Vaping/Steam
Vaping, unlike a "normal" cigarette, develops a flavored vapor, but there are no combustion mechanisms as with the traditional cigarette.
The vaper has many names e-cigarette, vaper, e-shisha, steamer, electric cigi, vape stick,etc normally it consists of a lithium ion battery, a tank and a vaporizer unit.
When these three components are given, we call it a vape starter set.
The e-liquid necessary for steaming is filled into the tank and heated by pressure or automatically. The resulting vapor is inhaled. The propylene glycol and glycerin contained in the liquid make the vapor visible in the first place.
What's better about vaporizing compared to smoking?
Pollutants found in a cigarette (tar, carbon monoxide, lead, etc.) are completely eliminated. The risk of e-vaping is officially rated by Public Health England (PHE) as at least 99% less harmful than cigarette smoking. PHE's assessment is very cautious. Many studies suggest that e-vaping is 100 to 1000 times less harmful than smoking tobacco.
How does a liquid taste when vaporized?
Since no "combustion" takes place during the vaporization process of an e-cigarette, unlike tobacco, the vapor of an e-cigarette even tastes very pleasant. Depending on the choice of the liquid, the taste experience changes fundamentally.
What do e-liquids contain?
Only high-quality and tested ingredients are used in the e-liquids.
The e-liquids which are vaporized with the help of a heating coil usually consist of the following ingredients:
- Propylene glycol (1,2-propanediol)
- Glycerin (glycerine, glycerol)
- Food flavors
- Natural flavors
- Possibly nictoin
Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) are both approved food additives (PG E1520 / VG E422), which can be found in baked goods, dried fruits, chewing gum, sweets, syrup, toothpaste, cosmetics, etc.. The well-known theater or disco fog also consists of these substances. The PG serves mainly as a flavor carrier, while the VG makes the vapor denser. Only PG, VG and nicotine in pharmaceutical quality are used in e-liquids.
In order to influence the viscosity and / or boiling temperature, small amounts (> 10%) of purified water may still be present in an e-liquid, as well as some liquids also contain small amounts of ethanol.
The sale of e-liquids containing nicotine is allowed in Switzerland. Make a normal order, then simply write us by mail the desired nicotine content and the order number.
Nicotine-containing e-liquids are offered in increments of 0 - 18 milligrams per milliliter this helps smokers to go through a gentle withdrawal.
Safety comes first.
NICOTINE SALTS: THE USA VAPE TREND:
nicsalt
NICOTINE SALT WHAT IS IT ? Nicotine, is used for e-liquids, and is a natural substance that is obtained from the tobacco plant. The nicotine salt is also obtained from this, but the process is different: it is additionally mixed with benzoic acid during extraction. This naturally forms colorless crystals, which intensively bind the nicotine to themselves. If the liquid is now heated, e.g. when vaporizing, these transporter crystals dissolve. Now before anyone gets scared because they read the word "acid". Benzoic acid is used as a preservative in numerous foods (e.g. ketchup) and is also permitted in the tobacco industry. However, it can trigger allergic reactions. The pleasant side effect of benzoic acid is that it lowers the pH of the liquid it is mixed with. And a lower pH reduces unpleasant scratchiness when vaporizing, but still delivers the right amount of nicotine. WHY IS THIS SO TRENDY? The first company to use such nicotine salts for vaporizing was "Juul". Salt Nic is clearly advertised as a product to get you off cigarettes and NOT one to start vaping with if you are a non-smoker. However, with the huge amount of smokers in the world, this strikes a chord. The use of nicotine salts means that small, not very powerful devices such as the Juul manage to provide a sufficient vapor experience to make you swear off cigarettes. And the possibility of vaporizing discreetly in a similar way to how smoking used to be pleases people, especially smokers. Moreover, it is very easy to use these pod systems, and that is also very well received. Actually, it was predictable that this new type of liquid does not stop long before all the other devices. Thus, liquids with nicotine salts were quickly brought to the market and today there are plenty of such products for sale in all VapeStores.WHAT ADVANTAGES DOES THE NICOTINE SALT HAVE?
