Position Statement on Electronic Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are designed to deliver nicotine and mimic the sensory experience of smoking. A typical e-cigarette consists of a battery, an atomizer that heats the liquid and turns it into a vapour, and a cartridge that contains flavouring and (usually) nicotine in a base of propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin and water. Some models closely resemble a tobacco cigarette; newer devices are metal cylinders that look more like large pens, with larger and more powerful batteries and a tank that holds e-liquid.