1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: Get in touch with technology with tex Stuff from stuff 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: dot Com. There everybody, and welcome to tech Stuff. I'm 3 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: and today we have some listener mail to get through. 4 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: This comes to us from Josh via Facebook, who says, greetings, 5 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: I've recently quit smoking cigarettes after twelve years, but after 6 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: abstaining for six months, my savior has come under fire. 7 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: I'm speaking about the sig vaporisers. Of course, please do 8 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: an episode on it. First of all, Josh, well done 9 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: for the congratulation for the under fire pun as well. Well, 10 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 1: I was talking about quitting smoking also, I mean it's 11 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,599 Speaker 1: as we're gonna discuss, that is not an easy thing 12 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: to do. And before we get into this episode, we 13 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: have a couple of articles I want to I want 14 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: to mention at the top because how Stuff Works has 15 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:58,639 Speaker 1: got some great stuff on here. If you really want 16 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: to dig down deep and read these articles, they're they're 17 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: really well done, so check them both out. One is 18 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: on how electronic cigarettes work by Susan Cassidy and another 19 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: is how nicotine works by Maria Tremarchi and and Meager O'Connell. 20 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: Both of those are going to be articles that will 21 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: be referencing throughout this episode. And the reason for that 22 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: is because we kind of need to talk about lots 23 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: of different factors here, not just the technology involved. So first, 24 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: electronic cigarettes siggs. Yes, they are electronic cigarettes or smokeless 25 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: cigarettes or vapes which you vape while you are vaping. Yeah, vapes, 26 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: vapes typ vaporizing. But although people will call call it vaping, 27 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: vapes tend to be the name of usually the either 28 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: the liquid which that's also a thing, which is essentially 29 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: your your liquid, uh, nicotine liquid, smoke stuff. It's not 30 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: really electronic liquid, nor does it always have nicotine in it. 31 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: But we'll get to that as well. But some people 32 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: refer to the actual devices of vepes. It's kind of 33 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: a weird. It's this whole culture thing. Uh. There are 34 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: people on the House of Works staff who have used 35 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: these electronic devices in various ways. So, um, I have 36 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: gotten to see ones that are shaped like a pipe, 37 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: which I had never seen before. I had seen them 38 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: that look kind of like electronic you know, cigarettes, like 39 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: maybe even cigarettes in the long electric the long cigarette holder, 40 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: so you can look like you are a caricature off 41 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: the cover of the New Yorker, um, except that you 42 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: have a little led light at the end instead of 43 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: an actual ember. So you probably have seen these. They 44 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: are these Usually they look like some form of cigarette 45 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: or pen or something. Two people put in their mouths. 46 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: They inhale and they puff out a little bit of 47 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 1: what looks to be smoke. Usually. But how recent is 48 00:02:58,120 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: this idea? I mean it only came out like a 49 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:05,399 Speaker 1: like like a year or two ago, right, uh yeah, 50 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: Although they became popular recently, the idea goes back until 51 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: ninete April seventeen specifically, is when a patent was filed 52 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: for granted. I suppose it was filed filed. It wasn't 53 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: until I think sixty six that it was granted, But 54 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: it was for a smokeless, non tobacco cigarette, which is 55 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: essentially the ancestor to the East SIGs we see today. 56 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: Not not that I don't know of any that were 57 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: produced based off this first design, but it had the 58 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: same basic components. Um not not designed the same way 59 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: as today's e cigarettes, but the same you know, elements 60 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: that you would find in the ones of today. Right. 61 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: This modern movement started as an industry in China. NPR 62 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: credits the inventor is being one home Lick, Right, yeah, 63 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: Han Lick He used a cartridge that had liquid nicotine 64 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: mixed in a propolene glycol solution. We'll talk a little 65 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: bit more about propoline glicoon the second fun stuff, and 66 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: put that in an electronic device and called it essentially 67 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: the equivalent of an electronic cigarette. The market, um, it 68 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: was successful in China, you could say it was incredibly successful. 69 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: So in the early to mid two thousand's it got 70 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: um well, it really made a name for itself, and 71 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: then it started to expand beyond the Chinese market. Right. 