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Electronic cigarette
Electronic cigarette
Electronic cigarette
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Photo of device
A first-generation e-cigarette that resembles a tobacco cigarette, with a battery portion that can be disconnected and recharged using the USB power charger
Photo of devices
Various types of e-cigarettes from 2015, including a disposable e-cigarette, a rechargeable e-cigarette, a medium-size tank device, large-size tank devices, an e-cigar, and an e-pipe

An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vape[a] is a device that simulates tobacco smoking. It consists of an atomizer, a power source such as a battery, and a container such as a cartridge or tank. Instead of smoke, the user inhales vapor,[2] often called "vaping".[3][1]

The atomizer is a heating element that vaporizes a liquid solution called e-liquid[4] that cools into an aerosol of tiny droplets, vapor and air.[5] The vapor mainly comprises propylene glycol and/or glycerin, usually with nicotine and flavoring. Its exact composition varies, and depends on matters such as user behavior.[b] E-cigarettes are activated by taking a puff or pressing a button.[3][6] Some look like traditional cigarettes,[3][7] and most kinds are reusable.[c]

Vaping is less harmful than smoking,[9] but still has health risks.[10] Vaping affects asthma[11] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[12][13][14] Nicotine is highly addictive.[15] Limited evidence indicates that e-cigarettes are less addictive than smoking, with slower nicotine absorption rates.[16][17]

E-cigarettes containing nicotine are more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation,[18] but have not been subject to the same rigorous testing that most nicotine replacement therapy products have.[19]

Description

[edit]
Main article: Construction of electronic cigarettes
The first image is displaying an exploded view of an e-cigarette with a transparent clearomizer and changeable dual-coil head.
An exploded view of a typical e-cigarette design with transparent atomizer (labeled clearomizer in diagram) and changeable dual-coil head.

An electronic cigarette consists of an atomizer, a power source such as a battery,[20] and a container for e-liquid such as a cartridge or tank.

E-cigarettes have evolved over time, and the different designs are classified in generations. First-generation e-cigarettes tend to look like traditional cigarettes and are called "cigalikes".[21][22] Second-generation devices are larger and look less like traditional cigarettes.[23] Third-generation devices include mechanical mods and variable voltage devices.[21] The fourth-generation includes sub-ohm tanks (meaning they have electrical resistance of less than 1 ohm) and temperature control.[24] There are also pod mod devices that use protonated nicotine, rather than free-base nicotine found in earlier generations,[25] providing higher nicotine yields.[26][27]

E-liquid

[edit]

The mixture used in vapor products such as e-cigarettes is called e-liquid.[28] E-liquid formulations vary widely.[22][29] A typical e-liquid is composed of propylene glycol and glycerin (95%) and a combination of flavorings, nicotine, and other additives (5%).[30][31] The flavorings may be natural, artificial,[29] or organic.[32] There are many e-liquid manufacturers,[33] and more than 15,000 flavors.[34]

Many countries regulate what e-liquids can contain. In the US, there are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compulsory manufacturing standards[35] and American E-liquid Manufacturing Standards Association (AEMSA) recommended manufacturing standards.[36] European Union standards are published in the EU Tobacco Products Directive.[37]

Coils

[edit]

Vaping cannabis usually involves higher temperatures than nicotine.[38]

Use

[edit]

Popularity

[edit]
Estimated trends in the global number of vapers

Since entering the market around 2003, e-cigarette use has risen rapidly.[39][40][41] In 2011 there were about 7 million adult e-cigarette users globally, increasing to 68 million in 2020 compared with 1.1 billion cigarette smokers.[42] There was a further rise to 82 million e-cigarette users in 2021.[43] This increase has been attributed to targeted marketing, and ecigs being cheaper and safer than combustible cigarettes.[44] E-cigarette use is highest in China, the US, and Europe, with China having the most users.[6][45]

Motivation

[edit]
Reasons for initiating e-cigarette use in the European Union, in a 2018 Eurobarometer poll[46]

There are varied reasons for e-cigarette use.[6] Most users are trying to quit smoking,[47][obsolete source][48][failed verification] but a large proportion of use is recreational or as an attempt to get around smoke-free laws.[6][7][49][47] Many people vape to relax,[50] and some because vaping is safer than smoking.[51][52][53] The wide choice of flavors and lower price compared to cigarettes are also important factors.[54]

Other motivations include reduced odor and fewer stains.[55] E-cigarettes also appeal to technophiles who enjoy customizing their devices.[55]

Gateway theory

[edit]

The gateway hypothesis is the idea that using less harmful drugs can lead to more harmful ones.[56] Evidence shows that many users who begin by vaping will go on to also smoke traditional cigarettes.[57][58][59][60][excessive citations][why?] People with mental illnesses, who as a group are more susceptible to nicotine addiction, are at particularly high risk of dual use.[61][62]

However, an association between vaping and subsequent smoking does not necessarily imply a causal gateway effect.[63] Instead, people may have underlying characteristics that predispose them to both activities.[64][65] There is a genetic association between smoking, vaping, gambling, promiscuity and other risk-taking behaviors.[66] Young people with poor executive functioning use e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and alcohol at higher rates than their peers.[67] E-cigarette users are also more likely to use both cannabis and unprescribed Adderall or Ritalin.[68] Longitudinal studies of e-cigarettes and smoking have been criticized for failing to adequately control for these and other confounding factors.[69][70][71]

Smoking rates have continually declined as e-cigarettes have grown in popularity, especially among young people, suggesting that there is little evidence for a gateway effect at the population level.[64][65] This observation has been criticized, however, for ignoring the effect of anti-smoking interventions.[72]

Young adult and teenage users

[edit]

Worldwide, increasing numbers of young people are vaping.[73][74][75] With access to e-cigarettes, young people's tobacco use has dropped by about 75%.[76][77][78][79][excessive citations]

Most young e-cigarette users have never smoked,[80] but there is a substantial minority who both vape and smoke.[81] Many young people who would not smoke are vaping.[82][49] Young people who smoke tobacco or marijuana, or who drink alcohol, are much more likely to vape.[83][84] Among young people who have tried vaping, most used a flavored product the first time.[83][85]

Vaping correlates with smoking among young people, even in those who would otherwise be unlikely to smoke.[86] A 2015 study found minors had little resistance to buying e-cigarettes online.[87][obsolete source] Teenagers may not admit to using e-cigarettes, but use, for instance, a hookah pen.[88] As a result, self-reporting may be lower in surveys.[88]

More recent studies show a trend of an increasing proportion of young people who use e-cigarettes. In 2018, 20% of high school students were using e-cigarettes. In 2020, however, this number increased to 50% of high school students reported to have used e-cigarettes.[89][where?][need quotation to verify] Similarly, in Canada, there has been trend showing 29% of young people reporting to have used e-cigarettes in 2017, increasing to 37% in 2018.[90]

Health effects

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Health effects of electronic cigarettes.[edit]

Electronic cigarettes (ecigs or vapes) are much less harmful than cigarettes which burn,[91] but worse than not smoking at all. Ecigs increase the risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to not using nicotine at all.[92] Pregnant women vaping may increase the risk of their children suffering asthma and COPD,[93] but is still safer than smoking.[94] Vaping is associated with heart failure.[95] Unregulated or modified ecigs or liquids may be more dangerous.[96]

The public health community is divided over the use of these devices to reduce/prevent smoking.[97] As of 2017 they were not approved by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a smoking cessation product,[98] and in 2020 became regulated as a tobacco product (despite not containing tobacco). However, a 2019 study reported that 10% of participants given nicotine via gum, mouth spray, patches, etc., quit smoking, while 18% of those given vaping kits quit. Among participants still smoking, vapers smoked less.[99] A 2021 review by Public Health England (PHE) reported vaping to be around 95% less harmful than smoking.[91] E-cigarettes are estimated to have preserved 677,000 life–years in the US alone from 2011 to 2019.[100]

E-cigarette use (vaping) carries some level of health risks.[98][101] Reported risks (compared to not smoking) include exposure to toxic chemicals, increased likelihood of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, reduced lung function, reduced cardiac muscle function, increased inflammation,[102][103] increased drug dependency, and damage to the central nervous system.[104] Misuse, accidents, and product malfunction issues increase risks[105] such as nicotine poisoning,[106][107] contact with liquid nicotine,[108] and fires.[109]

Adverse effects of vaping

Randomized controlled trials provide "high-certainty" evidence that e-cigarettes containing nicotine are more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for discontinuing tobacco smoking, and moderate‐certainty evidence that they are more effective than e-cigarettes free of nicotine.[110][d]

Some of the most common but less serious adverse effects include abdominal pain, headache, blurry vision,[111] throat and mouth irritation, vomiting, nausea, and coughing.[112] Nicotine is addictive and harmful to fetuses, children, and young people.[113] Passive e-cigarette vapor exposure may be harmful to children, but more studies are needed as of 2025.[114]

History

[edit]

It is commonly stated that the modern e-cigarette was patented in 2003 by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, but tobacco companies had been developing nicotine aerosol generation devices since as early as 1963.[115]

Early prototypes and barriers to entry: 1920s–1990s

[edit]

In 1927, Joseph Robinson applied for a patent for an electronic vaporizer to be used with medicinal compounds.[116] The patent was approved in 1930 but the device was never marketed.[117] In 1930, the United States Patent and Trademark Office reported a patent stating, "for holding medicinal compounds which are electrically or otherwise heated to produce vapors for inhalation."[118] In 1934 and 1936, further similar patents were applied for.[118]

The earliest e-cigarette can be traced to American Herbert A. Gilbert.[119] In 1963, Gilbert applied for a patent for "a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette" that involved "replacing burning tobacco and paper with heated, moist, flavored air".[120][121] This device produced flavored steam without nicotine.[121] The patent was granted in 1965.[122] Gilbert's invention was ahead of its time.[123] However, it received little attention[124] and was never commercialized[121] because smoking was still fashionable at that time.[125] Gilbert said in 2013 that today's electric cigarettes follow the basic design set forth in his original patent.[122]

The Favor cigarette, introduced in 1986 by public company Advanced Tobacco Products, was another early noncombustible product promoted as an alternative nicotine-based tobacco product.[83] Favor was conceptualized by Phil Ray, one of the founders of Datapoint Corporation and inventors of the microprocessor. Development started in 1979 by Phil Ray and Norman Jacobson.[126] Favor was a "plastic, smoke-free product shaped and colored like a conventional cigarette that contained a filter paper soaked with liquid nicotine so users could draw a small dose by inhaling. There was no electricity, combustion, or smoke; it delivered only nicotine."[127]

Favor cigarettes were sold in California and several Southwestern states, marketed as "an alternative to smokers, and only to smokers, to use where smoking is unacceptable or prohibited."[128] In 1987, the FDA exercised jurisdiction over products analogous to E-Cigarettes.[129] Advanced Tobacco Products never challenged the Warning Letter and ceased all distribution of Favor.[130] Ray's wife Brenda Coffee coined the term vaping.[131] Philip Morris' division NuMark, launched in 2013 the MarkTen e-cigarette that Philip Morris had been working on since 1990.[115]

Modern electronic cigarette: 2000s

[edit]

Despite these earlier efforts, Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist and inventor, who worked as a research pharmacist for a company producing ginseng products,[132] is frequently credited with the invention of the modern e-cigarette.[115] Hon quit smoking after his father, also a heavy smoker, died of lung cancer.[132] In 2001, he thought of using a high frequency, piezoelectric ultrasound-emitting element to vaporize a pressurized jet of liquid containing nicotine.[133] This design creates a smoke-like vapor.[132] Hon said that using resistance heating obtained better results and the difficulty was to scale down the device to a small enough size.[133] Hon's invention was intended to be an alternative to smoking.[133] Hon Lik sees the e-cigarette as comparable to the "digital camera taking over from the analogue camera."[134] Ultimately, Hon Lik did not quit smoking. He is now a dual user, both smoking and vaping.[135]

