FAQs on E-Cigarettes, Vaporisers and Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Products

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON E-CIGARETTES, VAPORISERS AND HEAT-NOT-BURN TOBACCO PRODUCTS 

A.    E-CIGARETTES AND VAPORISERS

1.    What are e-cigarettes and vaporisers?

Electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) and other types of vaporisers are sometimes also known as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). These battery-operated devices heat a solution, or e-liquid, to produce a nicotine-containing vapour which is then inhaled by the user.

Vaporisers can come in many shapes and sizes, and some may not even resemble cigarettes. E-cigarettes and vaporisers can also be used with e-liquids that do not contain nicotine. However, the act of vaping itself mimics smoking.

2.    What do e-liquids contain, and are these ingredients harmful?

The ingredients of e-liquids vary, but many of the e-liquids used contain nicotine, an addictive and harmful stimulant. Other ingredients generally include propylene glycol, glycerin, water, and flavouring agents.

B.    HEAT-NOT-BURN TOBACCO PRODUCTS

1.    What is a heat-not-burn tobacco product?

Heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco products are battery-operated devices that heat tobacco up to a temperature of 350°C. This produces an aerosol containing nicotine and other chemicals, which are inhaled by the user through the mouth and taken into the body. Their main difference from regular cigarettes is that they heat, rather than burn tobacco (a process known as combustion which occurs at a temperature of 600°C). However, both HNB tobacco products and regular cigarettes contain nicotine which makes them highly addictive.