Electronic Cigarettes - Smokeless smoking without most of the health risks

February 16, 7:19 PMDenver Gadgets ExaminerKit Parenteau

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NJoy NPro starter kit.  NJoy
is the premium US brand of
Electronic Cigarettes

Continuing along the idea of product reviews for products that you don’t see very often, today brings us into the world of Electronic Cigarettes. Usually shortened to E-Cigarettes or E-Cigs, these gadgets are touted as a healthier alternative to smoking normal cigarettes (or, as the E-Cig users call them, “analog cigarettes”).  These gadgets were originally developed in China and have met with varying degrees of success or trouble worldwide.

The first thing I ran into when working on a review was the fact that this is another product that breaks all the conventional concepts about things.  Controversy, intrigue, and a full gamut of reliable to not-so-reliable sources for this developing product have made it quite a challenge to get the lowdown.  With a combination of a few very shady sources, dozens of sources that could be better considered ‘insider’ sources due to the fact that they have difficult-to-locate web presence only, and apparently only one major company now attempting to mass-market and do it out in the open, it’s quite a touchy matter.  Then add in the fanatic anti-smokers who will attack any options and believe that smokers should either quit cold turkey or just go die (Literally… quite a scary crowd), the government desire for tobacco tax income, and the tobacco industry’s potential opposition to devices that people actually like that will potentially reduce their revenue.  Overall, it could end up being quite a big thing, or quite a fiasco.

The first thing to consider is that there are numerous web sites to order the devices from.  NJoy and SmokingEverywhere are large company sites based in the US.  There are a plethora of sites based outside the US that will ship into the US if you are willing to wait 2-5 weeks for shipping.  After numerous attempts to make contact with various suppliers and manufacturers and a lot of dead ends and mumbled excuses, I began to wonder if this was a valid product or not.  Only one manufacturer and distributor actually was willing to speak with me and work with me and even they have the observation that much of the current market for the devices is populated by shady no-names.  As such, I was able to acquire precisely one model of product to review:  An NJoy “NPro” model Electronic Cigarette.

The product arrived via UPS within good time and the box is appealing and well packaged.  A bit of research shows that the NPro device is technically interchangable physically to some degree with the generic DSE103 model, however this is somewhat complex, so more on that in a moment.

The NPro starter kit contains two batteries, one atomizer (which is the “working” part of the device), one charger and short power cord for it, and five cartridges of varying strength.  Cartridges are available in No, Low, Medium, and High nicotine content versions from NJoy.  

The NPro resembles a normal cigarette in appearance when fully constructed, with the white section being the battery and the atomizer fitting inside the case of the cartridge, thus allowing the cartridge to look like the filter section of a normal cigarette.  The atomizer unscrews from the battery for the battery to be charged and the cartridge simply slips over the atomizer.  The cartridge is a plastic sleeve with a fibrous fill at one end saturated with the liquid solution or “eJuice”.  

Once the battery is charged and everything is put together properly, a draw on the device just like a normal cigarette results in an air-flow sensor activating.  The tip of the battery glows orange from a LED inside and the atomizer goes to work vaporizing the liquid in the cartridge.  The vapor is very similar to the mist from ultrasonic humidifiers, but it is not smoke.  It does contain flavoring (generally tobacco) and potentially nicotine as well, depending on the strength of the cartridge.

For testing purposes, we subjected one device to lab testing and one device to normal everyday use testing.  Our everyday use tester (We’ll call him Andrew) kept some specific records and used it under both controlled tests as well as just “how he felt like it”.

Lab testing confirmed that the device is definitely high quality and the numbers given by just about every site regarding cartridge lifespan are accurate.  Considering that every site gives a wholly different set of numbers, this is interesting.  Simply put, there are so many ways to calculate cartridge life span equivalency that there is no good ay to describe it.  Especially with the discovery that it really all depends on an individual user’s habits.  The nicotine delivery of a cartridge is one factor.  How many puffs or draws it lasts is another.  How long it lasts overall before needing to be replaced is a third.  

The end result in quantitative studies is that there are so many usage factors that can go into the mix that it is impossible to predict the results for any given person.  However, a touch more work revealed that for most users, the total long-term cost of an e-cig is substantially lower than the cost of smoking regular cigarettes even now before the coming April price hike on normal tobacco cigarettes.

Next thing to address is the fact that there are a few standard “shapes” to the industry.  Pen-style (Literally looks like you are sucking on a pen), long “cigarette” style, which looks like a cigarette with a holder, and smaller cigarette styles.  Every single style has a trade-off of course.  Size can be inconvenient, and sucking on a pen-like device can look odd, but the bigger styles have longer battery life and cartridge life.  Smaller devices hold less of the juice that is vaporized and have shorter battery life, but are more convenient and realistic-looking and feeling.

