“E-cigs,” or electronic cigarettes are a device that allows the user to ingest nicotine into his body without ingesting additional harmful toxins such as ammonia, arsenic, butane and lead which are commonly found in traditional cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered and come in various sizes and shapes. Some resemble traditional cigarettes, while others have a pen-shape.
How Do Electronic Cigarettes Work?
There are three main components to an electronic cigarette. The battery powers the unit, the nicotine cartridge provides the drug and the atomizer converts the nicotine into vapor form. When the user takes a “drag” from the electronic cigarette, the atomizer is activated using the power of the battery. The atomizer consists of two parts; the metal wick and the filament. The nicotine from the nicotine cartridge is drawn to the wicking mechanism which is heated by the filament coil until it becomes vapor. The vapor is then ingested by the user, transporting the nicotine.
What’s in the Nicotine Cartridge?
Aside from nicotine itself, the nicotine cartridge consists of propylene glycol. Found in other items such as mouthwash and toothpaste, propylene glycol is a wetting agent that keeps the solution from evaporating or drying out inside the device. Additionally, some nicotine cartridges contain flavoring such as tobacco, menthol or cherry to give the user a more similar experience to the taste of a traditional cigarette.
Levels of Nicotine
Some electronic cigarettes provide a consistent amount of nicotine with each drag, while others allow the user to set the amount he’d like to receive with each drag. “Zero,” “Low” and “High” are examples of common settings found on the device. The “Zero” setting allows the user who still wants the feel of smoking a cigarette to do so without actually receiving any nicotine.