72 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: They were introduced in the US market in two thousands 73 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: seven and have become really huge. The market is worth 74 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: over two billion dollars per year according to some estimates. Yikes. Alright, 75 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: So before we talk about the the technology, let's talk 76 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: about nicotine itself and what it does. Share. What happens 77 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: when you when you smoke a nicotine cigarette, when you 78 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: inhale nicotine in one form or another? Good question. So 79 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: with a with a classic cigarette, what you do is 80 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: you've got tobacco, right, that's your basic plant, and the 81 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: nicotine is released in the smoke generated by burning that tobacco. 82 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: So by inhaling the smoke, you are transmitting that that 83 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: nicotine into your system, transferring it, I guess I should 84 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: say rather so it gets absorbed through the mucoastal linings 85 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 1: and the nose, mouth, and lungs when you inhale this, 86 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,359 Speaker 1: and then the nicotine travels through the bloodstream to the brain. 87 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,799 Speaker 1: There it has a party time with your adrenal glands 88 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: to produce epinephrin, also known as adrenaline. Any of you 89 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: guys out there who are big fans of the stuff 90 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 1: you should know podcast have heard those guys talk about 91 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:33,599 Speaker 1: adrenaline a lot. You know. This is the whole fighter 92 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: flight reflex thing. That's that's the thing that really fuels that. So, yeah, 93 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: same sort of stuff here. As a result, you have 94 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: some other physiological effects take place, including an increase in 95 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: your heart rate and blood pressure, and it stimulates dopamine production, 96 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: dopamine being the neuro transmitter that controls the pleasure center 97 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: in your brain. Yeah, this would be one of those 98 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: reasons why people who crave a cigarette get that calming effect. 99 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 1: They get that play as you're released when they are 100 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: smoking a cigarettes. Not just that uh it feels like 101 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: they're doing something familiar, although that may play a part two. 102 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: It's that they're literally releasing a neurotransmitter that affects the 103 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: pleasure center of the brain. Now, nicotine does not have 104 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: to necessarily be inhaled. It can be absorbed through other means, 105 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: like in the gastro intestinal tract or through the skin, 106 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: which is why you have things like nicotine gum and 107 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: nicotine skin patches for people who are trying to break 108 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: themselves in the habit of smoking. Now, it's a stimulant, 109 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: but like I said, smokers talk about the calming effect 110 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: it has when they're craving a cigarette, which may partially 111 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: be a ritual yeah, more than anything else, that whole 112 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 1: routine of of whatever steps a smoker goes through before 113 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 1: they light up, because this is a very ritualized. It's 114 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 1: part of the habit. Absolutely. Yeah, So you know you 115 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: might see people who are tapping their cigarettes in a 116 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: certain number of times. All these sort of these things 117 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: are comforting because they are ritualized. On top of that, 118 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: you have that dopamine release that also has that calming effect. 119 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: And when you get down to it, nicotine is an 120 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: incredibly addictive drug, as addictive as like heroin and cocaine. Yeah, 121 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: you probably have heard that before in health class or 122 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: or a science class is absolutely true. It is, and 123 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: we're now we're not saying necessarily that it has the 124 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: same uh effect on your system as those other drugs, 125 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: but it's certainly as addictive. So once you have developed 126 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: this physical and psychological addiction to a substance, when you 127 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: get that substance, like if you're craving that substance and 128 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: you get it, then you feel a relief, even if 129 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: it's a stimulant, right, And nicotine by itself is not 130 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 1: necessarily the worst thing for you, but getting it through 131 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: tobacco smoke is pretty nasty, yeah, because you've got a 132 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: lot of other things in cigarettes besides just the nicotine, 133 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: And that's where you see things like toxins and carcinogens 134 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: that will cause health problems down the road for a 135 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: lot of people. So while nicotine itself may not necessarily 136 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: have that toxicity or carcinogenic property, the stuff that goes 137 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: along with regular cigarettes certainly does. So we all know 138 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: smoking is bad for you. We're not going to spend 139 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: a whole lot of time talking about that, yeah, I mean, 140 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: especially because smokers themselves seem to know it. As according 141 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: to a report that was put out by the U 142 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: s Department of