Ruyan first-generation electronic cigar.
The Ruyan e-cigar was first launched in China in 2004.[136]

Hon Lik registered a patent for the modern e-cigarette design in 2003.[133] Hon is credited with developing the first commercially successful electronic cigarette.[137] The e-cigarette was first introduced to the Chinese domestic market in 2004.[132] Many versions made their way to the US, sold mostly over the Internet by small marketing firms.[132] E-cigarettes entered the European market and the US market in 2006 and 2007.[138] The company that Hon worked for, Golden Dragon Holdings, registered an international patent in November 2007.[139] The company changed its name to Ruyan (如烟, literally "like smoke"[132]) later the same month,[140] and started exporting its products.[132]

Many US and Chinese e-cigarette makers copied his designs illegally, so Hon has not received much financial reward for his invention (although some US manufacturers have compensated him through out-of-court settlements).[134] Ruyan later changed its company name to Dragonite International Limited.[140] As of 2014, most e-cigarettes used a battery-powered heating element rather than the earlier ultrasonic technology design.[22]

Initially, their performance did not meet the expectations of users.[141] The e-cigarette continued to evolve from the first-generation three-part device.[22] In 2007, British entrepreneurs Umer and Tariq Sheikh invented the cartomizer.[142] This is a mechanism that integrates the heating coil into the liquid chamber.[142] They launched this new device in the UK in 2008 under their Gamucci brand[143] and the design is now widely adopted by most "cigalike" brands.[22] Other users tinkered with various parts to produce more satisfactory homemade devices, and the hobby of "modding" was born.[144] The first mod to replace the e-cigarette's case to accommodate a longer-lasting battery, dubbed the "screwdriver", was developed by Ted and Matt Rogers[144] in 2008.[141] Other enthusiasts built their own mods to improve functionality or aesthetics.[144] When pictures of mods appeared at online vaping forums many people wanted them, so some mod makers produced more for sale.[144]

In 2008, a consumer created an e-cigarette called the screwdriver.[141] The device generated a lot of interest back then, as it let the user to vape for hours at one time.[144] The invention led to demand for customizable e-cigarettes, prompting manufacturers to produce devices with interchangeable components that could be selected by the user.[141] In 2009, Joyetech developed the eGo series[142] which offered the power of the screwdriver model and a user-activated switch to a wide market.[141] The clearomizer was invented in 2009.[142] Originating from the cartomizer design, it contained the wicking material, an e-liquid chamber, and an atomizer coil within a single clear component.[142] The clearomizer allows the user to monitor the liquid level in the device.[142] Soon after the clearomizer reached the market, replaceable atomizer coils and variable voltage batteries were introduced.[142] Clearomizers and eGo batteries became the best-selling customizable e-cigarette components in early 2012.[141]

International growth: 2010s

[edit]

The market for electronic cigarettes rose rapidly during the early 2010s and it started gaining attention in mainstream media.[145][146] In the United States, some of the most notable start-ups in the market were blu eCigs, NJOY, V2 Cigs, and Logic, as of 2013.[147][148] International tobacco companies dismissed e-cigarettes as a fad at first.[149] However, recognizing the development of a potential new market sector that could render traditional tobacco products obsolete,[150] they began to produce and market their own brands of e-cigarettes and acquire existing e-cigarette companies.[151]

The large tobacco companies bought some of the established e-cigarette companies.[152] blu eCigs, a prominent US e-cigarette manufacturer, was acquired by Lorillard Inc.[153] for $135 million in April 2012.[154] Japan Tobacco invested in Ploom. British American Tobacco was the first tobacco business to sell e-cigarettes in the UK[155] and launched the e-cigarette Vype in July 2013.[155] Imperial Tobacco's Fontem Ventures acquired the intellectual property owned by Hon Lik through Dragonite International Limited for $US 75 million in 2013 and launched Puritane in partnership with Boots UK.[156] On 1 October 2013 Lorillard Inc. acquired another e-cigarette company, this time the UK based company SKYCIG.[157] SKY was rebranded as blu.[158]

Various e-cigarettes from 2018. From left to right: Phix, Juno, Von Erl, Juul

On 3 February 2014, Altria Group, Inc. acquired popular e-cigarette brand Green Smoke[159][e][160] for $110 million.[161] The deal was finalized in April 2014 for $110 million with $20 million in incentive payments.[162] Altria also markets its own e-cigarette, the MarkTen, while Reynolds American has entered the sector with its Vuse product.[151] Philip Morris, the world's largest tobacco company, purchased UK's Nicocigs in June 2014.[163] On 30 April 2015, Japan Tobacco bought the US Logic e-cigarette brand.[164] Japan Tobacco also bought the UK E-Lites brand in June 2014.[164][160] On 15 July 2014, Lorillard sold blu to Imperial Tobacco as part of a deal for $7.1 billion.[165]

Following these changes, the main players in the e-cigarette market (at least in the US) were as follows (as of end 2015):[166]

Company Brand(s)
Reynolds American, Inc. Vuse
Fontem (Imperial Brands) Blu
Japan Tobacco International Logic
Altria Group MarkTen, Green Smoke
CB Distributors 21st Century Smoke
Njoy, Inc. NJOY
Ballantyne Brands, Inc. Mistic, NEO
VMR Products V2, Vapor Couture
Nicotek Metro
FIN Branding Group FIN

Despite the acquisitions by big tobacco companies, some independent e-cigarette companies had more success, most notably Juul Labs, as of 2018.[167]

As of 2018, 95% of e-cigarettes were made in China.[25] Despite international growth of e-cigarettes during the 2010s, not all regions around the world have yet embraced it as much. In 2018, Indonesia became only one of the first in Asia or the Global South to recognise e-cigarettes as a genuine alternative to smoking tobacco.[168][clarification needed]

Established: 2020s

[edit]

In the United States between 2020 and 2022, the number of e-cigarettes sold had climbed to 22.7 million units. Elf Bar/EBDESIGN, Vuse, JUUL, NJOY and Breeze Smoke were recognized as the five most popular brands as of December 2022.[169] The surge was driven by non-tobacco flavors such as menthol (for prefilled cartridges) and fruit and candy (for disposables), according to the CDC's health economist Fatma Romeh Ali.[169]

In the UK, where most vaping uses refillable sets and e-liquid, there is now support from the National Health Service,[170] and other medical bodies now embrace the use of e-cigarettes as a viable way to quit smoking. This has contributed to record numbers of people vaping, with estimated 3.6 million in 2019, 3.2 million in 2020, rising to 3.6 million in 2021.[171] Current vapers being 2.2 million as of 2024.[172]

Society and culture

[edit]
"Vaper" redirects here; not to be confused with Vapor.

Consumers have shown passionate support for e-cigarettes that other nicotine replacement products did not receive.[173] They have a mass appeal that could challenge combustible tobacco's market position.[173]

By 2013, a subculture had emerged calling itself "the vaping community".[174][175] Members often see e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking,[176] and some view it as a hobby.[177] The online forum E-Cig-Reviews.com was one of the first major communities.[144] It and other online forums, such as UKVaper.org, were where the hobby of modding started.[144] There are also groups on Facebook and Reddit.[178] Online forums based around modding have grown in the vaping community.[179]

Vapers embrace activities associated with e-cigarettes and sometimes evangelise for them.[180] E-cigarette companies have a substantial online presence, and there are many individual vapers who blog and tweet about e-cigarette related products.[181] A 2014 Postgraduate Medical Journal editorial said vapers "also engage in grossly offensive online attacks on anyone who has the temerity to suggest that ENDS are anything other than an innovation that can save thousands of lives with no risks".[181]

Contempt for Big Tobacco is part of vaping culture.[182][183] A 2014 review stated that tobacco and e-cigarette companies interact with consumers for their policy agenda.[81] The companies use websites, social media, and marketing to get consumers involved in opposing bills that include e-cigarettes in smoke-free laws.[81] This is similar to tobacco industry activity going back to the 1980s.[81] These approaches were used in Europe to minimize the EU Tobacco Products Directive in October 2013.[81] Grassroots lobbying also influenced the Tobacco Products Directive decision.[184] Tobacco companies have worked with organizations conceived to promote e-cigarette use, and these organizations have worked to hamper legislation intended at restricting e-cigarette use.[185]

E-cigarette user blowing a large cloud of aerosol (vapor). This activity is known as cloud-chasing.
E-cigarette user blowing a cloud of aerosol (vapor). The activity is known as cloud-chasing.[186]

Large gatherings of vapers, called vape meets, take place around the US.[174] They focus on e-cigarette devices, accessories, and the lifestyle that accompanies them.[174] Vapefest, which started in 2010, is an annual show hosted by different cities.[178] People attending these meetings are usually enthusiasts that use specialized, community-made products not found in convenience stores or gas stations.[174] These products are mostly available online or in dedicated "vape" storefronts where mainstream e-cigarettes brands from the tobacco industry and larger e-cig manufacturers are not as popular.[187] Some vape shops have a vape bar where patrons can test out different e-liquids and socialize.[188] The Electronic Cigarette Convention in North America which started in 2013, is an annual show where companies and consumers meet up.[189]

A subclass of vapers configure their atomizers to produce large amounts of vapor by using low-resistance heating coils.[190] This practice is called "cloud-chasing".[191] By using a coil with very low resistance, the batteries are stressed to a potentially unsafe extent.[192] This could present a risk of dangerous battery failures.[192] As vaping comes under increased scrutiny, some members of the vaping community have voiced their concerns about cloud-chasing, stating the practice gives vapers a bad reputation when doing it in public.[193] The Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year for 2014 was "vape".[194]

Regulation

[edit]
Main articles: Regulation of electronic cigarettes and List of vaping bans in the United States

Regulation of e-cigarettes varies across countries and states, ranging from no regulation to banning them entirely.[195] For instance, e-cigarettes containing nicotine are illegal in Japan, forcing the market to use heated tobacco products for cigarette alternatives.[196] Others have introduced strict restrictions and some have licensed devices as medicines such as in the UK.[197] However, as of February 2025, there is no e-cigarette device that has been given a medical license that is commercially sold or available by prescription in the UK.[198] As of 2015, around two thirds of major nations have regulated e-cigarettes in some way.[199]

Because of the potential relationship with tobacco laws and medical drug policies, e-cigarette legislation is being debated in many countries.[200] The companies that make e-cigarettes have been pushing for laws that support their interests.[201] In 2016 the US Department of Transportation banned the use of e-cigarettes on commercial flights.[202] This regulation applies to all flights to and from the US.[202] In 2018, the Royal College of Physicians asked that a balance is found in regulations over e-cigarettes that ensure product safety while encouraging smokers to use them instead of tobacco, as well as keep an eye on any effects contrary to the control agencies for tobacco.[203]

The legal status of e-cigarettes is currently pending in many countries.[81][obsolete source] Many countries such as Brazil, Singapore, Uruguay,[197] and India have banned e-cigarettes.[204] In June 2025, Pakistan banned e-cigarettes in the province of Punjab, though the decision was reversed the next month.[205] Canada-wide in 2014, they were technically illegal to sell, as no nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are not regulated by Health Canada, but this is generally unenforced and they are commonly available for sale Canada-wide.[206] In 2016, Health Canada announced plans to regulate vaping products.[207] In the US and the UK, the use and sale to adults of e-cigarettes are legal.[208]: US [209]: UK  The revised EU Tobacco Products Directive came into effect in May 2016, providing stricter regulations for e-cigarettes.[210] It limits e-cigarette advertising in print, on television and radio, along with reducing the level of nicotine in liquids and reducing the flavors used.[211] It does not ban vaping in public places.[212] It requires the purchaser for e-cigarettes to be at least 18 and does not permit buying them for anyone less than 18 years of age.[213] The updated Tobacco Products Directive has been disputed by tobacco lobbyists whose businesses could be impacted by these revisions.[214]

