Electronic cigarettes, which are also commonly referred to as e-cigs, have certainly come a long way over the last few decades. To really get a clearer picture of when electronic cigarettes first appeared and how much they have changed, continue reading. The timeline below is sure to give you a better understanding of how the modern e-cig was born.
1963 – The First Concept for an Electronic Cigarette
Thanks to Herbert A. Gill, the concept of the e-cig was first born in 1963. Described as a “smokeless tobacco cigarette,” the electronic cigarette of that time focused on the creation of moist, heated, flavoured air so that there would no longer be a need for burning the paper and tobacco that is used in regular cigarettes, which are harmful to the body, to second-hand smokers, and to the environment.
2003 – The Modern Electronic Cigarette is Invented
Even though the concept for an electronic cigarette came decades before, it was not until 2003 that someone was able to perfect the technology and make electronic cigarettes accessible to the public. Thanks to the work of a Chinese pharmacist named Hon Lik, the modern e-cig was invented in this year, with sales occurring in 2004. His company name was also changed to Ruyan at this time, as the name translates to “resemble smoking.”
2004 – The Modern Electronic Cigarette Hits Stores
In May of 2004, Hon Lik’s modern e-cig invention finally hit stores and became available to the public in China. This e-cig was marketed as a means to replace tobacco cigarettes and quit smoking for good.
2006 – Europe Gets a Taste of the Electronic Cigarette
Because the success of the e-cig was so great in China, the product was later introduced to the European market in 2006. There, it found even more popularity and sales continued to grow as the e-cig market began to expand further.
2007 – Electronic Cigarettes Make Their Way to the United States
It was not until 2007 that the United States finally started selling e-cigs to the public. Yet again, the product proved to be highly successful and popular, especially amongst those who were searching for a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes and who were trying to quit but were having trouble doing so.
2011 – Validation as a Healthy Way to Quit Smoking
In February of 2011, a study was published in an issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. In it, researchers stated that modern e-cigs were a “promising tool to help smokers quit.” This was a great form of validation for the electronic cigarettes industry, as health experts were now stating that e-cigs were an ideal way to quit smoking in a healthy way.
Since this report was published, more and more people have learned about electronic cigarettes and their benefits. People all over the world continue to purchase the latest and greatest e-cig devices and accessories in order to switch to vaping and fully enjoy the vaping experience and all that it has to offer.
Why the Electronic Cigarette Has Remained Popular
Many people don’t realise it, but an electronic cigarette creates 4,000 fewer chemicals than regular tobacco cigarettes. This makes e-cigs a great alternative to smoking cigarettes because they contain the right amount of nicotine without having to expose your body to all of the toxins that are found in cigarette smoke. Plus, because they don’t create hazardous second-hand smoke that can have a detrimental effect upon those around you when you vape, you can rest assured that you aren’t putting others’ health at risk either.
In terms of nicotine levels, an electronic cigarette has an average of around 3.36 mg of nicotine, while a regular tobacco cigarette contains 14 to 21 mg of nicotine. While nicotine is non-toxic in small amounts, too much of anything is a bad thing, and electronic cigarettes are a great way to reduce your body’s dependency upon nicotine. You can even get your body completely off nicotine gradually, thanks to the e-liquids available that have varying amounts of nicotine in them. In other words, you can start off with an e-liquid that contains a higher amount of nicotine and gradually wean yourself down to an e-liquid that contains absolutely no nicotine at all.
Continued Growth Expected
This timeline only shows the growth of the e-cig market over the last few years, so it will definitely be interesting to stay tuned and see what happens to the market over the next few years. In fact, it is expected to be a multi-billion dollar industry by 2017 and beyond, and many forecasters are also predicting that, as electronic cigarettes continue to grow in popularity and sales, regular cigarette sales will continue to fall. This is great news for everyone, from the average smoker who wants to quit effectively, to those who are concerned about the environmental impact of regular cigarettes.
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