History Of The Electronic Cigarette
Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik was the creative inventor behind the electronic cigarette. Hon produced the tobacco alternative device back in 2003 after his heavy smoking father died of lung cancer. After the successful launch of his e-cig, Hon renamed his company, previously named Golden Dragon Holdings, to 'Ruyan'- which meant 'like smoke'.
In 2005, businessman Greg Carson introduced the electronic cigarettes to Europe as the 'electro fag'. Its popularity soon called for debates of its usage in Parliament before MPs decided to not include it in the UK's smoking ban, this meant UK consumers were able to use electronic cigarettes in establishments and areas where smoking was otherwise prohibited.
The e-cig crossed the pacific in 2006 and launched in the USA. It was heavily examined by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) who placed it under a series of tests before concluding it would be classed as a "drug device". The FDA testing was not positive for the e-cig, findings of trace amounts of nicotine in what were considered 'nicotine free' e-tips, trace amounts of cancer-linked nitrosamines, and 1% traces of diethylene glycol lead to heavy FDA complaints.
The FDA tests were later criticized by scientific board Exponent, Inc. who claimed the FDA research was poorly documented, didn't involve comparison with nicotine replacement therapies and that the trace amounts found would not be enough to do noticeable damage to a consumer's health.
Despite contradictory research, U.S President Barack Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act 18, handing over power of the tobacco industry to the FDA. Two laws were then put in place; firstly any flavoured tobacco cessation (e.g. vanilla and fruit) could be banned, and secondly, any new tobacco product had to be approved to be up to the FDA's marketing standards.
Today states regulate their own individual laws over tobaccoless cigarettes. Oregon and New Jersey have chosen to include e-cigs in the public smoking bans; however most states allow the use of electronic cigarette where smoking is usually banned. Ex-governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said his opinion on e-cigs was; "If adults want to purchase and consume these products with an understanding of the associated health risks, they should be able to do so unless and until federal law changes the legal status of these tobacco products."
Industry bodies have since formed, such as, to provide support for electronic cigarette consumers, retails and manufacturers.
In 2005, businessman Greg Carson introduced the electronic cigarettes to Europe as the 'electro fag'. Its popularity soon called for debates of its usage in Parliament before MPs decided to not include it in the UK's smoking ban, this meant UK consumers were able to use electronic cigarettes in establishments and areas where smoking was otherwise prohibited.
The e-cig crossed the pacific in 2006 and launched in the USA. It was heavily examined by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) who placed it under a series of tests before concluding it would be classed as a "drug device". The FDA testing was not positive for the e-cig, findings of trace amounts of nicotine in what were considered 'nicotine free' e-tips, trace amounts of cancer-linked nitrosamines, and 1% traces of diethylene glycol lead to heavy FDA complaints.
The FDA tests were later criticized by scientific board Exponent, Inc. who claimed the FDA research was poorly documented, didn't involve comparison with nicotine replacement therapies and that the trace amounts found would not be enough to do noticeable damage to a consumer's health.
Despite contradictory research, U.S President Barack Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act 18, handing over power of the tobacco industry to the FDA. Two laws were then put in place; firstly any flavoured tobacco cessation (e.g. vanilla and fruit) could be banned, and secondly, any new tobacco product had to be approved to be up to the FDA's marketing standards.
Today states regulate their own individual laws over tobaccoless cigarettes. Oregon and New Jersey have chosen to include e-cigs in the public smoking bans; however most states allow the use of electronic cigarette where smoking is usually banned. Ex-governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said his opinion on e-cigs was; "If adults want to purchase and consume these products with an understanding of the associated health risks, they should be able to do so unless and until federal law changes the legal status of these tobacco products."
Industry bodies have since formed, such as, to provide support for electronic cigarette consumers, retails and manufacturers.
