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What is an Electronic Cigarette?

An Electronic Cigarette is an electronic device, which imitates using a regular cigarette.

It is a new way for users of regular tobacco based cigarettes to regulate and control their nicotine intake while in public places in a healthier manner.

How does it work?

An Electronic Cigarette works in the following way: the user inhales on the electronic cigarette, this causes an air flow sensor to signal to the inbuilt microprocessor, that in turn activates the atomizer. The atomizer converts the liquid nicotine in the cartridge into a vapour (by atomization), which is digested by the user. Simultaneously, a water based vapour is released from the glycol by the atomizer to resemble ‘smoke'. This ‘smoke' has no risk to its user or persons around them.

How and electronic cigarette operates.

What is in the Cartridge?

The base liquid of the cartridge is a mixture of liquid-nicotine, tobacco extract flavourings and Propylene glycol. The liquid contains no harmful chemicals, unlike a typical tobacco based cigarette.

What powers the device?

A rechargeable lithium battery powers the device.

In Summary

An Electronic Cigarette not only helps the user to regulate their nicotine intake, and creates a vapour resembling smoke, but it also looks like a cigarette; thereby helping the user with the psychological and physical habit of holding a regular cigarette.

The Electronic Cigarette has been awarded EC and RoHS certification as a safe electronic device.

Electronic Cigarette Cartridges Toxicology Report

All our cartridges are sourced form The Electronic Cigarette Company (UK) Ltd. The Electronic Cigarette Company (UK) Ltd has had their nicotine cartridges tested by a UK Independent Accredited Laboratory to ensure that they do not conatin any hazard substances apart from nicotine.

Nicotine is addictive, and is classed as a poison, and as regular cigarette smokers, you will be aware of this. In the conclusion of the report the Laboratory have said that on balance the nicotine cartridges appear to be a much safer alternative to the traditional cigarette, as they do not contain any of the known harmful chemicals that are in cigarettes.

Propylene glycol

“Also known as propane-1,2-diol, it is an organic compound, usually a faint sweet, odourless, and colourless clear viscous(thick & sticky) liquid that is hygroscopic( absorbs water from the air) and miscible(capable of mixing with water) with water, acetone and chloroform.” Wikepedia 09/08

Applications

Propylene glycol is used in the following ways:

As a moisturiser in medicine, cosmetics, food, toothpaste, mouth wash and tobacco products.
In electronic cigarettes to make the produced vapour better resemble cigarette smoke.
As a medical and sexual lubricant.
As an emulsifier (prevents separation) in Angostura and orange bitters.
As a solvent for food colourings and flavourings.
As a humectant (to keep product moist) food additive labelled E1520.
As a carrier in fragrance oils.
As a less toxic anti freeze (sounds scary, but it will be because of it's nature as an emulsifier).
As a solvent used in photographic chemicals.
In hand sanitizer lotions.

Please note this is not a full list, but is of the most common applications.

Safety

Propylene Glycol poisoning has apparently only occurred through inappropriate intravenous (straight into the vein) use, or accidental ingestion by children. However, you will need to ingest a lot of propylene glycol to cause harm. “Serious toxicity will occur only at extremely high intakes over a relatively short period of time” www.dow.com 09/08.

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated propylene glycol to be “generally recognised as safe.” Wikepedia 09/08.

Propylene glycol shows no evidence of being a carcinogen or being genotoxic.
Propylene glycol can be irritating to some individuals.

The electronic cigarette is a new product, and as yet does not have a data base of clinical trials and evidence as to the long term effects on the smoker.

Nicotine

Nicotine is not a proven carcinogenic, but it is addictive, and in the right quantity is a known poison.

With this in mind, the Royal College of Physicians in London, have stated that the risks associated with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRP) to aid smoking cessation are significantly outweighed by the risks of smoking. The paper further states “While nicotine itself cannot be completely exonerated from causing adverse health effects, it is clear that its direct contribution to tobacco related harm is relatively minor. It is not nicotine itself, but the delivery system – cigarettes are an exceedingly ‘dirty' delivery system.” http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/books/nicotine8-regulatory.htm Sept 2008.

Nicotine is a naturally occurring substance derived from the tobacco plant “ Nicotania tobaccum” and it is an alkaloid. An alkaloid is an organic compound containing one nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring. Some other Alkaloids are: quinine, cocaine and morphine, they have medicinal/poisonous properties. thefreedictionary.com Sept 2008.

Nicotine, when obtained from a tobacco cigarette is distilled in the burning tobacco, and small droplets of tar containing nicotine are inhaled into the lungs. Due to the acidity of cigarette smoke, the nicotine is absorbed in to the lungs, unlike with pipes and cigars, that are less acidic, and the absorption of nicotine starts in the mouth. With cigarettes, the nicotine enters the blood stream and reaches the brain in about 10 seconds.