The US FDA regulates e-cigarettes, e-liquid and all related products.[215] It evaluates ingredients, product features and health risks, as well their appeal to minors and non-users.[216] The FDA rule also bans access to minors.[216] A photo ID is now required to buy e-cigarettes,[217] and their sale in all-ages vending machines is not permitted in the US.[216]

In 2016, the US FDA used its authority under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act to deem e-cigarette devices and e-liquids to be tobacco products, which meant it intended to regulate the marketing, labelling, and manufacture of devices and liquids; vape shops that mix e-liquids or make or modify devices were considered manufacturing sites that needed to register with US FDA and comply with good manufacturing practice regulation.[218] E-cigarette and tobacco companies recruited lobbyists in an effort to prevent the US FDA from evaluating e-cigarette products or banning existing products already on the market.[219]

In February 2014, the European Parliament passed regulations requiring standardization and quality control for liquids and vaporizers, disclosure of ingredients in liquids, and child-proofing and tamper-proofing for liquid packaging.[220] In April 2014 the US FDA published proposed regulations for e-cigarettes.[221][222] In the US some states tax e-cigarettes as tobacco products, and some state and regional governments have broadened their indoor smoking bans to include e-cigarettes.[223] As of April 2017, 12 US states and 615 localities had prohibited the use of e-cigarettes in venues in which traditional cigarette smoking was prohibited.[49] In 2015, at least 48 states and 2 territories had banned e-cigarette sales to minors.[224]

In November 2020, the New Zealand government passed a vaping regulation that requires vape stores to register as specialist vape retailers before they can sell e-cigarettes, the wider range of flavoured e-liquids, and other related vaping products. Vaping products are required to be notified by the government before they can be sold to ensure that the products are following safety requirements and ingredients in liquids do not contain prohibited substances.[225]

E-cigarettes containing nicotine have been listed as drug delivery devices in a number of countries, and the marketing of such products has been restricted or put on hold until safety and efficacy clinical trials are conclusive.[226] Since they do not contain tobacco, television advertising in the US is not restricted.[227] Some countries have regulated e-cigarettes as a medical product even though they have not approved them as a smoking cessation aid.[228] A 2014 review stated the emerging phenomenon of e-cigarettes has raised concerns in the health community, governments, and the general public and recommended that e-cigarettes should be regulated to protect consumers.[229] It added, "heavy regulation by restricting access to e-cigarettes would just encourage continuing use of much unhealthier tobacco smoking."[229] A 2014 review said regulation of the e-cigarette should be considered on the basis of reported adverse health effects.[228]

Criticism of vaping bans

[edit]

Vaping is much safer than smoking, and critics of vaping bans say that they incentivize people to return to smoking.[230][231] Additionally, San Francisco's chief economist, Ted Egan, when discussing the San Francisco vaping ban said that the city's ban on e-cigarette sales would increase smoking as vapers switch to combustible cigarettes.[232][needs update] Critics of smoking bans stress the absurdity of criminalizing the sale of a safer alternative to tobacco while tobacco continues to be legal. Prominent proponents of smoking bans are not in favor of criminalizing tobacco[clarification needed] either, but rather allowing consumers to have the choice to choose whatever products they desire.[230]

In 2022, after two years of review, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied Juul's application to keep its tobacco and menthol flavored vaping products on the market.[233][needs update] Critics of this denial note that research published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research found that smokers who transitioned to Juuls in North America were significantly more likely to switch to vaping than those in the United Kingdom who only had access to lower-strength nicotine products.[234] They also note that vaping does not contain many of the components that make smoking dangerous such as the combustion process and certain chemicals that are present in cigarettes that are not present in vape products.

Product liability

[edit]

Multiple reports from the U.S. Fire Administration conclude that electronic cigarettes have been combusting and injuring people and surrounding areas.[235][236] The composition of a cigarette is the cause of this, as the cartridges that are meant to contain the liquid mixture are in such close proximity to the battery.[22] A research report by the U.S. Fire Administration supports this, stating that, "Unlike mobile phones, some e-cigarette lithium-ion batteries within e-cigarettes offer no protection to stop the coil overheating".[236]

In 2015, the U.S. Fire Administration noted in their report that electronic cigarettes are not created by Big Tobacco or other tobacco companies, but by independent factories that have little quality control.[236][needs update]Because of this low quality control when made, electronic cigarettes have led to incidents in which people are hurt, or in which the surrounding area is damaged.[236][235]

Marketing

[edit]
Main article: Electronic cigarette and e-cigarette liquid marketing

They are marketed to people as being safer than traditional cigarettes.[237] They are also marketed to non-smokers.[45] E-cigarette marketing is common.[238] There are growing concerns that e-cigarette advertising campaigns unjustifiably focus on young adults, adolescents, and women.[239] Large tobacco companies have greatly increased their marketing efforts.[185] This marketing trend may expand the use of e-cigarettes and contribute to re-glamorizing smoking.[240] Some companies may use e-cigarette advertising to advocate smoking, deliberately, or inadvertently, is an area of concern.[241] A 2014 review said, "the e-cigarette companies have been rapidly expanding using aggressive marketing messages similar to those used to promote cigarettes in the 1950s and 1960s."[81]

E-cigarette companies are using methods that were once used by the tobacco industry to persuade young people to start using cigarettes.[242] E-cigarettes are promoted to a certain extent to forge a vaping culture that entices non-smokers.[242] Themes in e-cigarette marketing, including sexual content and customer satisfaction, are parallel to themes and techniques that are appealing to young people and young adults in traditional cigarette advertising and promotion.[83] A 2017 review found "The tobacco industry sees a future where ENDS accompany and perpetuate, rather than supplant, tobacco use, especially targeting the youth."[241] E-cigarettes and nicotine are regularly promoted as safe and even healthy in the media and on brand websites, which is an area of concern.[30]

While advertising of tobacco products is banned in most countries, television and radio e-cigarette advertising in several countries may be indirectly encouraging traditional cigarette use.[81][better source needed] E-cigarette advertisements are also in magazines, newspapers, online, and in retail stores.[243] Between 2010 and 2014, e-cigarettes were second only to cigarettes as the top advertised product in magazines.[244] As cigarette companies have acquired the largest e-cigarette brands, they currently benefit from a dual market of smokers and e-cigarette users while simultaneously presenting themselves as agents of harm reduction.[152] This raises concerns about the appropriateness of endorsing a product that directly profits the tobacco industry.[152] There is no evidence that the cigarette brands are selling e-cigarettes as part of a plan to phase out traditional cigarettes, despite some stating to want to cooperate in "harm reduction".[81] E-cigarette advertising for using e-cigarettes as a quitting tool have been seen in the US, UK, and China, which have not been supported by regulatory bodies.[245]

In the US, six large e-cigarette businesses spent $59.3 million on promoting e-cigarettes in 2013.[246] In the US and Canada, over $2 million is spent yearly on promoting e-cigarettes online.[242] E-cigarette websites often made unscientific health statements in 2012.[247] The ease to get past the age verification system at e-cigarette company websites allows underage individuals to access and be exposed to marketing.[247] Around half of e-cigarette company websites have a minimum age notice that prohibited underage individuals from entering.[45]

Celebrity endorsements are used to encourage e-cigarette use.[248] Opponents of the tobacco industry state that the Blu advertisement, in a context of longstanding prohibition of tobacco advertising on television, seems to have resorted to advertising tactics that got former generations of people in the US addicted to traditional cigarettes.[154]

Displaying a diagram of e-cigarette use among youth is rising as e-cigarette advertising increases.
From 2011 to 2014, e-cigarette use among young people in the US was rising as e-cigarette advertising increased.[249]

Since at least 2007, e-cigarettes have been heavily promoted across media outlets globally.[86] They are vigorously advertised, mostly through the Internet, as a safe substitute to traditional cigarettes, among other things.[39] E-cigarette companies promote their e-cigarette products on Facebook, Instagram,[243] YouTube, and Twitter.[250] They are promoted on YouTube by movies with sexual material and music icons, who encourage minors to "take their freedom back."[241] They have partnered with a number of sports and music icons to promote their products.[251] Tobacco companies intensely market e-cigarettes to young people,[252] with industry strategies including cartoon characters and candy flavors.[253] Fruit flavored e-liquid is the most commonly marketed e-liquid flavor on social media.[254]

E-cigarette companies commonly promote that their products contain only water, nicotine, glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavoring but this assertion is misleading as researchers have found differing amounts of heavy metals in the vapor, including chromium, nickel, tin, silver, cadmium, mercury, and aluminum.[87] The widespread assertion that e-cigarettes emit "only water vapor" is not true because the evidence demonstrates e-cigarette vapor contains possibly harmful chemicals such as nicotine, carbonyls, metals, and volatile organic compounds, in addition to particulate matter.[255]

Many e-cigarette companies market their products as a smoking cessation aid without evidence of effectiveness.[256] E-cigarette marketing has been found to make unsubstantiated health statements (e.g., that they help one quit smoking) including statements about improving psychiatric symptoms, which may be particularly appealing to smokers with mental illness.[54] E-cigarette marketing advocate weight control and emphasize use of nicotine with many flavors.[257] These marketing angles could particularly entice overweight people, young people, and vulnerable groups.[257] Some e-cigarette companies state that their products are green without supporting evidence which may be purely to increase their sales.[200]

Economics

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The number of e-cigarettes sold increased every year from 2003 to 2014.[22] As of 2014, there were at least 466 e-cigarette brands.[258] Worldwide e-cigarette sales in 2014 were around US$7 billion.[259] Worldwide e-cigarette sales in 2019 were about $19.3 billion.[260] E-cigarette sales could exceed traditional cigarette sales by 2023.[261] Approximately 30–50% of total e-cigarettes sales are handled on the internet.[39] Established tobacco companies have a significant share of the e-cigarette market.[88][262]

As of 2018, 95% of e-cigarette devices were made in China,[25] mainly in Shenzhen.[263][264] Chinese companies' market share of e-liquid is low.[265] In 2014, online and offline sales started to increase.[266] Since combustible cigarettes are relatively inexpensive in China a lower price may not be a large factor in marketing vaping products over there.[266]

Large tobacco retailers are leading the cigalike market.[267] "We saw the market's sudden recognition that the cigarette industry seems to be in serious trouble, disrupted by the rise of vaping," Mad Money's Jim Cramer stated April 2018.[268] "Over the course of three short days, the tobacco stocks were bent, they were spindled and they were mutilated by the realization that electronic cigarettes have become a serious threat to the old-school cigarette makers," he added.[268] In 2019, a vaping industry organization released a report stating that a possible US ban on e-cigarettes flavors can potentially effect greater than 150,000 jobs around the US.[269]

The leading seller in the e-cigarette market in the US is the Juul e-cigarette,[270] which was introduced in June 2015.[271] As of August 2018, Juul accounts for over 72% of the US e-cigarette market monitored by Nielsen, and its closest competitor—RJ Reynolds' Vuse—makes up less than 10% of the market.[272] Juul rose to popularity quickly, growing by 700% in 2016 alone.[273] On 17 July 2018 Reynolds announced it will debut in August 2018 a pod mod type device similar Juul.[272] The popularity of the Juul pod system has led to a flood of other pod devices hitting the market.[274]

In Canada, e-cigarettes had an estimated value of 140 million CAD in 2015.[275] There are numerous e-cigarette retail shops in Canada.[276] A 2014 audit of retailers in four Canadian cities found that 94% of grocery stores, convenience stores, and tobacconist shops which sold e-cigarettes sold nicotine-free varieties only, while all vape shops stocked at least one nicotine-containing product.[277]

