What are e-cigarettes?
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on February 18, 2014 at 2:00 AM, updated February 18, 2014 at 2:02 AM
How does it work? A user fills a small tank with a liquid that typically contains the chemical propylene glycol along with nicotine, flavoring and other additives. A heating element vaporizes the liquid; a user inhales the vapor. Many are designed to simulate smoking cigarettes or cigars.
Other names: Electronic vaping device, personal vaporizer, or electronic nicotine delivery system.
Cost: Getting started costs $30 to $100 with an e-cigarette, and replacement cartridges run about $600 for a year, according to the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association. E-cigarettes are cheaper than cigarettes. Traditional tobacco cigarettes, if a person smokes a pack a day, would be about $3,000 to $4,000 a year in New York state.