Thanks to the lower pH value it irritates less than a regular liquid Because it brings much more nicotine concentration in each puff, you need less of it and then also reduces the daily amount of liquid at the same time
The nicotine shoots faster into the body The shelf life of the liquid is massively extended You don't need a very powerful device to do this. Attention: who likes to steam subohm with a lot of clouds, is wrong here, because this type of liquid releases in such cases much too much nicotine at once.
AND THE DISADVANTAGES?
Like any liquid that contains nicotine, the threat of addiction. Nicotine leads to it, whether in a cigarette or a vapor, we do not have to fool ourselves. Since nicotine salts cause faster reactions in the body, the risk is great that you appreciate it too much, that you can't get away from it, just like with a real cigarette. Liquids with nicotine salts are not recommended for strong devices, because with these then too much nicotine is supplied to the body at once.
Availability. Even though everyone in the US is asking for this product and it is also available at every retailer in a wide range of variants - in Europe (exception: UK), things are still quite different.
VAPESTORE CONCLUSION:
While for a long time there was no progress at all in liquids and their innovations were only based on bottle sizes, something is now happening here as well. Nic Salt liquids are a big topic in the USA, especially because little else is happening on the local market thanks to the new FDA regulations. We have tested these liquids and found them to be very good. And the success of Juul also proves that smokers are much more likely to succeed in switching to such products - and that is precisely the goal we are pursuing: To turn smokers into vaporists. From our point of view, this works well with nicotine salt liquids.
Only tested e-liquids are sold, all bottles are equipped with a childproof cap. The e-liquid must not get into children's hands. Since 28.04.2018 the sale of nicotine-containing is allowed in Sweiz.
E-cigarettes history
The concept of an electronic cigarette was patented in the USA as early as 1963. Herbert A.Gilbert, however, unfortunately did not manage to go into production with his idea of a smoke- and tobacco-free cigarette with heated, humidified and flavored air.
Then in 2003, Chinese Hon Lik invented the current version and launched it on the market. His electric cigarettes are based on the same technology that is used to create the fog in discotheques.
Since 2005/2006, his company Ruyan exports worldwide.
In the meantime, electric cigarettes are manufactured and sold worldwide, and even regular cigarette manufacturers offer an electric version.
How exactly does the evaporator principle work?
Almost all electric cigarettes available on the open market are based on the vaporizer principle and consist of a battery and a vaporizer.
Batteries and vaporizers are offered in different designs.
Unregulated batteries, such as those in the eGo series, are widely used.
With adjustable battery packs, the voltage and thus the power can be adjusted while the resistance remains the same.
Vaporizers are available either as disposable products, or for reuse.
In the so-called self-winding evaporators, the heating coil (with, or without the use of fiberglass) can be made yourself.
The liquid to be vaporized, the liquid, passes through the capillary action of a wick made of metal and/or fiberglass mesh from a tank to a small heating coil. Depending on the model, this is switched on either by pressing a button or automatically by means of a vacuum switch when drawing.
The standard models are powered by batteries with a voltage of 3.7 volts, sometimes clocked at 3.3 volts, which drive the vaporizer heads with between 1.8 and 2.5 ohms, which corresponds to a current of about 1.5 to 2 amps and a power of 5 to 7 watts.
More powerful, adjustable battery carriers increase the power up to 12 watts and theoretically beyond. The very small batteries of older models (around 300 mAh) and especially those of so-called mini e-cigarettes (usually around 100 mAh) severely limit the useful life.
Today, common "eGo" batteries developed for e-cigarettes have 650 to 1300 mAh, which corresponds to net vapor times of 20 minutes to just under an hour and is already sufficient for many consumers for a whole day, since the voltage is always activated only for the brief moment of a puff.
With more voluminous battery carriers, in which standard batteries can be inserted, the power can be regulated variably and the capacity can be increased up to 2500 mAh.
Can I quit smoking with an e-cigarette?
Maybe. However, using nicotine replacement patches and switching to e-smoking for the habit is a very good option.