Tolerance to the toxic effects of nicotine such as nausea rapidly develops and persists. Some of these toxic effects are:

Headaches, dizziness, insomnia, abnormal dreams, nervousness.
Gastric upset, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
Myalgia.(Palmer 1992)

Nicotine is metabolised mainly in the liver, but also to a lesser degree in the lungs and brain.

Nicotine is known to raise blood pressure and increase the heart rate, at the same time reducing the coronary blood flow, just when it is needed most; (the heart is pumping faster – needing more oxygen, yet at the same time less blood and oxygen are getting through). Nicotine differentially affects blood flow to different organs – vasoconstriction (less flow) to the skin, and vasodilatation (more blood flow) to muscles. (Benowitz 1982). Nicotine also increases the metabolism, and generally smokers weigh 4kg less than non smokers. (Perkins 1992).

Two clinical trials of nicotine medication in patients with coronary artery disease, used transdermal NRT to aid smoking cessation – they have found no evidence that nicotine is injurious. (Joseph 1994). What was more interesting is that many of the participants continued to smoke, so they had nicotine from both the patches and the cigarettes!

Nicotine is classed as addictive because it fulfils the following criteria:

Elicits effects within the brain which are pleasant and rewarding, and which re-enforces self administration.
Following a period of chronic exposure, withdrawal of the drug may elicit an abstinence syndrome, which the addict may seek to avoid, by further use of the drug.

References;
Benowitz NL, Jacob P 111, Jones RT, Rosenburg J. Interindividual variability in the metabolism and cardiovascular effects of nicotine in man. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1982: 221:368-72.
Joseph AM, Norman SM, Ferry LH, Prochazka AV, et al. The safety of transdermal nicotine as an aid to smoking cessation in patients with cardiac disease.
Palmer KJ, Buckley MM, Faulds D. Transdermal nicotine. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic efficacy as an aid to smoking cessation.
Perkins KA. Metabolic effects of cigarette smoking. J Appl Physiol 1992. 72:401-9

Clinical trials have taken place in New Zealand using the electronic cigarette as an aid to smoking cessation, but to date the results have not been published.

We are unaware at present of any clinical trials in the UK with the electronic cigarette.

An Electronic Cigarette, The Law and The User

The smoking ban was introduced in Ireland March 2004, which banned the use of tobacco based cigarettes in public places and the work place.

The Act was introduced in response to where tobacco based cigarettes kills over 7000 people each year in Ireland, as lit tobacco produces tar, carcinogens, carbon monoxide and up to 400 other toxic substances.

The terms of the Smoking ban state that, the definition of smoking is stated as : smoking refers to smoking tobacco or anything which contains tobacco, or smoking any other substance, and smoking includes being in possession of lit tobacco or of anything lit which contains tobacco, or being in possession of any other lit substance in a form in which it could be smoked.

The user of a electronic cigarette device is excluded from this Act as the device contains no tobacco; it is not ignited, and produces no smoke from burning substances.

The electronic cigarette can be used in any location and within any premises that introduced a ban on tobacco based cigarettes with the introduction into Law of the Smoking Ban March 2004.

Please read the following

Please take the time to read carefully the following information, we must provide the following labels for your information. Nicotine, in its pure form, taken in high enough doses can kill. It is classed as a poison, hence the need for the toxic label.

Please also treat this product with care and ensure you:

Keep out of reach of children.
In case of accident, or if you feel unwell seek medical advice immediately, print out this page and take it with you to your doctor.
If swallowed – seek medical advice immediately.

Advice

VERY TOXIC BY INHALATION, IN CONTACT WITH THE SKIN AND IF SWALLOWED.
HARMFUL: DANGER OF SERIOUS DAMAGE TO HEALTH BY PROLONGED EXPOSURE IF SWALLOWED.
IRRITATING TO EYES AND SKIN.
MAY CAUSE SENSITISATION BY SKIN CONTACT.
MAY CAUSE HARM TO THE UNBORN CHILD.
VAPOURS MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS OR DIZZINESS.
VERY TOXIC TO AQUATIC ORGANISMS, MAY CAUSE LONG-TERM ADVERSE EFFECTS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT.
AFTER CONTACT WITH SKIN, WASH IMMEDIATELY WITH PLENTY OF WATER.
IN CASE OF CONTACT WITH EYES, RINSE IMMEDIATELY WITH PLENTY OF WATER AND SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE.
IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR IF YOU FEEL UNWELL, SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE (SHOW THE LABEL WHERE POSSIBLE).
THIS MATERIAL AND ITS CONTAINER MUST BE DISPOSED OF IN A SAFE WAY.
USE APPROPRIATE CONTAINMENT TO AVOID ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION.

To avoid risks to man and the environment, comply with the instructions for use.

Keep your Electronic Cigarette locked away.
Keep out of reach of children.
If swallowed, seek medical advice immediately and show this printed page or leaflet or label.