When I mentioned that NJoy is very similar to the DSE103 model, to do justice to them I’ll point out that refers to the physical shape of the device only.  They have put the effort into starting an official industry for the devices in the US, as opposed to just a sparse import supply.  They have fully branded and custom-built boxes, their own fluid composition as well as looking into some unique ideas in that field, and better quality control than the normal product coming in from China.  A 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee and a 12-month warranty both also lend great credence to the company.  Since the shape or interfunctional compatibilty is not as critical a factor as the company behind it, this observation is in no way leading to anything bad.

Now, on to the details.  I’ll be summarizing in this case.

Factors:

• Average prices for startup kits range from $50 to $80 with some extremes in both directions.  Be wary of the extremes.
• Individual use causes difference in the way the vapor works.  Once drawn into the lungs, 75% or more of the vapor and 98% or more of the nicotine remain there.  If only drawn into the mouth, very little of the vapor is lost.
• Individual use also determines how long the cartridges will last.  Since there is no “burn until it reaches the end” situation, some people will use it more than one cigarette.  Since the nicotine delivery is higher, some people will use it less.  Since there is no burning or heat, a user can take longer draws without discomfort.  Since it can be used legally in situations where cigarettes cannot be, it may be used more.
• A factor, not really a pro or a con since it depends on how an individual user reacts:  Using this device in some situations is very strongly likely to attract attention.  When Andrew was using it, everybody wanted to know where he got it, how they could get one, etc.  He got a lot of questions using it in public places like restaurants as well.  There were a few objections, most of which were overcome by a quick explanation, however there was one rant from a “Quit or Die!” fanatic.

Pros:

• For most users, the e-cigs end up costing less than normal cigarettes very swiftly.
• There is no combustion (burning) and no smoke.  Because of this, all of the detrimental effects of smoke and burning are left out.  No ashtray mouth, no yellowed teeth, no tar, no smoke particles.  It cannot be set on something and cause a fire.  It does not require a lighter to use.
• Because it is not smoke, it can be used legally where smoking is prohibited, including restaurants, in the workplace, and even on planes in most circumstances.  It passes no secondhand smoke troubles.  If fully inhaled, it does not pass nicotine to the environment. It has less noticeable odor than most folks do naturally after a full workday.
• You do not have to walk outside into the cold to use it.
• You do not need to roll your window down in the car to flick ashes or release smoke.
• Compared to smoking normal cigarettes, this is much healthier.
• It has the flavor, action, and feel of a normal cigarette, as well as the nicotine to satisfy the physical addiction.  It’s something like a cigarette that has a lot less health risks associated with it.  It contains nothing known to the state of California to cause cancer in humans.

Cons:

• Like any battery-powered device, it has trouble with extreme cold.
• Andrew noted a few instances where a small amount of liquid leaked from the air vent holes in the side of the device.  This was just labeled as “annoying”.
• The startup kit cost is substantially higher than the cost of “just another pack”.
• Failing to keep the charger handy on a very long day may result in no battery power when it is needed.
• Since each individual’s usage patterns will differ, there is no way to determine whether it is the proper product for a given person.

Overall:

This receives Kit’s Stamp of Approval.  A number of my associates have already bought their own because of the testing.  The lack of cigarette smell and sudden lack of piles of butts outside has been a great boon.  They can say that they are breathing easier and every single one of them is much happier and already most of them have a savings.  The general benefits in health and happiness of both the users and people around them outweigh the confusion and any downsides.

Now, because of the complexity of this, I am including a large number of very important disclosures and disclaimers.

• This is not an approved smoking cessation device.  This is not an approved “Alternative Nicotine Delivery Device”.  If you want to quit, then it is probably best you quit, possibly trying this as a stepping block, possibly not.  
• This product is not regulated in the US by any oversight agency and no claims about this product have been evaluated by the FDA.  All evaluations of health risk differences are based on publically available data on the components and ingredients.
• Electronic Cigarettes are meant to be a replacement for normal cigarettes and should only be used by people who are currently smokers.  They are not intended for non-smokers, nor are they intended for individuals under the age of 18.  This is a way for smokers to get most if not all of the effects that will satisfy a physical and psychological addiction while reducing the dangerous and social side effects that come with the normal delivery method.

NJoy brand E-Cigarettes can be purchased online at their site.  The shop Heads of State, at the corner of 44th and Federal in Denver currently stocks E-Cigarettes of an unknown brand and price.  Smoker Friendly states that they are looking into carrying the devices, possibly within a month.  Walgreens is potentially forming a marketing arrangement with NJoy to carry the products.  Look for other retailers to potentially carry them soon.