week-5

RUNNING HEAD: E-CIGARETTES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1

E-CIGARETTESSCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2

Rough Draft Pages 1-3

January 28, 2016

1) Technology and Science of the Electronic Cigarette

Electronic cigarettes are operated by batteries. E-cigarette devices are used to deliver nicotine drug that has been added flavorings and other chemicals. These electronic cigarette devices can be manufactured in different designs. The nicotine is delivered to users of this electronic cigarettes in the form of vapor instead of smoke. The electronic cigarettes stimulate the body with a smoking feeling. They can be made to look like pens, memory sticks, and even pipes. The feeling developed is known as vamping. The nicotine used in this type of cigarettes is aerosolized. Aerosolized nicotine is said to contain glycerin that is a component that is said to mimic smoke of the standard cigarettes (Kahan, Fagan, 2014). This kind of glycerin is said to be less toxic compared to the regular tobacco cigarettes.

The manufacturing companies claim that the use of electronic cigarettes is safer than tobacco smoking. Other people are against that claiming that the electronic cigarettes are no safer since the human lungs were only designed to take in oxygen. The flavors added to this type of cigars are said to be attractive, and the fact that people are taking in nicotine also makes it much less than cigarettes (Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein, 2012). The cigarettes also can contain nicotine in liquid form, which also makes them seem less like tobacco cigarettes. Most critics of the electronic cigarettes claim that there is the addition of some chemicals and flavors to attract kids. Attracting kids is not a good idea since it will lead to immorality and high drug usage among children. Increase drug usage among children means that there will be increased cases of school dropout that could, in turn, lead to increased criminal cases.

The tobacco smoking is considered to be harmful to the health of the user and the public at large. Most people have been involved in tobacco smoking. Tobacco smoking has been said to cause various diseases. Smoking of tobacco has been discovered to the number cause of lung cancer disease. The lung cancer is very dangerous, and it has taken many lives. Smoking of tobacco has also been reported to cause Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which makes breathing a hard process. Smoking also causes heart diseases, stroke, asthma, and even diabetes. All these conditions can be brought forward through tobacco smoking. Apart from diseases, tobacco smoking is also said to cause smelly hair, poor vision, bad teeth, wrinkly face, and even it suppresses the appetite of the smoker.

2) The Historical Development And Context Of Technology

Electronic cigarettes do not produce ash since there is no combustion. The electronic cigarettes also give smokers the freedom to smoke almost everywhere and anytime. These kinds of cigarettes are safe to the environment. They don’t pollute the surroundings. People who use electronic cigarettes also save a lot of money that could have been spent on tobacco. The electronic cigarettes only require refilling of cartridges. From the look of things, the electronic cigarettes have more benefits than tobacco smoking.

Based on the many negative effects brought about by tobacco smoking, the development and creation of electronic cigarettes were born. In the history of electronic cigarettes, the idea was conceived and carried by Herbert A. Gilbert. In 1963. Herbert filed a patent for his idea since he wanted to revolutionize the smoking environment. Herbert was well aware of the dangers that are brought about by the smoking of tobacco. With technological improvement, it was easier to come up with devices that were less harmful but which served the same purpose of smoking sensation. But the idea was not enough at that time. This is because, during that period, smoking was so common and so ordinary that people could smoke whenever they felt like. There were no rules regulating tobacco use. Due to this trend at that time, the idea of safer smoking was not highly appreciated. The market for safer smoking was not established.

After a long period, there was a revolution. A Chinese pharmacist, Han Lik, who was also addicted to smoking, developed the very first devices of electronic cigarettes. The move to create electronic cigarettes was after the death of his father due to lung cancer caused by tobacco smoking. The death of the father was converted to become a positive consequence as the move to invent e-cigarettes came in place (Provario, 2013). The company that Han was working for supported him to bring his ideas into reality. That group later adopted the name Ruyan whose meaning was like smoke. After this invention, the Chinese market was very receiving. The technology was accepted by people. Then, the electronic cigarettes were embraced by most European nations that are known for their smoking habits.

The world health organization tried to ban the use of electronic cigarettes with no grounds. The attempt to ban them only increased their popularity since they were considered to have no negative effects. The electronic cigarettes are considered to have many benefits. The e-cigars have no tar and carbon monoxide that are harmful to the body of human beings. They have no tobacco that contains more than four hundred hazardous chemicals and more than forty carcinogens. The lack of tobacco does not mean that the sensation of smoking is not there. One experiences the same oral fixation and hand to mouth action of smoking. They do not emit the irritating smoke smell of tobacco which usually sticks to the body and clothes of a person. Electronic cigarettes have therefore penetrated in the market. The development of e-cigarette devices is noticeable.

References

Hanson, G., Venturelli, P. & Fleckenstein, A. (2012). Drugs and society. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Kahan, S., Gielen, A., Fagan, P. & Green, L. (2014). Health behavior change in populations. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Provario, M. (2013). Vape mania. S.l: Vaporacle.com.