What's in an E-Cigarette? E-Cigarettes Explained
What is in a Vape?
Vapes, also known in the scientific world as e-cigarettes or “vapes”, or even “Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems” (ENDS), contain several key components that work together to produce an inhalable vapour. Inside a vape, you'll find a battery, a heating element (coil), and a reservoir holding the e-liquid or vape juice. E-liquids are typically composed of a mixture of Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG), nicotine (to curb nicotine cravings), and flavourings (1). When the device is activated, the battery powers the coil, which heats the e-liquid to create a vapour. This vapour is then inhaled by the user, delivering nicotine and flavour without the combustion of traditional cigarettes.
Vape Definition
An Electronic Nicotine Delivery System, also known as a vaporizer or vape, is an electronic device used to heat an e-liquid (often referred to as vape juice or vape liquid) into an aerosol, which is then inhaled by the user. Unlike traditional cigarettes, vapes do not burn tobacco. Instead, they use a heating element to transform the liquid (which typically contains a mixture of nicotine (the addictive chemical found in tobacco), flavourings, and other chemicals) into vapour. This process is called "vaping." Nicotine vape products come in various forms, including pen-style devices, mod devices, and pod systems, offering users an alternative to cigarettes with different nicotine levels and flavours.
What are the Components of Vape Devices?
Vape devices are composed of several key components that work together to create vapour or "vape aerosol." The main components include a battery that powers the device; an atomizer or coil, which is a heating element that turns the e-liquid into vapour; and a tank or pre-filled vape pod that holds the e-liquid. Some devices also feature a mouthpiece for inhaling the vapour and a sensor or button to activate the heating process. Advanced vape devices may include additional components like adjustable airflow controls and displays for monitoring settings. Together, these components allow users to heat the e-liquid and inhale the resulting vapour.
How Does a Vape Work Step by Step?
A vape works quite simply. First, when the user activates the device (either by pressing a button or inhaling on a sensor-activated e-cigarette), the battery sends power to the atomizer or coil, which is the heating element. Next, the coil rapidly heats up, warming the e-liquid stored in the tank or pod. As the e-liquid heats, it transforms into a vapour. This vapour is then inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece. This process mimics the sensation of smoking but without the combustion of tobacco, thus avoiding the production of harmful chemicals like tar and carbon monoxide. In more advanced devices, users can adjust settings like temperature and airflow to customise their vaping experience, such as increasing the amount of vapour produced or increasing or decreasing the density of the vapour.
What Chemicals are in Vape Juice?
Vape juice, also known as e-liquid, typically contains a combination of four main chemicals: Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG), nicotine, and flavourings. Propylene Glycol is a synthetic liquid that helps carry the flavour and provides a throat hit similar to smoking. Vegetable Glycerin is a thicker, sweeter liquid that produces dense clouds of vapour when heated. Nicotine, the addictive substance found in traditional cigarettes, can be present in various concentrations, though some e-liquids are nicotine-free. Flavourings are food-grade additives used to create a wide range of tastes, from fruits to desserts. In some cases, vape juice may also contain other chemicals, including preservatives or sweeteners, and trace amounts of potentially harmful substances like acetaldehyde or formaldehyde can form during the heating process. More powerful vapes will create more volatile compounds, such as vapes designed for sub-ohm vaping, but a 2015 study found that no formaldehyde was detected in low-voltage vapes (below 3.3V), suggesting that low-powered vapes may be safer than higher-powered devices (2).
Are There Harmful Ingredients in Vape Juice?
Yes, vape juice can contain harmful ingredients. While the main components — Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG), nicotine, and flavourings — are generally recognised as safe for food and pharmaceutical use, the heating process of vaping can lead to the formation of potentially harmful substances. For instance, small amounts of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde — both toxic chemicals — can sometimes be produced when e-liquids are heated (many of the compounds produced are orders of magnitude lower than those found in cigarette smoke) (3).
Some flavouring agents, especially those containing diacetyl, can cause lung diseases such as "popcorn lung" when inhaled, although diacetyl in vapes has not led to this particular issue that was identified in popcorn flavouring factories (hence the name "popcorn lung"). Furthermore, nicotine itself is highly addictive and can have various health effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure. While vaping is generally considered less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, it is not entirely risk-free, as inhaling these chemicals can still pose health risks.
The damage caused by vapes has mostly occurred in places such as the USA where there is a lack of regulation and guidance on vapes. A phenomenon called EVALI, representing "e-cigarette and vaping-associated lung injury," has been linked to the chemical Vitamin E Acetate, which was being used to add other chemicals to e-liquids such as "THC" the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. All of the EVALI cases assessed by the CDC had Vitamin E Acetate in the lung fluid samples.
In the UK, vape oils are regulated by the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) (4) as well as the EU's Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) which sets high standards for safety and the exclusion of known inhalation-harmful chemicals (such as diacetyl). Hence, avoid adding chemicals to tightly regulated vape oils in the UK to avoid adverse effects.
How many cigarettes are in a vape?
