Modified on: 24/05/2024
Electronic cigarette vs traditional cigarette: here is the winner!
Talking about the pros and cons of the electronic cigarette in an absolute sense would not be the correct way to address this article. On the other hand, as we have repeated several times, the use of e-cigs only makes sense if they are practiced as an alternative to tobacco smoke.
For this reason, we believe that the pros and cons of the electronic cigarette should be examined by comparing it with the traditional ones.
In this article we will analyze the main advantages and disadvantages associated with e-cigarettes in relation to their role as an alternative to tobacco.
Why the electronic cigarette is less harmful than the traditional ones
The main advantage of the electronic cigarette compared to traditional ones is the drastic reduction of the damage caused to our body.
The reason for this difference is clear and simple: tobacco is consumed by inhaling the smoke produced by its combustion, a chemical process characterized by the release of thousands of toxic molecules (carbon monoxide, tar, hydrogen cyanide, etc.), many of which have carcinogenic effects.
The vapor of electronic cigarettes, on the other hand, is generated by the simple heating of a resistance wrapped in cotton starting from a special liquid which contains the following substances:
- vegetable glycerin, a rather thick, harmless liquid used in various sectors such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals;
- propylene glycol, a less viscous substance than the previous one, which is also harmless to health. It is often used as a food additive;
- liquid nicotine, similar to that contained in traditional cigarettes.
In short, if we exclude nicotine, the remaining substances contained in e-liquids do not represent a danger to health, so much so that according to the opinion of Public Health England, the British agency responsible for supervising public health, e-cigs are 95% less harmful than tobacco smoke.
Read also: Electronic cigarette that no longer shoots: how to fix it
Sometimes, vaping can increase the risk of becoming a slave to traditional cigarettes
The only real negative side of electronic cigarettes is the possibility that they can push those who use them to approach the habit of smoking.
It may seem a contradiction: on the other hand, according to the intentions of their inventor, the Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, they were born with the aim of keeping smokers away from traditional cigarettes. And they actually prove to be very effective when used by smokers who intend to stop consuming cigarettes once and for all.
But there is one detail that is not highlighted often enough: e-cigarettes are not devices suitable for non-smokers. Those who aren’t slaves to blondes should never vape. Otherwise, there is the risk of becoming addicted to nicotine and to a gesture that could push the vaper to start consuming traditional cigarettes.
Here’s how much you can save by abandoning traditional cigarettes in favor of e-cigs
Smokers often complain about the cost of traditional cigarettes. Currently, a pack of 20 (the only format available since packs of 10 were banned) has an average price of around 5 euros. And regular smokers can easily consume one a day.
Let’s do the math: 5 euros a day equals 150 euros a month, or 1,800 euros a year. This is a considerable figure for the pockets of most English people.
Now let’s compare this expense with the average cost of e-liquids.
A 10ml vial of premixed e-liquid is priced around 6 euros. On average, a person who uses the MTL vaping consumes 5 ml of liquid per day. Consequently, the daily expenditure amounts to 3 euros, the monthly one to 90 euros and the annual one to around 1080 euros.
As for DTL vaping, the daily consumption of liquid is higher and can easily reach 10ml per day.
Does this mean that sometimes the cost of e-liquids can be higher than that of traditional cigarettes?
Not at all!
The liquids for lung vaping, in fact, have a lower cost than the MTL ones: they are usually sold in 60 ml bottles which have an average price of 20 euros. Consequently, the daily expenditure for these e-liquids is equal to just over 3 euros, practically identical to that associated with MTL e-liquids!
In short, in both cases the savings compared to the cost incurred by smokers is impressive and can be further increased by purchasing the individual ingredients of the e-liquids and mixing them at home to obtain DIY products tailored to your tastes.
Read also: Does an e-cigarette inflame the intestine?
In conclusion
In this article, we have listed the main pros and cons of electronic cigarettes as an alternative to traditional ones.
The most important advantage is the reduction of health risks: the absence of combustion, in fact, means that electronic cigarettes are considerably less harmful than tobacco smoke, as also highlighted by the English health agency Public Health England.
It is also interesting to note that the average expense incurred by vapers is significantly lower than the daily cost of traditional cigarettes, especially for those who choose to mix their own liquids for electronic cigarettes.
On the other hand, the only disadvantage related to e-cigarettes that we have found lies in the possibility that they are also used by non-smokers, making them addicted to nicotine and bringing them closer to smoking.
In short, consider vaping devices only if you are a slave to cigarettes and want to abandon them once and for all! In this case, on the Terpy store you can find everything you need: electronic cigarettes, fruity e-liquids, tobacco e-liquids, bakery flavours and many other products dedicated to vapers!