By 2015, the e-cigarette market had only reached a twentieth of the size of the tobacco market in the UK.[278] In the UK in 2015 the "most prominent brands of cigalikes" were owned by tobacco companies, however, with the exception of one model, all the tank types came from "non-tobacco industry companies".[279] Yet some tobacco industry products, while using prefilled cartridges, resemble tank models.[279]

France's e-cigarette market was estimated by Groupe Xerfi to be €130 million in 2015.[280] Additionally, France's e-liquid market was estimated at €265 million.[280] In December 2015, there were 2,400 vape shops in France, 400 fewer than in March of the same year.[280] Industry organization Fivape said the reduction was due to consolidation, not to reduced demand.[280]

In Vietnam, the e-cigarette market is growing rapidly, with the use rate increasing 18 times from 2015 to 2020.[281][282] The use rate of e-cigarettes in adolescents aged 13–15 is 3.5%, up 1.6% from 2019.[283][284][285] According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), the global economic losses caused by tobacco each year are $1.4 trillion.[286] Economic losses caused by tobacco are estimated to account for 1% of GDP.[287][288] The Vietnamese government is making efforts to control the e-cigarette market.[289][290][291] However, here are still many challenges to be addressed, such as consumer's lack of understanding of the harm of e-cigarettes, unclear legal regulations, and fierce competition from imported e-cigarette products.[292][293]

Environmental impact

[edit]
Main article: Environmental impact of electronic cigarettes
A discarded e-cigarette next to a traditional cigarette in a car park
A discarded e-cigarette next to a traditional cigarette in a car park

Compared to traditional cigarettes, reusable e-cigarettes do not create waste and potential litter from every use in the form of discarded cigarette butts.[294] Traditional cigarettes tend to end up in the ocean where they cause pollution,[294] though once discarded they undergo biodegradation and photodegradation.

E-cigarettes that are not reusable contribute to the problem of electronic waste, which can create a hazard for people and other organisms.[295] If improperly disposed of, they can release heavy metals, nicotine, and other chemicals from batteries and unused e-liquid.[200][239] A July 2018–April 2019 garbology study found e-cigarette products composed 19% of the waste from all traditional and electronic tobacco and cannabis products collected at 12 public high schools in Northern California.[296]

Councils in England and Wales are pushing for a 2024 ban on single-use vapes due to environmental and health risks, as 1.3 million are thrown away weekly. Recycling challenges, waste issues, and fire hazards are cited. Concerns about youth vaping are also raised. The UK Vaping Industry Association defends disposables as quitting aids and warns of potential black market products if banned.[297] Although some brands have begun recycling services for their e-cigarette cartridges and batteries, the prevalence of recycling is unknown.[298]

[edit]

Other devices to deliver inhaled nicotine have been developed.[299] They aim to mimic the ritual and behavioral aspects of traditional cigarettes.[299]

British American Tobacco, through their subsidiary Nicoventures, licensed a nicotine delivery system based on existing asthma inhaler technology from UK-based healthcare company Kind Consumer.[300] In September 2014 a product based on this named Voke obtained approval from the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.[301]

In 2011, Philip Morris International bought the rights to a nicotine pyruvate technology developed by Jed Rose at Duke University.[302] The technology is based on the chemical reaction between pyruvic acid and nicotine, which produces an inhalable nicotine pyruvate vapor.[303] Philip Morris Products S.A. created a different kind e-cigarette named P3L.[304] The device is supplied with a cartridge that contains nicotine and lactic acid in different cavities.[304] When turned on and heated, the nicotine salt called nicotine lactate forms an aerosol.[304]

Philip Morris International's iQOS device with charger and tobacco stick.
Philip Morris International's IQOS device with charger and tobacco stick

The IQOS is a heated tobacco product marketed by Philip Morris International.[305] It heats tobacco at a lower temperature than traditional cigarettes.[306] The tobacco sticks reach a temperature up to 350 °C.[307] It sold first in Japan since November 2014.[308] In December 2016, the United Tobacco Vapor Group's (UTVG) stated that they have been given a patent for their vaporizing component system.[309] qmos from UTVG does not contain a wick or sponge and the number of components is 5 compared to 20 for traditional e-cigarettes.[309]

Pax Labs has developed vaporizers that heats the leaves of tobacco to deliver nicotine in a vapor.[310][311] In June 2015, they introduced Juul, a type of e-cigarette which delivers 10 times as much nicotine as other e-cigarettes, equivalent to an actual cigarette puff.[271] Juul was spun off from Pax Labs in June 2017 and is now available by the independent company Juul Labs.[312] The eTron 3T from Vapor Tobacco Manufacturing, launched in December 2014,[313] employs a patented, aqueous system whereby the tobacco is extracted into water.[314] The e-liquid contains organic tobacco, organic glycerin, and water.[313]

In December 2013, Japan Tobacco launched Ploom in Japan.[315] In January 2016, they launched Ploom TECH[316] that produces a vapor from a heated liquid that moves through a capsule of granulated tobacco leaves.[317] In 2016, British American Tobacco (BAT) released its own version of the heat but not burn technology called glo in Japan[318] and Switzerland.[319] It uses tobacco sticks rather than nicotine liquid,[320] and does not directly heat or burn tobacco.[321] Heated tobacco products were first introduced in 1988, but were not a commercial success.[322]

BLOW started selling e-hookahs, an electronic version of the hookah in 2014.[323] The handle of each hose for the e-hookah contains a heating element and a liquid, which produces vapor.[324] Gopal Bhatnagar, based in Toronto, Canada, invented a 3D printed adapter to turn a traditional hookah into an e-hookah.[325] It is used instead of the ceramic bowl that contains shisha tobacco.[326] Rather than the tobacco, users can insert e-cigarettes.[326]

Vaping of drugs other than nicotine

[edit]
Further information: CBD cigarette

Some vape pens, generally not referred to as "e-cigarettes", contain cannabis derivatives instead of nicotine and tobacco derivatives. Some cannabis pens, known as "dab pens", contain cannabis extracted using butane as solvent ("butane hash oil"). Other vaporizers contain e-liquid made with pure THC, and they generally resemble conventional e-cigarettes. A 2020 study shows that one third of teenagers engaged in conventional, tobacco vaping also engage in THC vaping.[327]

KanaVape is an e-cigarette containing cannabidiol (CBD) and no THC.[328] Several companies including Canada's Eagle Energy Vapor are selling caffeine-based e-cigarettes instead of containing nicotine.[329] Some e-cigarettes marketed as being "nicotine-free" have been found to instead contain the nicotine analogue 6-methylnicotine, which is more potent and may be more addictive than nicotine itself.[330][331]

More broadly, vape pens and e-liquids have become increasingly widely used as a delivery mechanism for a wide variety of illicit and designer drugs. These can include stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine, opioids such as fentanyl analogs and nitazenes, a wide variety of synthetic cannabinoids as well as semi-synthetic cannabinoids derived from THC, sedatives including benzodiazepines like etizolam as well as etomidate and methaqualone, psychedelics such as NBOMe substituted phenethylamine derivatives, dissociatives such as ketamine, and assorted other compounds.[332][333][334][335][336][337][338][339][340][341][342]

See also

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Notes

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References

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Bibliography

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Electronic cigarette

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An electronic cigarette is a battery-powered device that heats a solution, typically containing derived from , , vegetable glycerin, flavorings, and other chemicals, to generate an that users inhale through a mouthpiece. These devices, also called e-cigarettes, vapes, or electronic nicotine delivery systems, mimic the act of traditional cigarettes but produce vapor rather than combustion byproducts. Invented in 2003 by Chinese pharmacist , who sought an alternative to combustible after heavy and the loss of his father to , the modern e-cigarette patented a system using piezoelectric to vaporize the liquid. E-cigarettes vary in design from cigarette-like disposables to customizable mods with refillable tanks and adjustable power sources, enabling users to control vapor production and delivery. Global market revenue reached approximately USD 13.4 billion in 2024, with projections for continued growth driven by device sales and evolving consumer preferences, though usage among U.S. has declined to 5.9% in 2024 from higher peaks, amid regulatory efforts targeting flavored products. While empirical studies indicate e-cigarette aerosols expose users to fewer and lower levels of toxicants than smoke, supporting their role in for adult smokers attempting to quit, long-term health data remain limited, with evidence of risks, respiratory irritation, and cardiovascular effects, particularly concerning for non-smokers and adolescents. Controversies persist over their potential as a gateway to versus a net benefit, with peer-reviewed analyses emphasizing reduced harm relative to combustion but cautioning against initiation among due to dependency and unknown chronic outcomes.

Technology and Components

Device Design and Operation

Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid solution, known as e-liquid, to generate an inhalable without . The modern electronic cigarette was invented in 2003 by Chinese pharmacist , who developed it as a potential tool following his father's death from caused by . Early prototypes utilized piezoelectric to nebulize the liquid, but subsequent designs adopted resistive heating elements for . Core components typically include a rechargeable that supplies power, an atomizer consisting of a heating coil wrapped around a wick, a such as a cartridge or to hold the e-liquid, and a mouthpiece for . The atomizer's coil, often made of materials like kanthal or , draws e-liquid via from the wick, which is usually composed of or silica. Circuitry within the device incorporates a —either airflow-based or pressure-activated—and sometimes a to regulate voltage, wattage, and safety features like short-circuit protection. Operation begins when the user inhales through the mouthpiece, triggering the airflow sensor to complete the circuit and activate the battery, which delivers to the coil at temperatures typically ranging from 180–250°C (356–482°F). This rapid heating causes the e-liquid—primarily a mixture of , vegetable glycerin, , and flavorings—to evaporate into an comprising fine droplets and vapor. The user then inhales the , which delivers to the lungs; some devices feature a manual button for activation instead of or in addition to automatic puff detection. Unlike combustible cigarettes, this process produces no smoke, ash, or byproducts such as or , though the may contain trace thermal degradation products depending on operating conditions. Device designs vary in form factor, from cigarette-like disposables to modular systems with adjustable power outputs, but the fundamental mechanism relies on to aerosolize the rather than burning it. Battery capacities commonly range from 100–3000 mAh, influencing usage duration, while coil resistances are measured in ohms (e.g., 0.1–2.0 Ω) to control heat intensity and vapor production. features in regulated devices include overheat and dry-hit prevention to mitigate risks from wick burnout or depletion. To further reduce fire risks from lithium-ion batteries, authorities such as the FDA recommend charging on a flat, non-flammable surface away from flammable materials and unplugging once full; using only standard low-output chargers like those for phones; avoiding hard impacts or smacks that could damage internals; storing away from heat, metal objects, or pockets with keys/coins to prevent short-circuiting; and stopping use with proper disposal if the device becomes damaged, swollen, or unusually hot.

