The practice of vaping has become popular in recent times, with many people adopting it as a safer alternative to smoking regular tobacco cigarettes. If you are considering trying it for recreational purposes or to break off your addiction to smoking, it will help to know more about it and make a well-informed decision, and about vaping regulations in the USA.

What is vaping?

Vaping is the term used to describe the practice of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol or vapor that arises when you use e-cigarettes, vape pens, and other vaping devices. It is similar to smoking, except you are taking in and expelling vapor, not smoke. And it is because of this vapor that it is known as vaping.

E-cigarettes contain a vaping liquid instead of tobacco like in a traditional cigarette. Some e-cigarettes have an e-cigarette tank that you must manually fill with the liquid while, with others, you can buy and attach a pre-filled tank of vape liquid. When you switch on the e-cigarette, it heats the vaping liquid and turns it into an aerosol.

What is the origin of vaping?

Vaping originated in China. A Chinese pharmacist Han Li, also known as Hon Lik, invented the electronic cigarette or e-cigarette in 2001. Working for the Chinese company Ruyan, he attempted to create a device that would enable users to get a nicotine hit without smoking cigarettes. His initial designs were big and bulky, and it took him until 2003 to refine his device into a smaller and more practical one. He patented the invention that same year.

Ruyan introduced e-cigarettes to consumers in 2004 as alternatives to cigarettes. The new e-cigarettes were a hit in China, and the company started to export them abroad in 2005 and to the USA in 2007. They proved instantaneously successful worldwide but especially with the young and trendy crowd in China, Japan, Germany, Russia, and the USA on account of the availability of assorted flavors in vaping products. By 2019, global sales of e-cigarettes were going up to $15 billion.

Is vaping safe?

It depends. If used in moderation, it will probably be safe. And, also if you do not modify your vaping device, add substances to it that the manufacturer has not intended for it, or use altered vaping liquids that contain the toxic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Otherwise, vaping will pose a lesser health risk than smoking tobacco cigarettes for the following reasons:

• It does not involve burning tobacco. As there is no smoke to inhale, it is less harmful to your lungs.

• It does not produce any of the harmful chemicals that arise in smoking due to the burning of tobacco.

• It does not endanger other people with second-hand smoke since there is no smoke. However, according to the World Health Organization, non-users could be affected by any toxic substances in the aerosol or vapor. The National Health Service in the United Kingdom disagrees with this and contends that the risks of passive smoking do not apply to e-cigarettes.

• It is less addictive than tobacco cigarettes. The latter is addictive due to the presence of nicotine. If you use vaping liquids that do not contain nicotine or avoid extra-strength cartridges, there will be less risk of becoming addicted. And this is why it is advisable to read the ingredient list before vaping.

What are the ingredients in the vape liquid?

The vaping liquid contains water and a mix of chemical ingredients that will vary in different vaping products. Some commonly found chemicals are glycerin, propylene glycol, a range of flavors, and nicotine. Glycerin and propylene glycol are essential for diluting the flavors and the nicotine to the required concentration, which allows the vaping liquid to vaporize quickly. If you want to find out the exact ingredients in a vaping product you want, you will have to check its ingredient list.

Vaping Regulations in the United States

As per FDA regulations, vaping products are considered tobacco products. Manufacturers must file a Pre-Market Tobacco Application (PMTA) for vaping products introduced in the market on or before 2016. Without FDA approval of each application, you cannot legally sell the product in the USA. The FDA can take up to a year to approve.