Is Vapor from E-Cigs the Same as Smoke from Combustible Cigarettes?

beautiful girl vaping in a couch

Is Vapor from E-Cigs the Same as Smoke from Combustible Cigarettes?

Traditional cigarettes release nicotine through the combustion process which emits smoke whereas electronic cigarettes heat e-liquid to produce vapor that is then inhaled by the user. Since both smoke and vapor look and behave similarly, it is easy to assume that they share the same properties; however, the two are vastly different.

1) Composition

Did you know that there are over 7,000 chemicals in traditional cigarette smoke and that approximately 70 of them are carcinogenic? When cigarette smokers take a puff, they don’t only inhale nicotine, but also thousands of toxins such as cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia, not to mention tar. E-cigarette vapor, on the other hand, contains just a fraction of the toxins emitted by regular cigarettes. Studies conducted by the University of Victoria’s Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC) found strong evidence that e-cigarette vapor is less toxic than smoke.

2) Time to Dissipate

The same study conducted by CARBC found that while smoke takes an average of 18 to 20 minutes to dissipate, vapor from e-cigs evanesces within 30 seconds. In other words, while smokers and bystanders alike are exposed to smoke about a quarter of an hour after it’s been exhaled, secondhand exposure lasts less than a minute with vaping. Also, once a cigarette is lit, it produces smoke regardless of whether the smoker takes a drag or not. With e-cigs, vapor is only produced when the user is actively vaping on the device.

3) Smell

If you’ve ever got a ride in a smoker’s car, you know that the unpleasant smell of a cigarette doesn’t disappear once the smoke vanishes. It lingers and clings on to everything imaginable: hair, clothes, upholstery, fingers, you name it! The scent of vapor, on the other hand, fades away within 30 seconds. Also, since there is a plethora of e-juice possibilities, the smell varies depending on the flavor being used, so some of you may actually welcome the aroma of menthol or cherry!

4) Nicotine Content

Since all combustible cigarettes contain nicotine, the substance is present in smoke too. Not all vapor, though, contains nicotine. Allow us to explain. With vaping, the user has more options, for instance, someone who enjoys tobacco flavored e-cigarettes can choose between the 2.4% (strong) or the 1.8% (moderately strong) nicotine strength, and if they prefer to vape nicotine-free, they can select the zero-nicotine option.

Are you an ex-smoker who has transitioned to vaping? What other differences have you noticed between smoke and vapor? Tell us in the comments section below!

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