E-liquids and Ingredients

E-liquids, also known as vape juice, consist of a mixture primarily comprising solvents, , and flavoring agents that are heated to produce an inhalable . The base solvents are typically (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), which serve as carriers for other components and generate vapor upon heating. PG, a colorless, odorless liquid, provides throat hit and aids in flavor delivery, while VG, derived from vegetable oils, contributes to denser vapor clouds and smoother inhalation. In analyzed samples, e-liquids averaged 57 g/100 g PG, 37 g/100 g , and smaller amounts of other glycols. Nicotine, when present, is usually extracted from plants or produced synthetically, with concentrations ranging from 0 mg/mL in nicotine-free variants to as high as 50 mg/mL in some products, though regulated markets limit strengths (e.g., up to 20 mg/mL in the since ). It dissolves readily in PG/VG mixtures, influencing user satisfaction and potential akin to traditional but without byproducts. Approximately 10-15 puffs from a 20 mg/mL nicotine e-liquid deliver a similar amount of nicotine (~1 mg) to one traditional cigarette, based on ~0.07-0.1 mg per puff in high-nicotine salt vapes; however, there is no universally agreed precise number due to variations in devices, puff duration, inhalation style, and nicotine absorption rates, with 2024 sources confirming no significant changes to this estimate. Flavorings, often food-grade compounds deemed (GRAS) for oral consumption, include , ethyl maltol, and fruit or tobacco mimics, comprising up to several percent of the e-liquid by volume. These additives enhance appeal but may form reactive carbonyls or irritants when heated, with in vitro studies indicating potential for certain flavors like or derivatives, though human data remains limited and concentrations vary by product. Additional minor ingredients can include for viscosity adjustment, as a , triacetin for smoothness, and sweeteners like sucralose to balance flavors without significant caramelization. Quality varies due to limited pre-market oversight in some regions, potentially introducing impurities like from manufacturing, but pharmaceutical-grade PG/VG predominate in regulated formulations. Overall, e-liquid composition prioritizes formation over the and carcinogens in combusted , though induces mucociliary effects in animal models at high exposures.

Hardware Variations and Advancements

Electronic cigarettes have evolved through distinct generations of hardware, beginning with simple, cigarette-mimicking designs and progressing to sophisticated, customizable systems. First-generation devices, known as cigalikes, emerged commercially around 2003–2007, patented by Chinese pharmacist and marketed by Ruyan; these featured a small , a pre-filled cartridge holding ≤1 mL of e-liquid, and an atomizer that produced limited vapor with a glowing LED tip simulating a burning end. Their compact, disposable or two-part design prioritized familiarity for smokers but offered short battery life and low power output, restricting nicotine delivery and vapor production. Second-generation hardware, often termed vape pens, appeared in the early , introducing larger batteries and refillable tank systems that replaced cartridges, allowing users to customize e-liquid flavors and strengths while improving generation and battery longevity. These pen-shaped devices added manual activation buttons and basic airflow adjustments, marking a shift toward greater user control and efficiency over the fixed setups of cigalikes. Third-generation devices, including advanced personal vaporizers (APVs) and box mods, gained prominence from the mid-2010s, featuring high-capacity removable batteries (often 18650 cells), digital displays, and variable wattage or voltage controls ranging up to 200+ watts for enhanced power and vapor volume. Key advancements included sub-ohm atomizers (coils with resistance <1 ), which enable higher current flow and denser clouds via increased heat, and (TC) modes that use materials like or to regulate coil , preventing dry hits and flavor degradation. Rebuildable atomizers, such as dripping atomizers (RDAs) and tank atomizers (RTAs), allow users to manually construct coils from wire (e.g., kanthal or ) and wicks (often ), offering customization for flavor and vapor preferences among enthusiasts while reducing long-term costs. Fourth-generation pod systems, popularized by JUUL's 2015 launch, adopted compact, USB-like forms with pre-filled or refillable pods (typically 0.7–2 mL capacity), draw-activated firing (no button), and compatibility with nicotine salts for smoother high-nicotine delivery, emphasizing portability and discretion over power. These closed-system variants contrasted with open systems like mods by prioritizing simplicity and leak resistance, though they limited customization. Recent fifth-generation advancements incorporate smart features such as Bluetooth connectivity for app-based puff tracking, AI-driven nicotine monitoring, and auto-adjusting sensors, alongside innovations like mesh coils for even heating and extended lifespan, and ceramic or advanced polymer materials to minimize residue buildup. Overall, hardware progression has emphasized enhancements (e.g., short-circuit protection in regulated mods), (interchangeable components), and , with open systems suiting advanced users and closed systems appealing to beginners, though regulatory pressures have influenced toward reduced emissions and youth-resistant features in later models.

Usage and Adoption

Electronic cigarette use has expanded rapidly on a global scale, with estimates placing the number of vapers at over 100 million individuals as of 2024. The reports at least 86 million adult users, predominantly in high-income countries, alongside at least 15 million adolescents aged 13-15 years who use e-cigarettes. Independent estimates from the Global State of Tobacco suggest 114 million vapers worldwide in 2023, reflecting accelerated adoption. Prevalence trends indicate steady growth since the early , driven by product accessibility and marketing in developed markets. In 2021, approximately 82 million people vaped globally, up from 68 million in 2020. This upward trajectory equates to about 1.9% of the global engaging in vaping by recent counts, with high-income nations accounting for over two-thirds of users. Among , meta-analyses report current e-cigarette use at around 4.8-5% and ever-use at 16.8-17% across global adolescent populations, with males exhibiting higher rates than females. Regional variations highlight concentration in , , and parts of , where regulatory environments and cultural factors influence uptake. While prevalence has declined globally—from 1.38 billion users in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024—e-cigarette adoption has partially offset this by attracting former smokers and, in some cases, non-smokers. Emerging data for 2025 suggest continued expansion amid debates over long-term health impacts and policy responses, though stringent regulations in regions like the and have moderated youth initiation in recent years.

User Demographics and Motivations

In the , current e-cigarette use among adults is highest among those aged 18-24 years, with approximately 18% prevalence reported in 2021 data from the Behavioral . Usage declines with age thereafter, though it remains notable among current and former smokers across adult demographics. Men report higher rates of current e-cigarette use than women, consistent with patterns in combustible consumption. Among ever-users of e-cigarettes (17.1% of U.S. adults in 2022), current use stands at 4.3%, with the majority having a history of smoking; non-smokers and former smokers exhibit far lower adoption rates (0.3% and 0.6%, respectively, in a 2024 European cohort). E-cigarette adoption is predominantly among current smokers or recent quitters, with dual use (concurrent e-cigarette and consumption) characterizing over half of adult vapers in multiple surveys. Never-smokers represent a small fraction of regular users, often limited to younger cohorts influenced by social factors rather than . usage has declined to 5.9% among U.S. middle and high school students in 2024, down from 7.7% in 2023, though frequent use persists among a subset (38.4% of current youth users vaping on 20+ days in the past month). ![Reasons for initiating e-cigarette use (EU 2018)](./assets/Reasons_for_initiating_e-cigarette_use_EU2018EU_2018 Primary motivations for adult e-cigarette use center on or reduction, with 34.2% of dual users citing reduced combustible cigarette intake as a key driver in a 2022 survey of smokers. Other common reasons include perceived benefits over , enjoyment of device use, and social acceptability, though convenience alone correlates with lower usage frequency. Among those quitting vaping, concerns (74%) and savings (45%) predominate, underscoring instrumental rather than recreational intent for many. For young adults, intrinsic factors like quitting or favoring vaping's sensory profile over cigarettes sustain continued use, while extrinsic social influences play a lesser role. coping emerges as a endorsed reason in 39.6% of cases tied to higher frequency, potentially reflecting for stress or anxiety amid nicotine's pharmacological effects.

Patterns of Dual Use and Switching

Dual use refers to the concurrent consumption of electronic cigarettes and combustible cigarettes, often as a transitional behavior among smokers attempting to reduce or quit . In the United States, approximately 29.4% of adults who used e-cigarettes in 2021 also smoked combustible cigarettes, representing a subset of current smokers who incorporate vaping into their intake. Prevalence of dual use varies by demographics, with higher rates observed among younger adults; for instance, in a 2022 study of U.S. adults, dual use was reported at 41.1% for ages 18–29 and 36.8% for ages 30–39, compared to 15.6% for ages 40–49. Globally, dual use patterns show that among e-cigarette users, the proportion concurrently has declined over time, from 54.6% in 2016 to lower figures in recent years, reflecting market maturation and increased adoption for cessation purposes. Longitudinal trends indicate a gradual reduction in dual use intensity. In , the proportion of smokers engaging in dual use decreased from 19.8% in 2013 to 16.4% in 2019, with prolonged dual use (lasting over a year) among dual users falling from 40.0% to 27.4% in the same period, suggesting many transition toward exclusive vaping or . In , where e-cigarettes are promoted for , dual use affected about 5% of adults as of 2024, with patterns shifting from frequent smoking to predominant vaping; the most common dual use profile across 2016–2023 was daily cigarette smoking combined with daily vaping (49.0%), though this evolved toward less cigarette dependence as disposable pod devices proliferated. U.S. data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study similarly show increasing transitions from dual use to exclusive e-cigarette use, rising from 9.5% per year in earlier waves to 20.0% by recent assessments, driven by factors like delivery efficiency. Switching from dual use to exclusive e-cigarette use or complete cessation is supported by clinical , though outcomes vary. A 2019 in the found that e-cigarettes achieved a 18.0% one-year rate among smokers (verified by levels), compared to 9.9% for , with many participants progressing from dual use to exclusive vaping before quitting entirely. In ’s Toolkit Study, adults who initiated e-cigarette use while showed repeated point-prevalence switching away from cigarettes, with 69.5% of those switched at 12 months maintaining from over the subsequent year as of 2025 data. However, not all dual users successfully switch; some analyses indicate dual users are less likely to achieve sustained cessation than exclusive smokers, potentially due to sustained or behavioral reinforcement from combustible , with reversion to observed in subsets tracked longitudinally. Empirical data emphasize that while dual use sustains higher exposure to toxins than exclusive vaping, it often serves as an intermediate step, with success rates improving alongside advancements in e-cigarette and user .

Health Effects

Harm Reduction for Smokers

Electronic cigarettes facilitate for smokers by delivering via without the products inherent in traditional , such as , , and numerous carcinogens. has estimated that e-cigarettes are approximately 95% less harmful than , based on assessments of exposure levels, a figure derived from independent reviews commissioned in and supported by subsequent evidence on reduced harmful chemical yields. This reduction stems from the absence of and the lower concentrations of volatile organic compounds, , and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in e-cigarette emissions compared to cigarette smoke. Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials indicate that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes outperform (NRT) in promoting among smokers motivated to quit. The 2024 Cochrane review, analyzing data from multiple trials, found high-certainty evidence that e-cigarettes with nicotine increase six-month quit rates compared to NRT, with a of 1.63 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.05), and moderate-certainty evidence of superiority over no intervention or behavioral support alone. However, the World Health Organization does not recommend electronic cigarettes as a tool for quitting smoking, stating that they have not been proven effective for cessation at the population level and noting potential health risks. For smokers unable or unwilling to quit entirely, complete switching to e-cigarettes has been associated with substantial decreases in biomarkers of exposure to and other toxins, approaching levels seen in non-smokers. Observational and intervention studies on smokers who switch to exclusive e-cigarette use report improvements in respiratory symptoms and objective health markers. A 2024 analysis of switching patterns showed moderate increases in the resolution of and compared to continued smoking, alongside reductions in production. New vapers transitioning from smoking often experience "vaper's cough," which is more frequent initially than in smoking, affecting approximately 57% due to factors such as improper inhalation technique, irritation from propylene glycol, high nicotine concentrations, dehydration, and regrowth of lung cilia that clears accumulated mucus. This effect is typically temporary, with 93% adapting within weeks through adjustments including improved technique, lower nicotine levels, higher vegetable glycerin content, or increased hydration. Short-term trials, including one published in 2024, demonstrated that adding e-cigarettes to counseling enhanced cessation rates without elevating adverse health events over six months, supporting their role as a transitional tool. However, while acute harms appear mitigated, population-level data suggest incomplete alignment in risk reduction for all smoking-related diseases, such as certain cardiovascular outcomes, underscoring the need for long-term monitoring. These findings position e-cigarettes as a viable strategy for adult smokers, provided they prioritize complete substitution over dual use.

