In the year 2007, the e-cig, or electronic cigarette, was introduced to the U.S. This electronic inhaler was meant to stimulate and substitute for the tobacco cigarette, creating a healthier way to smoke. The real question lies to whether the e-cig is healthier with the liquid nicotine than with its substitute, the tobacco cigarette.

Even though the e-cig has the reputation of being cleaner and better for both you and you’re environment, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims it to be possibly dangerous. Due to its absence of tobacco, minors can easily buy this cigarette without needing to show an ID. With many flavors like watermelon, bubble gum and java, this cigarette is very appealing to kids. The e-cig consists of a rechargeable lithium battery, a cartridge called a cartomizer, and an LED light that heats up the liquid nicotine, or e-liquid to create the vapor.

The e-liquid is catching the FDA’s eyes. Illegal in many countries, the e-cigarette’s nicotine is derived by tobacco causing suspicions on its side effects on the body. The assistant vice president of national advocacy for the American Lung Association, Erika Seward, said, “With e-cigarettes, we see a new product within the same industry — tobacco — using the same old tactics to glamorize their products…. they make implied health claims to encourage smokers to switch to their product instead of quitting all together, and they sponsor research to use that as a front for their claims.” When scientists conducted experiments on the top two e-cig brands, they found trace elements of hazardous compounds, including the main chemical ingredient found in antifreeze, formaldehyde, and nitrosamines which are linked to cancer. (ABC News) The FDA found a total of 9 contaminates which is relatively less then the tobacco cigarette. However, the FDA remains unsure about the long-term effects of this electric inhaler. They have lacking evidence on the effects of the lungs considering inhaling anything but fresh, clean air creates a risk to your body. A small study by Wolfgang Schober of the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority said that the vapor actually decreased the air quality of the room.

Starter kits for the e-cig run between $30 to $100 and the amount of money to change the cartridge yearly is $600, making it more affordable than replacing tobacco cigarettes yearly. Today, 4 million Americans use e-cigs summing up sales to be over $1 billion. So many smokers are switching from tobacco smoke to the e-cig assuming it’s healthier. In short-term, the e-cig is healthier then tobacco; however, scientists are unaware of the long-term effects. Remember how the tobacco cigarette was considered “safe” because it had a plant in it? The e-cig is still a foreign device and may have a similar outcome as the tobacco cigarette. Nicotine by itself is an addictive drug.

The electric cigarette has been claimed to be a healthier alternative to the tobacco cigarette with only 9 toxins instead of 11,000 toxins of tobacco. However, scientists have done little experiments on this cigarette, nothing is concrete and this e-cig is very unpredictable. Using this e-cig could cause cancer and other diseases, resulting many unfortunate outcomes.