With smoking banned in most public places, die hard smokers are looking for new ways to feed their nicotine habit. One produc growing in popularity, is raising concerns with the FDA. They say the product is untested, unregulated by the federal government and being marketed to teens.
Despite their fears, sales are on the rise.
Like most places of business these days, Maria Rogic's employer, has a strict non-smoking policy. So why is she holding a cigarette in her hand?
"I can smoke it anywhere and no one can say anything to me about it," says E-cigarette user Rogic.
That's because Maria's cigarette is electronic. It's tobacco-less and runs on a battery. When she inhales, liquid nicotine and other chemicals from a cartridge are turned into a thick, odorless vapor.
For a pack a day smoker like Maria who wanted to "extinguish" her 15-year habit, switching to an E-cig was life changing.
"My skin is better, I feel better, I can go up the stairs and not be out of breath," she says.
Maria's enthusiasm for E-cigarettes is shared by thousands who log onto internet forums to brag about how much better they feel. And suppliers say sales continue to soar.
But not everyone is crazy about this new craze. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' biggest issue is they are easily available to children.
"We're deeply concerned that these products are being sold in shopping malls with flavors that directly appeal to kids," says Mathew Myers, President of Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids.
The flavors, called E-liquid, range from apple and blueberry to cotton candy and chocolate.
And it's not just kiosks selling E-cigs. You'll find more than a dozen brands offered online. But, anti-smoking advocate Dr. Michael Siegel says there's no evidence the children are actually using E-cigarettes. One reason he cites is that they're expensive.
"These cost between 90 and 120 dollars to buy the starter pack and most kids walking around do not have 90 dollars that they can just spring out to buy these things," says Dr. Michael Siegel, Professor, Boston University School of Public Health.
He says studies show kids are still smoking traditional cigarettes. But the Food and Drug Administration says kids are getting their hands on the high-tech versions which is concerning because these products are not regulated by the agency. That means they don't have to be submitted for safety evaluation. That bothers other health activists, as well.
"We don't know what is in these products. What we're urging is simply that anybody who wants to sell a product to help people quit smoking undergo rigorous testing for safety," says Myers.
Dr. Siegel and many others insist E-cigarettes are a much safer alternative to smoking tobacco products but he agrees.
"I think there's an urgent need for more research. This is a really promising product," says Dr. Siegel.
A non-smoker for over 5 months and counting, Rogic says it made all the difference in helping her quit.
"I was determined, and I knew I wanted to be a non-smoker so I just pulled through and did it," says Rogic.
Limited government testing recently found carcinogens and toxic chemicals in small amounts in two brands. The FDA wants E-cigarettes to be classified as drug devices, which would mean more stringent oversight. The E-Cigarette Association is fighting to have them regulated as a tobacco products.