Health and Human Services. Almost se of 143 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: adult smokers surveyed so that they wanted to quit, and 144 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: some reported having attempted to quit in the previous year. 145 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: But how how do you go about breaking such a 146 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: strong psychological and physiological habit. Now, this is why we 147 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: saw the rise of things like nicotine gum and nicotine 148 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: skin patches, because that was all meant to kind of 149 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 1: help people first get rid of cigarettes, right, but they 150 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: still need to have that nicotine release or else they 151 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: are having these terms. Yeah, and the more you go 152 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: through withdrawal, the more likely you are to go back 153 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: to a bad habit. So that was meant to try 154 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: and help them trend position off to eventually wean themselves 155 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: off of nicotine entirely. That was the idea. Unless your 156 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: sherlock and you decide that you need like three or 157 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: four of them on you at a time in order 158 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 1: to really think clearly, by the way, do not do that. 159 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: That's a terrible idea, not recommended. You can. By the way, 160 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: this is a bit of a spoiler alert, but later 161 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: in the podcast, you can suffer nicotine poisoning and it 162 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: is serious stuff. Anyway, so the cigarettes are a little different, 163 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: you know, because it all depends on how First of all, 164 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: they were marketed for a really long time as a 165 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: means for people who are smokers to wean themselves off 166 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: of cigarettes and go to e cigarettes, which would be 167 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: in theory safer, right. I believe in the United Kingdom 168 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: they can only be sold and marketed furthermore, as a 169 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: device for smoking cessation. Interesting, and we'll talk more about 170 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: why that's interesting in a minute. But yeah, so some 171 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: people are using this as a way of quitting smoking. 172 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: Some people are using it as sort of just a transition, 173 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 1: like a lateral move, like they're not gonna quit, they're 174 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: just they're saying they're saying, well, i've heard that this 175 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: is safer than real cigarettes, so I'm going to switch 176 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 1: to this. And there's also some concern uh that this 177 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: could be enticing people to start smoking because of the 178 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: perceived safety benefit, right, the idea that oh I can 179 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: do this cool thing and I don't have all those 180 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: downsides of like lung cancer. That's awesome. Sign me up. Well, 181 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: hold on, folks, because we've got to talk about everything here. Also, 182 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: we should mention not all the cigarettes use nicotine. In 183 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: their um in their cartridges. Some of it is more 184 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 1: of a flavored liquid mixture, so you're breathing in flavored vapor, 185 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: but there could be other issues with that as well. 186 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: So anyway, now we've laid the groundwork, it's about time 187 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: to talk about how these things work. All right, So 188 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: these are electronic cigarettes. That means there's going to be 189 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,719 Speaker 1: certain components that you would expect right off the bat. Uh, 190 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: some kind of electronics. Yeah, and electronics have to have power, 191 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: so therefore there's got to be a power source, which 192 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: means you're not going to see someone plug in a 193 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,200 Speaker 1: cigarette and stand next to an outlet all day, I 194 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: would mention not all day. I mean, some of them 195 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,679 Speaker 1: are rechargeable, so you can technically sort of USB plugged 196 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 1: them into an outlet. But at anyway, there's a battery 197 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: involved in in this cigarette looking thing. Um, And you know, 198 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: essentially they convert this liquid possibly liquid nicotine into a 199 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: vapor which the user then inhales, right, And the way 200 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:37,599 Speaker 1: it converts liquid into a vapor, you know that we 201 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: kind of just sort of gloss over it, but no, 202 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: the way it's actually working is there's a heating element 203 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: inside these devices Normally you've got some sort of wick 204 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 1: that wicks in liquid and then wrapped around that wick 205 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 1: is a heating element, like a coil of wire. Okay, 206 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:56,839 Speaker 1: Now we've talked about electric resistance a lot. Right. Resistance 207 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: is when you are passing a current through something, it 208 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: resists that and you lose some energy in the form 209 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: of heat. Uh. And this case, something that's a heating 210 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: element is designed to heat up. It's meant to have 211 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,679 Speaker 1: a high resistance so that it heats up very quickly 212 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 1: with just a little bit of power running through it, 213 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: