Up in smoke

We’re all aware of the statistics related to cigarette smoking –more American lives lost than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide and illegal drugs combined. Smokes also drain life from our planet in the form of deforestation, non-biodegradable litter, and air pollution. A new ‘Greener’ alternative to smoking—electronic or e-cigarettes — is now creating quite the buzz. “The e-cigarette looks, tastes and feels essentially just like a cigarette,” says Aaron Rollins, director of sales and marketing at Smart Smoke, which has outlets in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Great Falls, Mont. “But without any of the negatives—carcinogens, smoke, smell, cost, or threat to our planet.” E-cigarettes provide a nicotine delivery system without tobacco, and do not burn or produce smoke. The typical e-cigarette consists of a mouthpiece; a filter cartridge which holds a cotton-like sponge that absorbs a liquid nicotine solution and supplemental flavor (like vanilla, strawberry, or tobacco); a steel atomizer unit, and a lithium ion battery. When the user inhales, or ‘vapes,’ a small switch is activated which powers the atomizer, and creates vapor derived from the moisture found in the cartridge. As the vapor passes through the cartridge, it picks up the nicotine and delivers it to the user. Users only inhale nicotine, at a level of their choice, from 0 to 100 percent. Rollins said some versions of e-cigarettes contain different ingredients, which is why the industry will be receiving regulation soon from the FDA. Smart Smoke products contain five ingredients: nicotine; water; dipropylene glycol, a common food additive that creates the “vapor”; the natural and artificial ingredients of the flavor; and glycerol, a thickening agent. Even though e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, the FDA will soon begin regulating them in the same way it has been regulating tobacco products. Although not billed as a smoking-cessation device, some people have claimed to have kicked their smoking habit after replacing it with “vaping.” James Barbour, owner of The Vapor Café in Coeur d’Alene, which opened in April, says after smoking a half a pack daily for 30 years, he’s now smoke-free, occasionally puffing on a 0 percent nicotine e-cigarette for demonstration purposes only. “It’s the hand-to-mouth habit that smokers miss when they try the patch or gum; this enables them to feel like they’re smoking while eventually minimizing or eliminating their nicotine intake,” says Barbour. Proponents also point to the environmental benefits from ‘vaping,’ or at least the lack of damage compared to cigarettes. According to “The global footprint of a deadly crop,” a 2007 article for In These Times magazine, each year nearly 600 million trees are destroyed worldwide to provide fuel to dry tobacco leaves, causing up to 20 percent of deforestation in parts of Africa. Growing tobacco requires the use of more pesticides per acre than any other crop grown. The article adds that cigarette butts are the most common piece of litter in the world, accounting for roughly 1.7 billion pounds of non-biodegradable trash found in streets, streams and forests. Because cigarette casings contain plastic, not just paper, they take about 25 years to degrade, during which time chemicals—tar, carbon monoxide, and various carcinogens—can leach into soil and groundwater. Rollins said many businesses in the area now allow customers to use e-cigarettes because of the non-intrusive nature of the product. According to the American Cancer Society, although nicotine causes addictions, the chemicals in the tobacco are responsible for a cigarette’s cancer-causing effects. Although there aren’t studies yet on whether the e-cigarettes are a true “safe alternative” to tobacco cigarettes or a legitimate way to help smokers quit, non-regulation so far has caused some skepticism and some start-up companies with different kinds of ingredients. E-cigarettes also aren’t cheap, but Rollins said the $170 introductory kit soon pays for itself. The price works out to be $1.50 per pack for someone who smokes half a pack a day. Barbour says there’s a lot to like. “The bonus of clean air and less waste for our planet makes helping people to stop smoking even more rewarding,” he said.