone conversation he said that the landscape for e-cigarettes was still very new and they were still looking into how to treat devices.

Initially, Health Canada would not respond to what studies they were conducting.

On March 24, 2016, Health Canada responded to the question.

Health Canada spokesperson Sara Lauer said, “Health Canada recently posted a request for Proposals to collect Canadian sales data for nicotine-containing vaping devices.”

“The contract seeks to provide a better understanding of the vaping market, including the amount of nicotine-containing vaping products, accessories and liquid currently being sold in Canada,” wrote Lauer, in an emailed response.

By recently, Lauer meant March 23, 2016.

“The data collected will support future e-cigarette research, policy and program development,” wrote Lauer in an email.

According to Lauer, the 2014-2015 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, CTSAD, results should be released in summer 2016. The 2015 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, CTADS, results should be disclosed in Fall 2016.

She said Health Canada is also conducting studies into the chemical composition of e-liquids and emissions from e-cigarettes; results should be available “later in 2016.”

A study into retailer behaviour relating to e-cigarettes sales was recently completed, and the results will be posted on the Health Canada website in Spring 2016.

No further details could be given on the studies.

Christine Czoli is completing her PhD at the University of Waterloo. She was the lead researcher on the first study that analyzed e-cigarettes use in Canada.[Photo by © Laurene Jardin]