a little bit electricity running through it. So this heating 214 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 1: element heats up very quickly, converting that liquid into a gas, 215 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: which then you can inhale. Uh. And it's supposed to 216 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,079 Speaker 1: warm it up. So it's a one it's supposed to 217 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 1: be a pleasant sensation, and two it's supposed to kind 218 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: of mimic the feeling you would have your inhaling smoke. Yeah, 219 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: because fire has Yeah. Turns out I have to remind 220 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 1: myself of that frequently at Yeah. Yeah. Anyone who has 221 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: ever been burnt by something like this, you you remember it. 222 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: So that that little element, that heating element that turns 223 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: the liquid into a vapor is usually called an atomizer. Uh. 224 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: This is something that you often will hear used in 225 00:12:55,760 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: in lots of different products, not just a heating element. 226 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,599 Speaker 1: Atomizer doesn't have to have heat, turning something from a 227 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: liquid into a vapor, yeah, into some sort of vapor 228 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: or missed usually by making a liquid into very very 229 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 1: very very tiny droplets. So you like like an ald 230 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: like a perfume bottle as an atomizer in it so 231 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: that it can convert the liquid perfume into a missed 232 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: spray and uh, and so similar sort of thing here, 233 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,959 Speaker 1: we also have the heating element. Now, generally speaking, this 234 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: whole process is usually triggered by a change in pressure, 235 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: meaning that when you're sucking on this electronic cigarette, that's 236 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: when it generates the vapor. It's it's the key. So 237 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 1: you've got a sensor in there that's more or less 238 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: detecting a drop in pressure which indicates someone's taking a puff, 239 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: and that's when it's doing it. You could have electronic 240 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: cigarettes where it doesn't do it based upon when you puff. 241 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: It could have a button on it and then you inhale. 242 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: But in general, the most the ones I've seen are 243 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: responsive to that that yeah, because it's because it's like 244 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,679 Speaker 1: in trying to mimic what an actual cigarette is like. 245 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: So now in smoke tobacco, that nicotine it's found in 246 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 1: the smoke itself. But the SIGs don't actually create smoke. 247 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: You're not burning anything. So since you're not burning anything, 248 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: then you can't have smoke. Now, anyone who's seen or 249 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: used an e sig has seen that kind of cloud 250 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: that looks like smoke come out, and you might be thinking, 251 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: what's up with that. If it's not creating smoke, where's 252 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: this stuff coming from. Well, we've already talked about it 253 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: a little bit. It's it's a vapor and not vapors. 254 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: And I've got the vapors. No I can explain to 255 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: anyone who's not from the South what the vapors are, 256 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: but it is. It is a polite way of saying 257 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: that you're having some you're having some issues. So this 258 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: is a vapor that is made from propylene glycol, which 259 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: is the stuff in fog machine. Wait a minute, I've 260 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: been told more times than I care to admit not 261 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: to breathe in the fog generated by these fog machines. 262 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: It's actually been a p as a food additive by 263 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: the FDA because it's a it's a nice stable solvent 264 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: for stuff like food coloring and flavoring, and one of 265 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: its physical properties is that it vaporizes into a fog 266 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: when it's heated or briskly shaken. It Also it also 267 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: absorbs water, so it's used to maintain moisture levels and 268 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: some medications and foods and cosmetics. UM. It's furthermore f 269 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: y i uh component of anti freeze and some de 270 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: icing solutions. It's a solvent in some paints and plastics, 271 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: and it's used to make polyesters. But that doesn't mean 272 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: that your e cigarette is filled with anti freeze. They 273 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: just share a common component, right, Which is interesting because 274 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: we have a study we'll be talking about where one 275 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: of the things they found as a study by the 276 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 1: FDA was saying that there was a chemical in there 277 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: that was found in anti freeze, and I wonder if 278 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: it was this one, because if it were, that's not 279 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: that's a little misleading. Yes, it's kind of like saying 280 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: that a derivative of formaldehyde has all the properties of 281 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: formaldehyde and it doesn't and it doesn't, or like saying like, well, 282 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: this carbon based thing is made with carbon, which which 283 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: is bad. That's it's far too simple. The answer to 284 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: this question is always looked deeper, all right, So