Although evidence is still lacking as to whether and to what extent electronic cigarettes can provide lasting help in quitting smoking, the majority of users cite quitting or preventing relapse and reducing smoking cravings and withdrawal symptoms as their reason for using e-cigarettes.
In fact, the use of e-cigarettes appears to curb smoking cravings and withdrawal symptoms after smoking cessation.
This also applies to the consumption of liquids that do not contain nicotine.
Consumers justify the subjectively perceived relief by referring to the continued authenticity of the imitated smoking experience, the preservation of habits, the communion with like-minded people and the identification with the "steaming" scene.
What discussions are taking place?
Against the background that e-cigarettes could constitute a medicinal product following the adoption of the European Parliament's recast Tobacco Products Directive, studies have now been conducted on their efficacy for smoking cessation.
Indeed, drugs must either provide a proven benefit or be withdrawn from the market.
However, in the two studies conducted to date, only a weak smoking cessation benefit was observed. 7.3 and 8.7 percent of subjects were still abstinent after six months and one year, respectively, which was almost in the same range as the group tested with a placebo.
Serious side effects were not observed in either study.
There has been sharp criticism from various quarters that the launch of electronic cigarettes in various countries has been hampered by regulatory authorities.
Electric cigarettes are essentially harmless to health, he said, while the substances contained in tobacco smoke are responsible for the premature deaths of millions of tobacco users each year.
Some critics of the electric cigarette, on the other hand, have expressed concern that it would make smoking more socially acceptable again and that young people in particular could use it as an easy introduction to tobacco use.
Health risks
The health risks of e-cigarette use are the subject of controversy.
No substances are burned when using the e-cigarette. Thus, unlike tobacco smoke, no carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic or carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are produced.
According to a study published in October 2012, in which e-cigarette vapor was subjected to a risk analysis, it was found that no significant risks to human health exist.
Furthermore, in the cancer risk analysis performed, the researchers found that none of the samples tested exceeded the risk limits for children or adults.
In the conclusion of the study, T.R. McAuley et al. conclude the following:
"For all byproducts measured, e-cigarettes cause very small exposures compared to tobacco cigarettes. This study shows that the e-cigarette compounds analyzed here pose no discernible risk to human health."
The main component of the liquid to be vaporized is propanediol (older name: propylene glycol).
This substance is approved as food additive E 1520. It may cause allergic reactions in hypersensitive individuals after application to the skin. When ingested orally, 1,2-propanediol is classified as harmless to humans. It is contained in chewing gum, creams, toothpaste, cigarettes and other numerous medicinal products.
Inhalation of propanediol presents a different picture: In a study of volunteers exposed to a propanediol mist, concentrations of 0.31 mg/l irritated the eyes and throat. In a statement on shishas, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment pointed out that inhalation of glycerol and 1,2-propanediol can lead to changes in the cell epithelium in the larynx and irritation of the nasal mucous membranes up to and including nosebleeds in animal experiments.
As additional ingredients, manufacturers add flavorings to the liquids, which are also approved as additives for food.
Many liquids contain nicotine, but liquids without nicotine are also offered. According to a study conducted on April 22, 2012, most of the e-cigarettes analyzed effectively deliver nicotine to the consumer. The researchers conclude that the proportion of nicotine in the resulting aerosol is subject to wide variations depending on the manufacturer and model. E-cigarette consumers compensate for different nicotine strengths by selecting the hardware-liquid combination and thus arrive at a nicotine level similar to that previously achieved by smoking. Comparable to a tobacco smoker who sometimes inhales more - sometimes less deeply to reach a certain nicotine level.
A study looked at the long-term effects of pure inhaled nicotine in animal experiments. The scientists came to the conclusion:
"In summary, our study does not indicate any harmful effects of nicotine when administered in pure form by inhalation."
Zachary Cahn of the University of California at Berkeley and Michael Siegel of the Boston University School of Public Health evaluated 16 studies on e-cigarettes that looked at the ingredients in the liquid.
