Abstract:
Electronic cigarettes (ENDS) were introduced to the market
particularly for addicted smokers to quit the habit of conventional tobacco
smoking. The process behind e-cigarettes is heating an e-liquid/juice
using a battery to generate an aerosol or vapor. There are four
generations of electronic cigarettes in the market; cigar like, tanks, mods
and pods. The evolution of these models of electronic cigarettes has
affected the young generation for two decades. Most electronic cigarette
manufacturers add nicotine, flavors, other addictive chemicals and
sometimes illicit products to e-liquids; thus, e-cigarettes have become a
global health issue. Scientists have revealed that the content of e-liquids
can create many long-term and short-term health problems including
EVALI. Thus, many countries are in the process of regulating the market
of electronic cigarettes. e-Cigarettes are new to the Sri Lankan society
and they can be easily embraced by the younger generation due to
unawareness of the dark side of these products. In this overview,
components of e-cigarettes, chemicals present in e-liquids, generation of
e-cigarettes, growth of e-cigarette market, and health concerns associated
with vaping of e-cigarettes are presented.