these 285 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: cartridges can contain the nicotine or be nicotine free. And 286 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: the thing is that manufacturers can actually tweak exactly how 287 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: much nicotine is in a cartridge. So theoretically they could 288 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: make a line of different cartridges with different amounts of 289 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: nicotine in each different version. And they certainly do sell 290 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 1: cartridges with that are marketed as having different amounts of 291 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: nicotine in them. Which so that you can step down exactly, Yeah, 292 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: you can, you can start to step Yeah, the intent 293 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: is to step down, but you know, we've got some 294 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: people out there who are real go getters. But the 295 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: idea is to step down so that you can wean 296 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: yourself off of cigarettes entirely, uh, mostly to wean yourself 297 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: off nicotine entirely. We should be more specific, honestly. So, um, 298 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: you can also just make it flavored. So some of 299 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: the flavors, and there are things like you can get 300 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: caramel or coffee or apple or Earl Gray tea or 301 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,640 Speaker 1: I mean there's there's lots of different ones. Yeah, when 302 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 1: you go into a vape shop, they will often have 303 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: an entire wall dedicated to different flavors. This, by the way, 304 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: has created some uh some questions recently in in legal circles. 305 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: Will get to that about how how these flavors may 306 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 1: or may not be a good idea. So one about 307 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 1: health concerns. We know the health concerns with cigarettes. We've 308 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: got decades and decades of research. Yes, I think it 309 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:39,120 Speaker 1: goes back to the nineteen thirties. So and since this 310 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 1: is a relatively new product on the mass market, Unfortunately 311 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 1: the answers that we don't know what the health effects 312 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: maybe yeah, in fact there are We're not saying there 313 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: are no studies out there were has Most of the 314 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: studies that are out there are either inconclusive or they 315 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: conflict with each other, so inclusion is hard to to 316 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: come to. And at any rate this these have only 317 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:05,919 Speaker 1: been running since at best the mid two thousands. So first, 318 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: there's not a lot we don't know. The World Health 319 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: Organization w h O, part of the u N has 320 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: been looking into it, but no conclusive findings. Um, there's there. 321 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:17,439 Speaker 1: And then there's the issue. The FDA has done some 322 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: studies on various cartridges. This is the one I was 323 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: talking about earlier that showed that ingredients that were listed 324 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: were not always what you got in the actual cartridge. 325 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: They would test the chemicals within the cartridge and then 326 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: see if it matches up with what was essentially on 327 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 1: the list of ingredients, and they said that the concentrations 328 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: didn't match up all the time, So sometimes you've got 329 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: more or less nicotine than what was being advertised, or 330 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: that you were even getting other chemicals that were not 331 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: listed on the ingredients at all, including some toxins. In 332 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 1: this case, the one of the ones they mentioned was 333 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 1: it's one that's found an anti freeze, and that made 334 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 1: me wonder if it was the the the fog stuff. Uh. 335 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: At any rate, I mean, it's interesting to me that 336 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 1: the FDA put out the study because the FDA does 337 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:05,479 Speaker 1: not regulate yeah, this liquid. There's still a lot of 338 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 1: debate on whether or not the FDA will. Uh. It 339 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 1: confuses me. I mean, granted, there's not necessarily nicotine in everything, 340 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:14,880 Speaker 1: but they did find that even some of the ones 341 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: that said there was no nicotine in it, there was 342 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: totally nicotine in it. Um. So again, this is a 343 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: case by case basis. It's not like you know, you 344 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: can't point to the entire industry and say this is 345 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: a problem. It may just be something that a couple 346 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:28,880 Speaker 1: of different manufacturers have issues. Oh sure, I mean, but 347 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: but part of the problem is that there are tons 348 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: of manufacturers out there. Yeah. Yeah, there's no standardization here. Uh, 349 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 1: there can be lots of different types of cartridges and atomizers. 