BREAKING NEWS: the E-Cigarette

So im browsing the web for current health events and i see a pop up add which is advertisding a new produce called the E-cigarette. Appenently, this product has been out since 2002, but recent advances have claimed to made the E-cigarette an "incerdibly neat and effective smoking replacement". This product looks, feels, and generally works like a real cigarette; however produces no actual smoke or carcinogenic effects. It does not use tobacco and does not require a lighter to activate. because it does not contain tobacco, it is not restricted by USA smoking laws (therefore it is legal to use indoors). The E-cigarette does provide the user with nicotine (which can be regulated to either a high or low level. It also produces a thick smoke-like vapor that is made by a small in line vaporizer (turning liquid contained inside the cigarette into a atomized smoke mist).

Honestly, to me this seems too good to be true. Really a cigarette that does not produce harmful second hand smoke, with no carcinogens, and doesnt need a lighter? I am not a smoker, nor do I have children who I need to worry about being exposed to second hand smoke, but for some reason I still feel a bit skeptical about the true health "benefits" of this product.

Breathe easy new yorkers!

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has recently declared that he wants to take New Yorks fight on tobacco smoke to the cities public parks and beaches. This is an interesting notion because of the fact that, just like in restaurants and bars (whose smoking privilages were revoked in 1995), these are in fact public places which are used by smokers and non smokers alike. New York is unique to many places in the United States because there are so many people in such a small area. This means that the nearly one million smokers in New York City must start to change their habits if they plan to smoke recreationally (wether it be while walking their dog or sunbathing at the shore). One big arguement for this law would be that since smoking was banned in bars and restaurants in 1995 smokers have been steadily reducing. Smokers have gone down 21% since 2002.