Are Electronic Cigarettes really Safe?
Developed in China in 2004, the electronic cigarette is sold there and in numerous other countries, including Brazil, Canada, Finland, Israel, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Electronic cigarettes share some aspects of there traditional counterparts, such as appearance, feel and taste of a normal cigarette. But the differences are substantial in that the "safe cigarette" gets it’s name because it produces none of the negative aspects of traditional smoking like tar, ignition (heat), up to 4000 types of chemical additives that often lead to respiratory and cardiac system diseases, nor the carcinogenic effects of traditional cigarettes.
Although electronic cigarettes also referred to as the "safe cigarette, the e-cigarette, and the smokeless cigarette but WHO knows of no evidentiary basis for the marketers’ claim that the electronic cigarette helps people quit smoking. Indeed, as far as WHO is aware, no rigorous, peer-reviewed studies have been conducted showing that the electronic cigarette is a safe and effective nicotine replacement therapy.
Adding to the safety benefits, the electronic cigarette to some extent has also been proven as a way for smokers to quit the habit, as the level of nicotine can be carefully monitored, thus giving the smoker the option of gradually lowering the level until he/she can quit without fear of withdrawals. Most electronic cigarette refill cartridges are available in full, medium, light and none, and while electronic cigarettes are not yet approved as smoking cessation devices, the potential for the devices to be used as such is somewhat obvious.
It’s recommended that people who have demonstrated a sensitivity or allergy to nicotine, pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have unstable heart conditions should discuss the use of an electronic cigarette device with a doctor before using one. Additionally, electronic cigarettes may not be used by anyone under the legal smoking age in your state.
WHO does not discount the possibility that the electronic cigarette could be useful as a smoking cessation aid. The only way to know is to test.