350 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 1: The atomizer can affect how much of a given chemical 351 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 1: you inhale per puff versus just the cartridge itself. So 352 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 1: it could be that there's just a component inside the 353 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: e cigarette that is causing people to get either more 354 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 1: or less of a particular chemical per puff than what 355 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 1: was intended. Uh. So there's a lot of a lot 356 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 1: of variable is here, and that's part of what makes 357 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: doing a study so difficult, because it's not just the 358 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: the chemical that you have to look at, it's the 359 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: entire picture, and because there's so many different variations on it, 360 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: it's hard to draw any hard conclusions, especially this early on. So, uh, 361 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: we don't know what kind of health hazards there could 362 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: be using the cigarettes, And we don't even technically know 363 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,879 Speaker 1: whether or not, I mean, you know, medically conclusively. Research wise, 364 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: we don't know whether e cigarettes actually help people quit smoking. Yes, 365 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: there is a lot of conflicting reports out there. There are, 366 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: i should say, a lot of conflicting reports out there 367 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: that that state whether or not they are helpful for 368 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: people who are trying to quit. Some of them say absolutely, 369 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: some of them say absolutely not, and they should not 370 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: ever be marketed that way. So it's it's lots of 371 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 1: conflicting information. Yeah, there's also been some research indicating that 372 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 1: these things aren't necessarily as safe as they're being marketed as. Um. 373 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:06,919 Speaker 1: Some studies have shown diminished lung function, airway resistance, and 374 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: cellular changes that may lead to lung cancer in people 375 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,239 Speaker 1: who use e cigarettes. And it may even be that 376 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 1: those devices are releasing stuff into our lungs that that 377 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 1: normal cigarettes wouldn't, like metals. Yeah, that's that's not good 378 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:25,439 Speaker 1: stuff or other or other byproducts. Yeah, exactly. And also, 379 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: when you get down to it, even if even if 380 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: we say that maybe these health hazards, maybe studies will 381 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: bear out over time that it's it's not as big 382 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 1: a concern and that they are in fact safer than cigarettes, 383 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 1: and maybe even that they help you in the long 384 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 1: run get rid of that addiction. Here's the thing, if 385 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: you're using those nicotine cartridges, you're still delivering a dose 386 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: of a highly addictive substance to your your bloodstream, and 387 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: that addiction creates that physical and psychological craving that you 388 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: feel necessary to to uh appease on a regular basis. 389 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: So people who would think, oh, I want to try 390 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: this out because it's safer and it looks like it's 391 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: kind of kind of an interesting, uh cool like blade 392 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: it's a blade runner way of smoking. Um, it turns 393 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 1: out that you know, you're you're subjecting yourself to a 394 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:17,919 Speaker 1: very addictive substance that you could then you know, develop 395 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: a habit, and that can get pretty expensive, uh, even 396 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: if the health hazards are not that that great in 397 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: the long run. Uh. Also, you can develop a tolerance 398 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 1: to drugs, which means you need to have more of 399 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:33,479 Speaker 1: whatever the drug is in order for it to have 400 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: the same sort of effect both physically and psychologically. And 401 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: it is possible to overdose on nicotine. So this case, 402 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: if you were to get too much nicotine in your 403 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: system too quickly, that stimulating effect of the drug quickly 404 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:52,679 Speaker 1: shifts into a depressant and you become a victim of 405 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: nicotine poisoning. Now, the most common symptom of nicotine poisoning 406 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 1: is vomiting, so that's not pleasant, but there are more 407 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: or serious symptoms that can also follow, including seizures, abnormal 408 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 1: heart rhythms, and fluctuating blood pressure. Regular cigarettes might actually 409 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: have the benefit over over e cigarettes here because liquid nicotine, 410 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: like we said earlier, can be you know, ingested or 411 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,640 Speaker 1: absorbed through the skin, and as little as a tablespoon 412 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 1: of the liquid sold for e cigarettes can could possibly 413 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: kill an adult human person. Uh. Calls to poison control 414 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 1: centers regarding this kind of thing are on the rise 415 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,360 Speaker 1: from one per month in to as many as two 416 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 1: hundred and fifteen per month here in the United States. Yikes. Now, 417 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: and the interest of full disclosure, there are some possible 418 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: benefits to nicotine as well. Yeah, now, those benefits are 419 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: pretty interesting. They may play a part in helping reduce 420 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 1: the risk of developing things like Parkinson's disease in Alzheimer's. 421 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: It might be an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. 