Risks to Non-Smokers and Youth Initiation

Secondhand exposure to e-cigarette , while containing and fewer toxicants than combustible cigarette smoke, poses lower overall risks to non-smokers compared to , with studies indicating 90-95% reductions in harmful chemicals and particulate matter. Children exposed to secondhand vapor absorb significantly less than from , as evidenced by measurements showing higher cotinine levels from smoke exposure. However, may still cause acute symptoms like eye, , and throat irritation or reduced respiratory function in short-term exposure scenarios, particularly in enclosed spaces. Prospective data link secondhand to increased risks of bronchitic symptoms and , though these effects are milder and less consistent than those from tobacco smoke. For non-smoking , the primary concern stems from direct initiation of e-cigarette use, which delivers —a substance known to disrupt adolescent development by altering circuits involved in , learning, impulse control, and reward , with effects persisting into adulthood. exposure during this period heightens addiction vulnerability, as brains show heightened responsiveness to nicotine's reinforcing effects compared to adults, potentially priming pathways for other substance dependencies. In the United States, current e-cigarette use among middle and high school students stood at 5.9% in 2024, affecting approximately 1.63 million , down from peaks near 20% in 2019 but still indicating widespread experimentation driven by flavored products and social influences. The extent to which e-cigarette serves as a gateway to combustible remains debated, with longitudinal studies showing associations—such as 3-4 times higher of subsequent among baseline vapers—but often failing to establish causation after accounting for confounders like prior risk behaviors or common liability to experimentation. A of prospective cohorts highlighted consistent links to in 28 studies, yet critics note that reverse causation (e.g., predisposed to trying e-cigarettes first) and shared genetic/environmental factors explain much of the , with no clear of e-cigarettes uniquely driving uptake in non-prone individuals. Empirical data from nicotine-containing versus nicotine-free e-cigarette trials further suggest that itself amplifies progression risks, underscoring the need to restrict access to prevent onset rather than assuming inevitable escalation. literature, often from institutions skeptical of , emphasizes gateway risks, but independent analyses reveal these claims overstate causality amid declining overall use.

Comparative Toxicology to Combustible Tobacco

Electronic cigarette aerosols lack the process inherent to combustible cigarettes, resulting in the absence of and byproducts such as , , and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are major contributors to -related . In contrast to cigarette smoke, which contains over 7,000 chemicals including at least 70 known carcinogens, e-cigarette aerosols primarily consist of , vegetable glycerin, , and flavorants, with far fewer identified toxicants overall. Quantitative analyses indicate that levels of targeted toxicants in e-cigarette aerosols are 68.5% to over 99% lower than in cigarette smoke for compounds like , , and . Cigarette smoke delivers high concentrations of (TSNAs), , and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through incomplete , whereas e-cigarette exhibit substantially reduced emissions of these substances due to the heating rather than burning mechanism. For instance, TSNA levels in e-cigarette are typically 90-99% lower than in smoke, and carbonyl compounds like arise from thermal degradation of e-liquids but at concentrations 10-100 times below those in smoke under standard puffing regimens. Metals such as and can leach from e-cigarette coils, yet their concentrations remain orders of magnitude lower than in smoke, where they originate from filler and . Among e-cigarette variants, disposable large cloud e-cigarettes release higher levels of toxic metals, including lead, nickel, and antimony, compared to small pod systems or refillable devices, due to the use of certain alloys in their construction; these devices also produce greater aerosol volumes, increasing particle exposure, and feature high nicotine concentrations with extended puff capacities, elevating potential total nicotine intake. In vitro toxicological assessments, including and tests on human lung cells, demonstrate that e-cigarette induce significantly less , , and DNA damage compared to cigarette smoke equivalents. A comparative analysis using 3D human airway models confirmed no or impaired from e-cigarette exposures at levels matching smoker puff topography, unlike the pronounced effects from tobacco smoke. These findings align with chemical emission data showing e-cigarette to be compositionally simpler and less hazardous, though aerosol complexity increases with higher device power or degraded components, potentially elevating certain aldehydes. Despite these reductions, e-cigarette aerosols are not devoid of risk, containing and select harmful chemicals like in some flavors, but epidemiological and studies in users corroborate lower systemic exposure to carcinogens and toxins relative to smokers. For example, urinary levels of NNAL (a TSNA ) in exclusive vapers are 70-95% lower than in combustible smokers. Independent reviews emphasize that while absolute safety is unproven, the toxicological profile supports e-cigarettes as a lower-risk alternative for adult smokers, predicated on reduced but non-zero emissions of respiratory irritants and potential mutagens. Long-term remain limited, but short-term clinical trials show diminished and inflammatory markers in switchers compared to continued smokers.

Emerging Long-Term Data and Uncertainties

A 2025 population-based analysis linked exclusive electronic cigarette use to increased odds of (COPD) and compared to non-use, drawing from U.S. health survey data spanning multiple years. Similarly, longitudinal cohort data indicate that e-cigarette initiation among youth correlates with heightened risks of subsequent cigarette smoking, substance use, exacerbations, injuries, and issues, though causation remains debated due to factors like pre-existing vulnerabilities. These findings emerge from observational studies tracking users over 2–5 years, highlighting acute-to-intermediate respiratory and cardiovascular perturbations, including elevated and post-inhalation. Animal models of chronic e-cigarette exposure, simulating years of human use, demonstrate less severe cardiovascular and respiratory impairment than combustible cigarettes, with reduced and but detectable and renal alterations. Human cohort evidence supports for complete switchers from smoking, showing attenuated progression of smoking-attributable diseases, yet dual use—common in 20–40% of users—may accelerate risk through additive . A of longitudinal and found no significant cancer incidence elevation from e-cigarette use alone in most cases, attributing discrepancies to methodological variances like self-reported exposure. Key uncertainties stem from the technology's recency, with surging post-2010, limiting data beyond a decade for never-smokers or . Potential long-term risks include nicotine-driven dependence trajectories, chronic bronchial irritation without combustion byproducts, and subtle vascular remodeling, as evidenced by markers in early cohorts. Gastrointestinal and hepatic effects, such as microbiome disruption and , appear in preclinical extensions but lack robust human confirmation. While e-cigarettes exhibit lower toxicant profiles than tobacco smoke, variability in device potency, e-liquid formulations, and user behaviors confounds projections, underscoring the need for extended prospective trials decoupled from institutional emphases on acute harms.

Controversies and Scientific Debates

Gateway Hypothesis Evaluation

The gateway hypothesis posits that electronic cigarette use among non-smoking youth causally leads to initiation of combustible tobacco cigarette , potentially through , behavioral normalization of inhalation devices, or progression to more harmful substances. This claim has been advanced in numerous observational studies showing associations, with adjusted odds ratios for subsequent among baseline e-cigarette users ranging from 1.41 to 8.30 in longitudinal analyses of adolescent never-smokers. For instance, a 2025 of 99 individual-level studies identified consistent positive links between vaping and later smoking progression, though it rated the evidence as very low certainty due to pervasive biases. Critiques emphasize that such associations do not establish causation, attributing them instead to the common liability hypothesis, where youth predisposed to nicotine experimentation—due to genetic risk-taking traits, peer influences, or socioeconomic factors—are more likely to try both products regardless of order. Longitudinal designs often fail to fully control for over 30 potential confounders, such as prior susceptibility to smoking or unreported early exposure, and exclude dual users at baseline, limiting generalizability to only 5.3% of overall cigarette initiations. A 2023 analysis of 22 sub-cohorts highlighted methodological flaws, including short follow-up periods (6–24 months) and overgeneralization of sub-group risks to populations, concluding that causal claims contradict broader evidence. Population-level trends further undermine the hypothesis: youth combustible smoking rates have accelerated in decline since e-cigarette availability increased, with U.S. high school smoking dropping from 15.8% in 2011 to 1.9% by 2023, even as vaping peaked and then stabilized. A 2023 Queen Mary University of London study, described as the most comprehensive to date, found no evidence that e-cigarettes promote smoking uptake at a societal scale, suggesting displacement effects where vaping substitutes for cigarettes among at-risk youth. Similarly, a 2024 evaluation favored common liability over gateway causation, noting that misinterpreting associations risks policies that could elevate smoking by restricting less harmful alternatives. Overall, while e-cigarette use correlates with elevated risk among susceptible , rigorous causal for a gateway effect remains weak, confounded by selection biases and contradicted by aggregate data showing decoupled trends in vaping and prevalence. Studies from tobacco control-oriented sources often amplify gateway interpretations despite these limitations, whereas analyses prioritize confounding and population outcomes. Further randomized or quasi-experimental research is needed to disentangle directionality, but current data do not support prohibiting e-cigarettes on gateway grounds alone.

Youth Vaping Epidemic Claims

Claims of a youth vaping "epidemic" gained prominence in the United States around 2018–2019, when the U.S. (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted sharp increases in e-cigarette use among middle and high school students, attributing the rise primarily to flavored, pod-based devices like . According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), past-30-day e-cigarette use among these students peaked at approximately 20% in 2019, with high school prevalence reaching 27.5% that year, prompting public health officials to declare it a crisis due to concerns over nicotine addiction and potential gateway effects to combustible tobacco. These claims emphasized that e-cigarettes had become the most used tobacco product among youth since 2014, surpassing traditional cigarettes, and warned of long-term risks including brain development impairment from nicotine exposure. However, subsequent NYTS data reveal a sustained decline in youth e-cigarette use following regulatory interventions such as flavor restrictions, marketing curbs, and enforcement against unauthorized products. Past-30-day prevalence fell to 7.7% in 2023 and further to 5.9% in 2024 across middle and high school students, representing about 1.6 million users and marking the lowest level in over a decade, with roughly 500,000 fewer youth vapers compared to the prior year. High school use specifically dropped from 10% in 2023 to 7.8% in 2024, while middle school rates declined from 5.9% to 3.5%. This trajectory contrasts with the "epidemic" framing, as overall youth tobacco use reached a 25-year low of 7.8% in 2024, driven largely by e-cigarette reductions, and current cigarette smoking among youth hit 1.4%—far below historical peaks. Critiques of the epidemic narrative argue that it overstates the scale and novelty of the issue relative to past youth smoking trends, where cigarette prevalence exceeded 30% among high schoolers in the 1990s and earlier decades, leading to far greater documented morbidity and mortality. For instance, cigarette smoking rates declined from 17.1% in 2002 to 1.4% by 2024, a steeper drop post-e-cigarette emergence, suggesting vaping may have displaced rather than amplified overall nicotine uptake among non-smokers. Independent analyses note the absence of acute, widespread health outcomes directly attributable to youth e-cigarette use, unlike combustible tobacco, and question the causal evidence for gateway effects given the parallel collapse in youth smoking initiation. Public health agencies like the CDC, while data providers, have been accused of alarmism to justify broad restrictions, potentially overlooking e-cigarettes' role in reducing combustible tobacco harm among experimenting youth. Despite ongoing daily use among about 30% of youth vapers in 2024, the lack of epidemic-level disease incidence and the post-peak stabilization underscore that claims may reflect temporary spikes amplified by institutional biases toward anti-nicotine policies rather than enduring causal threats.