Two of the studies evaluated reported that traces of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA) were found in the samples of nicotine-containing liquids. The maximum total TSNA content was 8.2 nanograms/g and at a similar level to that found in a nicotine patch (8.0 nanograms/patch). According to the evaluation, the nicotine-containing liquids and nicotine patches contained 0.07 to 0.2% of the total content of TSNA in tobacco cigarettes. The traces of TSNA can be explained by the extraction of nicotine from tobacco.
Finally, the authors point out that further studies and also regulations (in the U.S.) on e-cigarettes are needed.
According to the brochure Electric Cigarettes - At a Glance, inhalation of the vaporized liquid can cause short-term side effects, such as irritation of the mouth and throat, dry cough, dizziness and nausea.
In contrast, a February 2013 scientific assessment of lung function indicates that tobacco smoke and secondhand tobacco smoke significantly disrupt normal lung function, as opposed to short-term (active) inhalation of vaporized liquid, as well as 1-hour (passive) exposure to e-cigarette vapor.
In a 2015 study, Public Health England confirmed that e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco cigarettes and recommended government funding.
How's that for passive smoking?
A study published in September 2012 showed that the effects of the passive vapor studied on indoor air, when compared to traditional tobacco smoking, were barely measurable.
Furthermore, the passive vapor from e-cigarettes does not have the toxic and carcinogenic properties as the smoke from tobacco cigarettes.
The researchers attribute the lack of combustion and sidestream smoke in the electric cigarette as reasons for the measured differences in air pollution.
In evaluating the measurements, the researchers found that although liquid containing nicotine was vaporized in a 60 m³ room, no nicotine could be detected in the air: "5 e-cigarette users consuming e-cigarettes for 5 hours in a small room without room air renewal do not produce detectable concentrations of nicotine in the air."
The researchers conclude that, based on ARPA data on urban air pollution, it can be said that it may be unhealthier to breathe in a large city than to be in the same room with a consuming e-cigarette user.
Also in October 2012, a study was published by Andreas Flouris, an expert formerly conducting research for the World Health Organization, which examined the effects of passive vapor on the human body. He concluded that the steam has no effect on the blood levels of third parties.
The author further noted that when tobacco smokers use e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes), this also had no effect on the blood values studied.
In contrast, according to the study, active and passive tobacco smoke leads to an increased number of leukocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes. A group of researchers led by J.-F. Bertholon published a study in April 2013 comparing, among other things, the exhaled aerosol from e-cigarettes with that from tobacco cigarettes and shisha. In this study, it is found that the half-life of the passive vapor of e-cigarettes in the air is 11 seconds.
In contrast, the half-life of tobacco smoke in the air is 19 to 20 minutes. Researchers deduce that the risk of secondhand vapor exposure from e-cigarettes is very low. According to an independent safety report by New Zealand tobacco control researcher Murray Laugesen, the exhaled vapor of an e-cigarette user is not harmful to third parties because it contains almost no nicotine and no combustion products.
Bill Godshall, president of the independent nonsmoking organization Smokefree Pennsylvania, referred to the study published in October 2012 by T. R. McAuley et al. when he said in an interview, "For more than 25 years, Smokefree Pennsylvania has advocated for a general ban on indoor smoking. Based on the study results, I don't see any reason why electronic cigarettes should fall under the smoking bans."
Our conclusion
Vaporizing is in no way "healthy"! The body (regardless of whether the e-cigarette contains nicotine or not) is supplied with foreign substances through inhalation, the effects of which are far from being researched.
The e-vaporizing has now established itself as the most useful helper to quit smoking. The e-cigarette is not a medical product. The smoker-like behavior of e-cigarette vaporizing makes the cessation process a little easier when the smoker wants to stop smoking.
E-smoking massively reduces the dangers associated with passive smoking. The volatile organic compounds released from e-smoking are generally lower than from cigarettes and no formaldehyde is released. There are up to 450 times fewer toxins in an e-cigarette than in a tobacco cigarette. That 1 ml of liquid contains about 15,000 times less nitrosamines than a cigarette.