422 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 1: But self medicating is not a good idea, right. This 423 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: is the kind of thing that a professional would be Yeah, 424 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:07,160 Speaker 1: you would want to have a doctor overseeing the sort 425 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 1: of thing so that you make sure you have the 426 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,439 Speaker 1: right amount of the active ingredient. So that's one of 427 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: those things again getting up on a little bit of 428 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: a tangent here, but the idea that you know you're 429 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: going through a very specific prescribed amount that is geared 430 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: to helping you, as opposed to taking something that may 431 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: or may not have that right amount. You could be 432 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: over medicating or under medicating. That's neither of those options 433 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: are good, and the chances of you hitting exactly what 434 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 1: you need when you need it are low. So see 435 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 1: a doctor's what we're saying before you start trying to 436 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,919 Speaker 1: do that sort of thing. Now as we're recording this 437 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: podcast right now, there are actual debates going on in 438 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:50,880 Speaker 1: the Senate about whether the stig manufacturers are aiming at 439 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,160 Speaker 1: younger customer basis. And this is similar to a controversy 440 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: that has happened in the past about cigarette companies traditional 441 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: cigarettes using cartoon characters with their next as part of 442 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 1: advertising campaign. Right, and I wanted to talk a little 443 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: bit about the history of tobacco and legislation at this 444 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: point because it's really interesting and and it comes back 445 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,359 Speaker 1: into eat cigarettes in just a moment here. So okay, 446 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:17,120 Speaker 1: medical research linking negative health effects to tobacco use goes 447 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,400 Speaker 1: all the way back to nineteen thirty nine, and that's 448 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 1: when the first studies started being published about it. UM. 449 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:27,120 Speaker 1: Tobacco products had to have warning labels on them starting 450 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixties six and as as part of this 451 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: general push that was happening here in the US at 452 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 1: the time. We're talking all about the U S in 453 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: this in this section because we're from the United States. 454 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:44,639 Speaker 1: Other countries have perhaps a similar timeline with vaguely different 455 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: results here and there, But at any rate, UM in one, 456 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:54,120 Speaker 1: cigarette television and radio commercials were outlawed here when Nixon 457 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:57,640 Speaker 1: signed the Cigarette Smoking Act into law. At the time, 458 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: tobacco was the leading product category that was featured in 459 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: television commercials, and I remember hearing radio commercials for cigarettes, 460 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: like if you ever listened to any old radio programming 461 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:12,719 Speaker 1: where they incorporate yeah, it was almost always it was 462 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: it was a soap or a cigarette, or some form 463 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: of hair product. Um. The use of cartoon characters to 464 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: market tobacco products wasn't banned until the nineteen nineties or 465 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 1: early two thousand's, but that was that wasn't legislation as 466 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: much as it was part of this multi hundred billion 467 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: dollars settlement that the entire tobacco industry came to in 468 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: a series of lawsuits that were levied at it by 469 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 1: state governments looking for reparation for healthcare costs. Yeah, it 470 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: was one of those things where they said, well, we're 471 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: already going to have to pay all this money. We 472 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 1: don't want to fight this battle about whether or not 473 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 1: we're marketing to kids. And when we're talking about the 474 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:57,360 Speaker 1: SIGs marketing to kids, remember when I mentioned all those flavors. 475 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 1: There are senators who are saying things like you should 476 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,439 Speaker 1: not be marketing certain types of flavors because they are 477 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 1: flavors that are appealing specifically to children, things like candy 478 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: flavor cherry and cotton candy and etcetera, etcetera. And Uh, 479 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:12,919 Speaker 1: part of part of the reason that all of my 480 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,400 Speaker 1: goth friends were really upset in the early two thousands 481 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 1: was that stuff like clove cigarettes were outlawed. You know, 482 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 1: that was part of that legislation, part of that settlement 483 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: that prevented that was hoping to prevent youth from picking 484 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:29,200 Speaker 1: up this habit or tobacco companies from marketing to youth 485 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 1: and and the cigarettes right are not under the same restriction, 486 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:34,919 Speaker 1: and there's a growing number of commercials for them on 487 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,919 Speaker 1: the air. So a lot of detractors are suggesting the 488 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 1: tobacco companies are going to start using this market to 489 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:45,679 Speaker 1: get younger generations addicted to their products. Um And indeed, 490 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,119 Speaker 1: the tobacco industry is officially getting into the east cigarette market. 