What is it?
E-cigarettes, shisha pens, e-shisha, are they all the same?
The e-cigarette is not a tobacco product, although it is designed to feel and sometimes look like conventional cigarettes. It is a battery-powered electronic device designed to provide inhaled doses of nicotine by way of a vaporized solution. The nicotine solution is contained in a cartridge or atomizer which needs to be regularly replaced or refilled, for the e-cigarette to work. However, some e-cigarettes liquids only contain flavourings and no nicotine.
Some devices don’t resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes and are sometimes marketed as‘Inshare iGyro’ or ‘Inshare Coolips’. They are usually filled with sweet smelling chemicals with fruit, cola, chocolate and other flavours, to mimic the experience of smoking shisha in a waterpipe (or ‘hookah’).
Is it safe?
And what about breathing in the vapour from others’ e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes can deliver nicotine without the harmful toxins of tobacco smoke, so it’s unlikely that they are as harmful as tobacco smoking. However, evidence on the safety of e-cigarettes is limited. So far, research suggests that e-cigarettes can negatively affect lung function, and may be harmful to individuals who are at risk of lung cancer (e.g. tobacco smokers). There is no evidence to show if using e-cigarettes in the long-term is safe or not.
The e-cigarette does not produce smoke but some vapour is released into the air when the user exhales. Propylene glycol (a common food additive) is typically used to produce the nicotine-carrying vapour. In some products vegetable glycerine is used instead (often found in toothpaste, mouthwashes etc.). There is no evidence to show whether it is harmful or not to inhale these chemicals. Other potentially harmful chemicals have been found in the vapour of some products. It is unlikely that breathing in ‘second-hand vapour’ poses a health risk. For more information see the ASH briefing.
Further safety concerns about e-cigarettes have been highlighted in the news recently. There have been several incidents across the UK of e-cigarettes exploding while charging, and sometimes causing small fires and personal injury.
Advice
Can I quit tobacco smoking using an e-cigarette?
Some smokers use e-cigarettes in order to quit conventional cigarettes. There is some evidence that using e-cigarettes has helped some smokers to quit tobacco or reduce their tobacco use and relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Some smokers use e-cigarettes in order to quit conventional cigarettes. There is some evidence that using e-cigarettes has helped some smokers to quit tobacco or reduce their tobacco use and relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
The Wandsworth Stop Smoking Service does not recommend using e-cigarettes to stop smoking because there is not enough evidence about their long-term safety and their effectiveness in helping smokers to quit.
If you are using e-cigarettes in order to quit tobacco, we recommend that you visit a stop smoking advisor for additional support. The advisor will explain all the options of quitting smoking using approved treatments and a structured programme of advice and support. The stop smoking service offers a free 6-12 weeks programme to quit smoking; NRT and other stop smoking medications are available. You are four times more likely to quit with the help of a trained stop smoking advisor.
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