How E-cigarettes Work

Most e-cigarettes have:

• a mouthpiece, or cartridge
• a heating element
• a rechargeable battery
• electronic circuits

As the user sucks on the mouthpiece, a sensor activates a heating element that vaporizes a flavored, liquid solution held in the mouthpiece. The person then "vapes," or inhales, the aerosol solution.

The nicotine content varies from zero to "extra-high," or 24 to 36 milligrams (mg) per milliliter (ml).

The mouthpiece is a cartridge that is fixed to the end of a tube. A small plastic cup within the mouthpiece holds an absorbent material drenched in the liquid solution.The cartridge can either be refilled or replaced with another pre-filled cartridge when necessary.

The atomizer is a heating element that heats the liquid, causing it to vaporize. The solution can then be breathed in, or inhaled.

The battery powers the heating element. This is normally a rechargeable, lithium-ion battery.

The sensor activates the heater when the user sucks on the device. An LED may show when it is activated.

The solution, also known as e-liquid or e-juice, is made by extracting nicotine from tobacco and mixing it with a base, usually propylene glycol, and flavoring. Propylene glycol is used in inhalers, for example, for asthma. There is a wide range of flavors to choose from, with names such as traditional, watermelon, menthol, and lava flow.

Some flavors, such as a combination of tobacco and menthol, try to resemble traditional cigarettes. A number of them claim to mimic specific brands.

Reference: Medical News Today, 25 June 2018