491 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 1: Camel maker Reynolds American is taking its views brand East 492 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:58,160 Speaker 1: cigarette to the national market starting June tween. We're recording 493 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 1: this podcast, by the way, on June nineteen, and Marlboro 494 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,880 Speaker 1: maker Newmark will have its own called Mark ten, out 495 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 1: by the end of the year. Now, the FDA is 496 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: still debating about whether or not it will start to 497 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: impose regulations and oversee things like the cigarettes. I thought 498 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 1: that was kind of weird that that debate still going on, 499 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 1: because ultimately, again you're talking mainly about the delivery system 500 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:26,320 Speaker 1: for nicotine, which is a known drug, So I would 501 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 1: think that would be a uh, something that would easily 502 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 1: fall under the purview of the FDA, But what do 503 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:34,680 Speaker 1: I know. Lots of states, though, have already started imposing 504 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: regulations on East cigarettes. As of June thirty eight states 505 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: have restricted the sale of the cigarettes by by age 506 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:43,239 Speaker 1: you know, kids can buy. I'm like a five year 507 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 1: old couldn't walk up to the counter, But what age 508 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 1: that is depends from state to state. UM A few 509 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 1: states have banned the use of the cigarettes anywhere that 510 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: regular cigarettes are banned, and some states have even started 511 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: taxing e cigarettes, although I think Minnesota is currently the 512 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 1: only state that's doing so at a comparable rate to 513 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: that of regular cigarettes. Right. So, again, the other thing 514 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: we're ending here is that using the SIGs to to 515 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: get yourself off of smoking regular cigarettes may or may 516 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: not work. We don't know. The studies are inconclusive and 517 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 1: it and we just don't know. So it may sound 518 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 1: like a lot of the stuff we've been saying have 519 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 1: all been negatives about the cigarettes, but really what we're 520 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: saying is that we don't have enough information to draw 521 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,959 Speaker 1: any conclusions one way or the other. It would be 522 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: it would be premature for us to say the cigarettes 523 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: are purely bad and no one should use them. It 524 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: would also be equally premature for us to say the 525 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 1: cigarettes are a much safer alternative to any other type 526 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: of smoking. And if you're trying to get off smoking, 527 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 1: it's a great way of doing that. We just can't 528 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: say those things and and science can't say those things yet. 529 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 1: You know, if you're an adult and you're smoker and 530 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 1: you are trying to stop smoking, then, because we love 531 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 1: you and we want you to continue listening to this 532 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: show for years and years and years to come, we 533 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: congratulate you, yes, um. And if you're trying to use 534 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:05,720 Speaker 1: the cigrettes to do that, then we If that is 535 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:08,719 Speaker 1: your method, then we wish you the absolute best, and 536 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: it may very well work for you. We just can't 537 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: say one way or the other. Yea. Yeah, But just 538 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:14,800 Speaker 1: as a consumer, you know, always always try to be 539 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: intelligent about your decisions and listen to science when you can. 540 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 1: Right now, I'm hoping very much that that science will 541 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 1: get on it. Yeah, me too, and and have a 542 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 1: really more definitive answer for these questions so that people 543 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 1: can make responsible choices. That's that's ultimately what we want. 544 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,760 Speaker 1: So thank you so much for writing in and asking 545 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: us the question. Remember, if you guys have any suggestions 546 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: for future episodes, maybe there's some other technology and you've 547 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: always wondered what the heck is the story behind that. 548 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 1: Let us know, send us a message on Facebook, Twitter 549 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:52,240 Speaker 1: or Tumbler or handle it. All three is tech stuff 550 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: hs w our mythical email address should be tech stuff 551 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: at our stuff works dot com. That that should be 552 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: kicking in any now. The more frequently I bring it 553 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:07,640 Speaker 1: up like that, the more likely someone will be motivated 554 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 1: to make sure it happens. Um, but yes, we are going. 555 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 1: We are still working on that. Uh Dan, who knows? 556 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: Maybe now it's working. Give it a shot, Send an 557 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 1: emails tex stuff at how stuff works dot com. Why 558 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:22,040 Speaker 1: not what happens? Let's know on Twitter you don't hear 559 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 1: response and we will talk to you again really soon 560 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 1: for more on this and thousands of other topics because 561 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 1: at how stuff works dot com