Archive for May, 2009

The addiction topic aside,  the electric cigarette (also e-cigarette or electronic cigarette) doesn’t contain tar and other harmful substances produced when smoking regular cigarettes. Though some electric cigarette cartridges come without nicotine, most users smoke nicotine liquid.  Besides nicotine the electric cigarette liquid contains mostly propylene glycol; it also contains other substances like glycerol. So, the big question is:

How much safer is the mixture of nicotine and propylene glycol (e-liquid) when smoked with the electric cigarette?

Answering this question is like saying how much healthier is the electric cigarette, compared to the conventional—since common sense already tells us that no tar equals no health problems related to tar. Here are some other things to consider:

Is Nicotine like Caffeine When Separated from the Conventional Cigarette?

Until the invention of the electric cigarette, everyone knew that nicotine is harmful because it leads to smoking conventional cigarettes. What about nicotine itself? Is it like caffeine—good in small doses but harmful in large? Is nicotine by itself, a harmful substance? If pure nicotine is safe in small doses, what is the safe dose?

Are Propylene Glycol and Other Ingredients of E-liquid Safe?

Propylene glycol, a common food additive, is generally recognized as safe. But because smoking an electric cigarette is as addictive as smoking a conventional cigarette, how safe is propylene glycol when used daily? The same applies to other ingredients of e-liquid like glycerol, also a food additive.

Is Nicotine and Propylene Glycol Mixture Harmless When Vaporized and Inhaled?

Note–I said when vaporized and inhaled. The first reason for this question is because they might change their chemical qualities when they vaporize. The second is that some parts of the electric cigarette ( the mouthpiece and its polyester core in particular) are made of less durable materials, which could emit fumes because of the heating.

What Doses of Electric Cigarette Smoking Are Harmless?

Say nicotine, propylene glycol, and other ingredients found in e-liquid are safe when inhaled. But how much inhalation is safe, compared to the conventional cigarette?

If you don’t have enough e-cigarette supplies, you’re going back to your old smelly friend for sure. I didn’t realize how thin the line between e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes is until my only spare atomizer died. I lasted only a couple of hours before I started craving for nicotine and I feel ashamed that I had to purchase a pack of cigarettes.

E-cigarettes are advertised as a way to quit smoking and they are not. They are just a healthier substitute—at least they seem to be. Avoid my mistake: have at least two spare atomizers, two brand new cartridges, and enough e-liquid.

One of the most effective ways to clean an e-cigarette atomizer is using steam. If you do it right, your e-cigarette will make as much smoke as it did when it was new. Steam effectively cleans the inside of the atomizer—the coil and bottom—removing the sticky residue of e-liquid that builds every time you smoke. The residue holds back the smoke, and is unhealthy. For best results, use a portable air compressor after the steam cleaning to unclog your e-cigarette.

Equipment: Home Espresso Machine and Tweezers and Napkin

You need a home espresso machine-one that has a steam nozzle for frothing milk. If you don’t have one and like hot espresso drinks—there are good home espresso machines that go for about $100. They all have steam nozzles. To hold the atomizer under the nozzle, you’ll also need a pair of tweezers.

How to Clean

After you turn on the espresso machine, hold a cup under the steam nozzle to make sure that steam, and no hot water, is coming out into the cup. When there’s enough steam, for a minute hold the atomizer with its open side facing the steam. After the cleaning, blow on the side of atomizer that connects to the battery, over a napkin. You’ll be able to see the yellowish residue that comes out the chamber with the heating coil. Leave the atomizer with its open side down on the napkin. Let the atomizer drain and dry out overnight.

If Atomizer Doesn’t Make Smoke after Cleaning

The atomizer has to dry out after steam cleaning or it won’t work. Some people use hairdryer. But I found that the atomizer will start working after sucking on the mouthpiece repeatedly with the e-cigarette assembled. You don’t have to do it all at once—you’ll get a sore mouth. I know it sounds funny but that’s how I got my atomizer working every time after I cleaned it with steam or unclogged it with compressed air.