E-cigarettes in Delaware: An Overview of Concerns of Potential Health Risks & Related Factors

E-cigarettes and vaporizers (also known as electronic smoking devices or ESDs) are smokeless nicotine products that heat up a propylene glycol or a vegetable glycerin based liquid containing the addictive chemical and various flavenoids to produce a vapor. The devices mimic the effect of true smoking while delivering the nicotine that users crave without causing combustion. These products are comprised of a cartridge, a battery-powered atomizer for heat, and a liquid component (otherwise known as “e-liquid” or “e-juice”). The user presses a button on the device that heats up the atomizer enough to cause the liquid to evaporate without catching fire. The user inhales the vapor through the mouthpiece and delivers the nicotine to their lungs – as well as exhales the visible gas like traditional tobacco products. E-cigarettes are marketed to the public as an alternative to smoking traditional tobacco with the added enjoyment of a wide variety of flavors. The heating components and mechanisms made to release the vapor nor the “e-juice” liquid are regulated by the FDA despite obvious health concerns due to their generally unknown long-term health effects, recent arrival on the market, and skyrocketing popularity in the United States.