You may have seen someone smoking an electronic cigarette recently an wondered how it worked. Although users of e-cigarettes exhale what seems to be cigarette smoke in reality it it nicotine vapor.

Though smoke and vapor may look alike they are very different. Smoke is the result of combustion and contains many harmful chemicals. Vapor is a result of vaporization and contains far fewer chemicals than normal smoke and so is much safer and less toxic.

Smoking is viewed an a dangerous habit not only because of the risks it poses to smokers but also because of the harmful impact of second hand smoke. Users of electronic cigarettes avoid releasing second hand smoke and all the toxins it consists of into the environment.

Over the last several decades medical researchers have come to better understand the dangers of both smoking and second hand smoke. The danger of tobacco smoke has lead to the banning of tobacco use in many areas.

Electronic cigarettes do not create harmful second hand smoke so in addition to being healthier can also be used in more places without fear of harming others. Different nicotine solutions may have different chemical compositions but none of them contain nearly the degree of chemicals as tobacco leaves.