Flavor Restrictions and Behavioral Outcomes

In various jurisdictions, restrictions on flavored electronic cigarettes have been enacted primarily to diminish their appeal to non-smokers, particularly youth, by prohibiting non-tobacco flavors such as fruit, candy, and menthol in e-liquids. For instance, implemented a comprehensive ban effective June 1, 2020, which included e-cigarettes and led to an 88.91% reduction in total e-cigarette unit sales in the state compared to pre-ban levels. Similarly, California's flavored tobacco ban, enacted in December 2022, resulted in significant declines in e-cigarette sales, with overall tobacco product sales dropping by approximately 10% in the year following implementation. In the , the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) of 2016 banned characterizing flavors in cigarettes and restricted them in e-cigarettes, contributing to reported decreases in youth e-cigarette experimentation. Empirical data indicate these policies correlate with reduced e-cigarette initiation and use among adolescents and young adults. In states with flavor bans, e-cigarette use among youth aged 18-24 declined significantly relative to states without such restrictions, with one analysis showing sustained reductions in post-2020. A of global flavor restrictions found significant decreases in youth electronic nicotine product (ENP) use, attributing this to lowered product attractiveness. However, these reductions are not uniform; in high-retailer-density areas, youth access persisted through alternative channels, suggesting challenges limit overall efficacy. Among adult smokers, flavor restrictions have shown mixed behavioral outcomes, often hindering efforts. Studies reveal that bans are associated with slower declines in combustible smoking, with states implementing e-cigarette flavor policies experiencing unintended increases in use prevalence—up to a 2.2% rise in daily rates from 2018 to 2023 compared to non-ban states. In , while e-cigarette sales fell, cigarette sales also declined modestly, but young adult (18-24) vapers reported higher rates of switching back to or initiating use post-ban, potentially due to reduced appeal of tobacco-only flavors for cessation. Experimental evidence further suggests that flavor bans elevate the likelihood of consumers turning to illicit markets for banned products, inflating activity without proportionally boosting quit rates. Critically, while youth vaping reductions are documented, the net impact remains debated due to substitution effects. Comprehensive analyses of U.S. state-level post-flavor bans indicate no significant overall reduction in product use among adults 21 and older, with dual use patterns persisting or shifting toward more harmful s. In , local surveys post-2020 ban found no decrease in e-cigarette consumption in urban areas like , implying behavioral adaptation via unregulated sources. These outcomes underscore that flavor restrictions may curb novel uptake but risk undermining switching from combustible , where empirical substitution models predict net harm if proliferation or cigarette relapse exceeds vaping declines.

Historical Development

Early Prototypes (1920s–1990s)

In 1927, American inventor Joseph Robinson filed a patent for an "electric vaporizer" designed to produce inhalable vapors from medicinal compounds without combustion, which some sources identify as an early conceptual precursor to the electronic cigarette. The device featured a storage unit for liquids, a heating element to generate mist, and a mouthpiece for inhalation, explicitly avoiding tobacco burning to eliminate smoke and ash. The patent was granted in 1930 but was never commercialized, likely due to technological limitations in battery power, material durability, and lack of market interest in nicotine delivery alternatives at the time. Subsequent decades saw sporadic patent filings for similar non-combustible inhalation devices, though none achieved practical implementation. These early efforts reflected a recognition of combustion's health drawbacks—such as tar and carbon monoxide production—but lacked the engineering feasibility for widespread adoption amid dominant traditional tobacco industry interests. A more defined prototype emerged in 1963 when Herbert A. Gilbert, an Ohio-based engineer, filed for a "smokeless non-tobacco cigarette" patent, granted in 1965, which closely resembled modern e-cigarette principles by vaporizing flavored, nicotine-free liquids through a piezoelectric ultrasonic method or heating element. Gilbert's device included a plastic tube with a battery-powered heater to produce inhalable mist mimicking smoke, aimed at providing a safer smoking simulation without tobacco or combustion byproducts; he constructed a working prototype and sought partnerships with tobacco firms like Philip Morris. Despite demonstrations, companies declined commercialization, citing insufficient demand for non-nicotine alternatives and entrenched cigarette market dominance, leaving the invention dormant through the 1970s and 1980s. From the to , isolated experiments continued, such as battery-operated inhalers for or pharmaceuticals, but systemic barriers including regulatory hurdles, high development costs, and toward unproven alternatives prevented viable prototypes from advancing beyond patents. These efforts underscored causal challenges in delivery—requiring stable without degradation or —but yielded no mass-produced devices until the early .

Modern Commercialization (2000s–2010s)

The first commercially viable electronic cigarette was developed by Chinese pharmacist , who patented a piezoelectric ultrasound device for aerosolizing nicotine solution in 2003 while working for Golden Dragon Holdings. In May 2004, the company—renamed Ruyan—launched its initial e-cigar product in , marketed as a healthier alternative to combustible for smokers seeking to quit or reduce consumption. These early devices featured a basic atomizer, battery, and nicotine cartridge, producing vapor without , and were initially sold domestically with limited export. International commercialization accelerated in 2006, with e-cigarettes entering European markets in April and the U.S. in August via imports from , primarily through small vendors and online sales. Early U.S. brands like (founded 2007) and Smoking Everywhere emerged, facing regulatory scrutiny; the FDA attempted to classify them as unapproved drugs in 2009, leading to import blocks, but a 2010 federal appeals court ruling allowed regulation as tobacco products absent therapeutic claims. This enabled market persistence, with independent firms driving innovation in refillable cartomizers and variable-voltage batteries by the early . Global sales reflected rapid expansion, growing from an estimated $20 million in 2008 to $7 billion by 2014, fueled by smoker adoption and device improvements like clearomizers for better flavor delivery. In the U.S., disposable e-cigarette unit sales rose from negligible levels in 2010 to nearly $100 million in the second quarter of 2013 alone. Tobacco companies began entering the sector around 2012 with investments and launches (e.g., Lorillard's Blu in 2012), though independents dominated early growth; pod-based systems like JUUL, introduced in 2015, captured significant share by 2019 through discreet design and high-nicotine salts, contributing to youth appeal concerns amid overall market scaling.

Recent Evolution and Market Shifts (2020s)

The global e-cigarette market expanded significantly in the early 2020s, with revenue reaching approximately US$27.2 billion projected for 2025, reflecting an annual growth rate of around 3.69% through 2030. In the United States, the market was valued at USD 6.04 billion in 2025, with modest growth anticipated to USD 6.59 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of about 1.8%. This growth occurred amid heightened regulatory scrutiny, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) process, which began issuing marketing denial orders for many flavored products starting in 2021, limiting authorized options primarily to tobacco-flavored varieties. Disposable e-cigarettes emerged as the dominant segment, driving much of the market surge. From February 2020 to May 2025, U.S. disposable e-cigarette unit sales increased by 202.5%, from 4.1 million to 12.3 million units monthly, capturing a larger share due to their affordability, convenience, and appeal of flavored options despite restrictions. The global disposable market grew from USD 5.7 billion in 2021 to a projected USD 14.8 billion by 2030, fueled by larger-capacity devices containing high levels, often exceeding those in traditional cigarettes. Brands like Elf Bar and similar imports proliferated, filling voids left by pod systems such as , whose market position weakened following FDA enforcement actions and lawsuits over youth marketing in 2019-2020. Regulatory developments reshaped market dynamics globally. In the U.S., FDA's PMTA denials for thousands of applications by 2024 constrained legal sales, prompting industry challenges in courts, including a 2025 affirmation of denials for flavored products like those from Triton. Internationally, flavor bans in the and countries like intensified by 2023-2025, alongside bans on disposables in places such as the and parts of , yet overall vaping prevalence rose, with an estimated 68 million users worldwide in 2020. These measures aimed to curb youth uptake but correlated with shifts toward unregulated or black-market channels, while authorized products innovated in delivery, such as synthetic formulations to evade some restrictions. Market consolidation and innovation marked further evolution, with traditional tobacco firms like advancing heated tobacco alternatives alongside e-cigarettes, contributing to broader nicotine product diversification. Despite tightened policies, e-cigarette sales climbed during 2020-2022, including amid the , underscoring persistent consumer demand for smoking alternatives. Projections indicate continued expansion, albeit tempered by enforcement, with the global market potentially reaching USD 47.5 billion by 2028.

Regulation and Policy

International Frameworks

The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), adopted in May 2003 and entering into force on February 27, 2005, serves as the cornerstone international treaty for tobacco control, ratified by 183 parties representing over 90% of the global population. Although the FCTC predates the commercialization of modern electronic cigarettes and does not explicitly reference them, its provisions on tobacco product regulation—such as Articles 9 and 10 requiring disclosure of ingredients and emissions, and broader demands for demand reduction measures—have been interpreted by the WHO and many parties to encompass e-cigarettes as novel nicotine delivery systems akin to tobacco products. This application remains contested, as e-cigarettes lack tobacco combustion, potentially distinguishing them from traditional cigarettes under the treaty's causal focus on smoke-related harms, though WHO guidance urges comprehensive restrictions including advertising bans, packaging warnings, and taxation aligned with FCTC obligations. The WHO has issued targeted recommendations on e-cigarettes outside the FCTC, emphasizing their classification as products where feasible and advocating for stringent controls to mitigate uptake and risks, including a report urging parties to implement non-binding measures like sales bans to unproven users and flavor restrictions. As of 2023, WHO data indicate that 74 countries lack any e-cigarette regulations, while 88 impose no minimum purchase age, highlighting uneven global implementation influenced by FCTC reporting requirements but hampered by the absence of specific enforcement mechanisms for non-combustible products. At the FCTC's (COP10) in February 2024, delegates deferred a binding decision on e-cigarettes and heated products, opting instead for a to assess their integration into the treaty framework, reflecting ongoing debates over evidence versus precautionary restrictions. No dedicated exists solely for e-cigarettes, leading to reliance on FCTC extensions or national adaptations; for instance, at least 34 countries have enacted outright sales bans by 2023, often justified under FCTC-aligned rationales, while others regulate via consumer product safety laws to avoid trade disputes under World Trade Organization rules. Proposals for a new FCTC-like convention on novel nicotine products have surfaced to address regulatory gaps, but as of 2025, these remain aspirational amid evidence that divergent approaches—such as minimum age limits and public use bans in 68 countries—yield varying outcomes without unified causal benchmarks for efficacy.

U.S. Federal and State Measures

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gained authority to regulate tobacco products, including electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), through the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act signed into law on June 22, 2009. This act empowered the FDA to oversee manufacturing, marketing, and distribution but initially excluded ENDS. On May 10, 2016, the FDA issued the Deeming Rule, extending its jurisdiction to ENDS, cigars, and other deemed tobacco products, with regulations taking effect on August 8, 2016. Under this framework, manufacturers of new ENDS products must submit Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTAs) demonstrating that marketing is appropriate for protection, with initial deadlines set for September 9, 2020. The FDA has issued marketing granted orders (MGOs) for select ENDS, such as certain pod-based systems in 2021 and 2022, based on evidence of benefits for adult smokers outweighing risks to youth. However, it has denied thousands of applications, particularly for flavored products; for instance, in August 2021, denials were issued for flavored ENDS citing insufficient evidence and youth appeal risks, and by May 2023, approximately 6,500 flavored products received marketing denial orders (MDOs). In August 2025, the FDA denied marketing for the blu Disposable Classic Tobacco Flavor, emphasizing inadequate long-term health data. Additionally, the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children (POSECCA) Act, enacted in 2020 and amending the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, prohibits the from shipping ENDS to consumers, effective April 2021, to curb youth access via mail. At the state level, regulations vary widely, with over 20 states imposing restrictions on flavored ENDS sales by mid-2025 to address youth initiation. enacted a comprehensive flavor ban on December 18, 2019, prohibiting sales of and ENDS except tobacco flavor, upheld despite legal challenges. Similar permanent bans exist in (effective December 2022 for non-tobacco flavors), , New York, , , and , often justified by state health departments citing elevated youth usage rates but showing mixed empirical effects on overall tobacco use among adolescents. States like and maintain licensing and age-verification requirements without full flavor prohibitions as of May 2025, while local jurisdictions in over 418 areas, including and , enforce additional flavored product sales limits. Many states also mandate excise taxes on ENDS, ranging from 15% of wholesale price in New York to fixed rates per milliliter in others, alongside minimum purchase ages of 21 aligned with federal law since December 2019.

