Zimbabwe: E-Cigarette Launched

Source from:  The Herald  06/18/2013

A local Harare company, Vapour Blue, has launched a new brand of cigarettes called the e-cigarettes.

The cigarettes which are being imported from the United States are being sold in some of the local supermarkets and night clubs in and around the city. Vapour Blue managing director Mr Kuda Gwasera said the cigarettes come in five flavours, menthol, marlboro, camel, davida and tobacco.

"An electronic cigarette, also known as an e-cigarette, personal vaporiser or PV, is an electronic inhaler that vaporises a liquid solution into an aerosol mist, simulating the act of tobacco smoking.

Mr Gwasera said there may be similarities between conventional and some electronic cigarettes in the physical design and the nicotine release, which may approximate the same amount of nicotine as a conventional cigarette.

He said the advantages of the electronic cigarettes was that there was no tar, no smoke, no carcinogens and had much reduced effect on cardiac function as compared to a traditional cigarette. The benefits and risks of electronic cigarette use are uncertain among health organisations and researchers.

Limited controlled studies are available due to its recent invention. Laws vary widely concerning the use and sale of electronic cigarettes and accompanying liquid solutions, with pending legislation and ongoing debate. Enditem