It can be challenging to compare a vape to a cigarette in terms of equivalent numbers, as each delivers nicotine differently, and the nicotine strength in vape juice varies. However, a rough estimate often used is that a disposable vape or e-cigarette refill is roughly equivalent to about 20 to 40 cigarettes, depending on the e-liquid's nicotine content and the user's vaping habits. This estimation is based on comparing the total nicotine delivered by a vape to that found in a pack of cigarettes. For example, a typical vape refill, pre-filled pod, or disposable vape might contain around 20 to 40 mg of nicotine, which could be comparable to the amount of nicotine absorbed from a pack of cigarettes, but individual usage patterns and nicotine absorption can vary significantly.
Will Vaping Help Me Quit Smoking?
Vaping has been promoted as a potential aid for smoking cessation, and some studies suggest it works for many people - in fact, the largest evidence review to date by the Cochrane Library found "high-certainty" evidence that e-cigarettes are more effective for quitting smoking than traditional Nicotine Replacement Therapy products (like nicotine patches and gum)! (5) The idea behind using vapes as a stop smoking tool is that they deliver nicotine and provide a similar sensory experience to smoking without the potential risks associated with combustible cigarettes. By choosing e-liquids with gradually decreasing nicotine levels, vapes allow users to taper their nicotine intake over time. However, the effectiveness of vaping for smoking cessation varies greatly among individuals. While some smokers successfully use vapes to address nicotine cravings while quitting, others may continue to use both cigarettes and vapes or develop a dependency on vaping. It is worth consulting a healthcare provider for personalised advice and to explore all available cessation options.
Types of Vapes
There is a wide variety of vape products available, each catering to different preferences and experience levels. Cigalikes are designed to resemble traditional cigarettes and come with pre-filled cartridges, making them a simple and beginner-friendly option. Vape pens are slightly larger, feature refillable tanks or cartridges, and offer more flexibility and longer battery life. Pod systems are compact and user-friendly, using pre-filled or refillable pods for easy maintenance and portability. Box mods or vape mods are more advanced devices with customizable settings, including adjustable wattage and temperature control, allowing for a more personalised vaping experience. Lastly, drippers or RDAs (rebuildable dripping atomizers) are favoured by experienced vapers who enjoy manually dripping e-liquid onto the coils for intense flavour and vapour production. Each type of vape offers unique features to suit various needs and preferences.
Best Cigalike UK
Among the best cigalikes in the UK, one highly regarded option is the SMOKO E-cigarette, known for its ease of use and satisfying nicotine delivery. The SMOKO E-cigarette boasts a sleek, cigarette-like design and features pre-filled, disposable refills available in various flavours andnicotine strengths. Another top choice is the 10 Motives cigalike, which similarly offers a cigarette-like experience with its compact size and user-friendly pre-filled refills. Both products are praised for their simplicity, reliability, and effectiveness in delivering a smooth vaping experience, however, 10Motives has discontinued their cigalikes, so whilst their e-cigarette refills still appear to be available, the 10Motives cigalike starter kits are no longer available. If you're a smoker looking to quit smoking with a cigalike e-cigarette, then the SMOKO E-cigarette starter kit is your best bet!
How Many Chemicals are in Disposable Vapes?
Disposable vapes typically contain several chemicals, primarily propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), nicotine, flavourings, and potentially artificial sweeteners. PG and VG are the primary base liquids that carry the nicotine and flavourings. Nicotine is available in various concentrations, providing the addictive component similar to traditional cigarettes, but disposable vapes usually contain nicotine salts rather than freebase nicotine. Nicotine salts are a form of nicotine found in the tobacco plant in salt form, where freebase nicotine is the purest form of nicotine. Nicotine in a salt form liquid provides a much smoother inhalation when compared to freebase nicotine liquids, which are known to produce throat irritation on inhalation. Many smokers who switched to this type of liquid found that the sensation of throat irritation was closer to smoking. To enhance the taste of the vapour, various flavourings are added, ranging from fruit to dessert flavours, but it is worth noting that nicotine salt e-liquids contain 3 to 4 times the amount of flavouring found in freebase nicotine e-liquids, which could mean 3 to 4 times the amount of volatile compounds formed during the vaping process (6). Additionally, disposable vapes may contain small amounts of other chemicals, such as preservatives or sweeteners, as well as potentially harmful chemical byproducts formed during the heating process. While the specific quantities of chemicals may vary depending on the brand and formulation, the core components remain consistent for most disposable vapes.
What is in a Vape? Vapes Explained - Conclusion
The core of the process is simple: heating a nicotine-containing liquid into an inhalable aerosol, but variations in power output, type of heating element, and airflow are just a few of the elements that affect the overall vaping experience - everything from creating small, inconspicuous amounts of vapour to the large clouds created by ‘cloud chasing’ vapes. These variations in vaping devices have led to a huge variety of vapes available on the market. Eliminating combustion is an important factor in why vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking, according to Public Health England - even though according to data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), 40% of smokers in the UK wrongly believe that vaping is just as or even more harmful than smoking!