Impacts on Access and Black Markets

Regulations on electronic cigarettes, including flavor restrictions, excise taxes, and import controls, have significantly curtailed legal access for adult consumers seeking alternatives, particularly in jurisdictions with stringent policies. , federal flavor bans implemented in 2020 for cartridge-based systems, coupled with ongoing enforcement against unauthorized imports, have led to widespread shortages of compliant products, prompting many users to seek unregulated sources. Similarly, Australia's 2021 therapeutic goods reforms, which restricted non-prescription vapes, resulted in fewer than 8,000 legal units sold monthly against an estimated 1.7 million adult users by 2025, creating a supply gap filled predominantly by illicit channels. These access barriers have fueled the growth of black and gray markets, where unregulated products evade taxes, safety standards, and age verification. In , over 90% of vapes circulated illegally by 2025, with organized exploiting the demand for flavored and disposable devices banned from legal sale. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FDA seized over 6 million unauthorized e-cigarettes valued at more than $120 million in 2025 alone, including a record $86.5 million operation targeting imports from , yet illicit trade persists, comprising an estimated 86% of retail sales according to anti-tobacco analyses. In the UK, seizures of illegal vapes rose to nearly 3 million units worth £21 million between 2020 and 2024, driven by flavor caps and tax hikes. High taxes exacerbate this, as evidenced in states with flavor bans experiencing a 2.2% rise in daily smoking rates from 2018 to 2023 compared to non-ban states, suggesting displaced demand. The proliferation of underground markets undermines regulatory intent by introducing risks from untested products potentially containing contaminants or inaccurate levels, while evading revenue collection and fostering networks. In , illegal vape seizures surged 21,000% to 279,432 units in 2024, highlighting enforcement challenges amid demand for affordable alternatives. Surveys indicate that tax increases could drive up to one-third of vapers to black markets, mirroring patterns in high-tax regimes like , where doubled excises in 2025 shifted much of the sector underground. This dynamic often reverses gains, as restricted legal options push former back to combustible , with empirical data showing elevated smoking relapse in ban jurisdictions despite aims to deter initiation.

Societal and Economic Dimensions

Marketing Strategies and Influences

Electronic cigarette manufacturers have significantly increased marketing expenditures since the early , with spending rising from $75.7 million in 2013 to $115.3 million in 2014, primarily through digital channels, point-of-sale promotions, and event sponsorships. Early brands like and Blu shifted strategies over time, emphasizing health-related messaging in initial phases before pivoting to lifestyle and social themes as regulatory scrutiny intensified. These efforts often highlight product discretion, flavor variety, and customization, positioning e-cigarettes as modern alternatives to traditional . Industry actors, including those backed by major firms, have utilized platforms for rapid dissemination, with emerging as a key venue for visual promotions featuring sleek devices and aerosol clouds. A prominent example is JUUL's "Vaporized" campaign launched in 2015, which deployed imagery of models in their 20s in urban, party-like settings to convey themes of socialization, style, and relaxation, distributed across websites, emails, , and live events. By 2019, JUUL adjusted to a "Make the Switch" adult-focused narrative amid backlash, though prior tactics correlated with elevated awareness. influencers have amplified reach, with 55 e-cigarette promoters in 2020 partnering with over 600 brands on , often attracting teenage followers through endorsements of flavors and tricks like . Tactics such as sponsoring music festivals, offering scholarships, and leveraging have been documented by monitors, though manufacturers assert primary targeting of adult smokers seeking cessation aids. Flavor marketing has proven particularly influential, with advertisements for , mint, and profiles enhancing perceived appeal and satisfaction among users, including who report suppressing nicotine's harshness via these variants. Experimental studies indicate flavored depictions boost interest more than -only ads, contributing to initiation patterns where 90% of young users prefer non- flavors. Nationwide surveys link ad exposure—reaching up to 82% of U.S. aged 12-17 by 2015—to higher experimentation rates, though causal attribution remains debated given confounding factors like peer influence and . Public health analyses from advocacy groups like emphasize vulnerability, yet these sources exhibit institutional opposition to products, potentially amplifying correlations as causation; industry data counters that adult switching drives sustained market growth, with flavors aiding for smokers. Overall, these strategies have correlated with e-cigarette sales surging 47% from 2019 to 2023, predominantly flavored units comprising 80.6% of volume.

Public Health Policy Debates

Public health policy debates surrounding electronic cigarettes center on their potential as a tool for adult smokers versus the risks they pose to youth and non-smokers, including addiction and possible gateway effects to combustible tobacco use. Proponents of argue that e-cigarettes deliver with substantially fewer toxicants than traditional cigarettes, potentially aiding ; for instance, randomized trials have shown e-cigarette use can increase quit rates among smokers compared to nicotine replacement therapies alone. However, critics, including the (WHO), contend that e-cigarettes are not risk-free, citing evidence of acute lung injuries like EVALI in 2019—primarily linked to illicit THC vaping—and emerging data on cardiovascular and respiratory harms from long-term use, such as increased risks of COPD and among exclusive vapers. The WHO advocates for stringent measures, including flavor bans and marketing restrictions, to curb uptake, viewing e-cigarettes as promoting rather than net gains. The gateway hypothesis remains contentious, with observational studies showing associations between youth e-cigarette initiation and subsequent cigarette smoking, but causal evidence is weak due to confounding factors like shared risk factors for substance use; detailed analyses have found no robust support for e-cigarettes independently causing progression to beyond baseline vulnerabilities. Despite this, vaping rates—peaking at around 28% in 2019—drove policy urgency, prompting U.S. (FDA) actions like the 2020 flavor enforcement against unauthorized products, which correlated with a decline to the lowest e-cigarette use in a decade by 2024, with about 1.6 million fewer users. State-level flavor restrictions have similarly reduced e-cigarette prevalence among without boosting cigarette use, though some studies note potential shifts to products. Opponents of broad restrictions argue they undermine adult switching, as evidenced by policies allowing regulated e-cigarettes contributing to smoking declines, contrasting with more prohibitive approaches elsewhere. Long-term effects fuel ongoing contention, as most evidence derives from short-term studies; while e-cigarette aerosols contain fewer carcinogens than smoke, chronic exposure has been linked to endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, potentially elevating heart disease risks, though at levels below combustible tobacco. Policy frameworks reflect this uncertainty: the FDA's youth prevention plan emphasizes access barriers and education, while international bodies like the WHO prioritize total deterrence, highlighting tensions between empirical harm comparisons—e.g., Public Health England estimates e-cigarettes as 95% less harmful—and precautionary principles amid incomplete data. These debates underscore trade-offs, with some experts cautioning against over-reliance on tobacco control paradigms that may undervalue switching benefits for the 1 billion global smokers.

Economic Scale and Industry Dynamics

The global electronic cigarette market generated approximately US$28.17 billion in revenue in 2023, with projections estimating growth to US$182.84 billion by 2030 at a (CAGR) of 30.6%. Alternative forecasts indicate a more conservative US$27.2 billion in 2025, expanding at a 3.69% CAGR through 2030, reflecting variances in methodologies and regional emphases. , industry revenue reached an estimated $3.1 billion by 2030 projections, driven by premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) approvals that establish compliance barriers favoring larger firms. Major industry participants include traditional tobacco conglomerates such as (with products like ), Altria Group (via its stake in Juul Labs), , and , which leverage established distribution networks to capture significant portions of the market. These firms dominate through acquisitions and innovation in closed-system devices, contrasting with smaller vape manufacturers focused on open systems and disposables. In the U.S., retail sales data highlight a shift toward disposable products, comprising a growing share amid flavor restrictions, though over 86% of e-cigarette unit sales in recent years involved unauthorized flavors or devices, per FDA enforcement priorities. This proliferation of non-compliant imports, often from , underscores vulnerabilities and regulatory arbitrage. Industry dynamics are shaped by escalating regulations, including flavor bans and age-verification mandates, which constrain growth in mature markets like the U.S. and while spurring in reduced-nicotine formulations and heated alternatives. Economic contributions extend to job creation in , distribution, and retail—estimated to support thousands of positions globally—and revenues, with the U.S. sector alone generating about $2.8 billion annually in federal, state, and local taxes as of 2025. However, black market expansion, fueled by enforcement gaps, erodes legitimate revenues and complicates fiscal impacts, as unauthorized products evade duties and quality controls. Competition intensifies with technological shifts toward pod systems and longer-lasting batteries, yet persistent scrutiny—often amplified by advocacy groups—pressures profitability through litigation and advertising curbs.

Waste and Lifecycle Analysis

Electronic cigarettes generate waste primarily through disposable devices, pods, and components such as lithium-ion batteries, plastics, and residual e-liquids containing nicotine and heavy metals. In 2023, Americans discarded approximately 5.7 disposable vapes per second, equating to nearly 500,000 devices daily and contributing to substantial e-waste volumes. These devices often end up in landfills or littered environments due to low recycling participation; for instance, only 17% of vapers in the UK reported proper recycling in 2023, mirroring broader e-waste recycling rates below 10%. The composition of e-cigarette waste poses environmental hazards, including non-biodegradable plastics, from batteries (with about 10,000 kilograms entering landfills annually), and s that release toxins like and into and waterways. Studies indicate that from discarded disposable e-cigarettes can impair growth and ecosystems, with ecotoxicological effects observed in controlled exposures. Among young users, over half dispose of used pods or disposables in regular trash, exacerbating biohazard risks from residual chemicals such as lead and . Lifecycle assessments of electronic cigarettes remain limited, with available scoping reviews highlighting potential long-term threats from persistent e-waste components compared to traditional cigarettes, which primarily produce biodegradable organic alongside non-degradable filters (estimated at 6.25 trillion littered annually worldwide). e-cigarettes involves resource-intensive processes for batteries and , while use and disposal amplify impacts for single-use models; however, reusable systems may reduce per-unit relative to the billions of traditional cigarette filters discarded yearly. Absent comprehensive comparative data, disposable e-cigarettes represent an emerging burden due to their non-recyclable batteries and lack of standardized disposal . Heated tobacco products (HTPs), such as IQOS introduced by Philip Morris International in 2014, heat tobacco sticks to temperatures around 350°C without combustion, generating an aerosol containing nicotine and other compounds derived from tobacco leaf. Unlike electronic cigarettes, which vaporize a nicotine-containing liquid, HTPs process actual tobacco material, resulting in emissions of lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to combustible cigarettes but potentially higher than e-cigarette aerosols in certain toxins like carbonyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Independent analyses indicate HTPs reduce exposure to toxicants by up to 95% relative to cigarettes, though long-term health impacts remain under study. Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), approved by regulators like the FDA since the 1980s, include transdermal patches, gums, lozenges, nasal sprays, and inhalers designed to deliver controlled doses of nicotine to alleviate withdrawal symptoms in smokers attempting cessation. These pharmaceutical products provide nicotine absorption rates varying by form—patches offer steady release over 16-24 hours, while inhalers mimic hand-to-mouth action—but clinical trials demonstrate e-cigarettes outperform NRTs in achieving sustained abstinence, with one 2019 randomized trial reporting 18% quit rates at one year for e-cigarette users versus 9.9% for NRT users when combined with behavioral support. A 2022 Cochrane review confirmed high-certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes double the odds of quitting compared to NRTs. Modern oral nicotine pouches (ONPs), such as Zyn launched in 2014 by Swedish Match, consist of tobacco-free pouches containing nicotine salts, flavorings, and fillers placed between the lip and gum for buccal absorption, delivering nicotine levels up to 50 mg per pouch at rates comparable to smokeless tobacco. Emerging since the mid-2010s, ONPs have gained popularity as discreet alternatives, with studies suggesting they pose lower risks than combustible or smokeless tobacco products due to absence of tobacco leaf and combustion byproducts, though they still expose users to addictive nicotine and potential oral irritants. Research positions ONPs within harm reduction frameworks similar to e-cigarettes, potentially serving as substitutes for vaping among youth, but youth initiation raises addiction concerns.

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