Are Electronic Shisha Pens Safe?

Electronic cigarettes, electronic shisha pens and vapes all are the rage in the smoking market. And while they may all have different names, these smoking devices provide users with pretty much the same purposes.

Due to their recent entry into the smoking market, not a lot is known about these products, so it is often a valid question to interrogate the safety of shisha pens. To answer this question people would need to understand what an electronic shisha pen is, how it works and what it contains.

For starters, an electronic shisha pen is an electronic device used for smoking purposes and one that helps in delivering nicotine hits to the user in the form of vapours. However, unlike traditional smoking products it does not contain any tobacco inside, and there is no harmful smoke coming out of the electronic shisha pen.

All types of shisha pens contain three main components in them, which are 

·         A battery which is either rechargeable or replaceable

·         An atomizer which is a heating element used to heat the e-liquid that is in the shisha pen

·         And finally the e-liquid cartridge.

The e-liquid cartridge in the rechargeable shisha pen can be replaced just like its battery. These e-liquid cartridges contain flavoured liquid which when heated up turns into vapours. Some of these e-liquids contain nicotine but that is not always the case. It depends on the user of the shisha pen whether he prefers to smoke it with or without nicotine.

As none of the shisha pens include any harmful substances that traditional smoking products may contain such as tobacco, carbon monoxide or tar, they are known to be a much safer alternative to smoking than any of the conventional products. The basic idea behind using a shisha pen is not only helping smokers avoid the dangerous substances that they may inhale while smoking a traditional product, but also assist them to quit smoking.

Are shisha pens the same as a traditional shisha?

One might get confused by the name but remember that both these products are entirely two different things. A traditional shisha includes the burning of charcoal that is used to burn the tobacco in it. As for the smoke that comes out of the burning tobacco, it is then passed through a container filled with water. The only thing similar in the two products is that they both use a large variety of different flavours.  However, as for a traditional shisha, tobacco is included in it while smoking, whereas in a shisha pen only nicotine is used and that also merely by choice, if the user wishes it so.

In the past few years the smoking of traditional shisha has become quite popular especially with the younger generation, with many believing that it is a much safer alternative to smoking a cigarette.  This, however, is not the case at all. The use of a traditional shisha for about an hour is equal to approximately 200 to 300 puffs of a cigarette, therefore proving that shisha in fact is more harmful than a cigarette.

This is why electronic shisha pens have gained ground are have become to be known as better and safer alternatives to smoking both traditional cigarettes and shisha.

Now that we know an electronic shisha pen is a comparatively safer alternative to traditional smoking, what does the law state for using a shisha pen?

Since an electronic shisha pen contains no tobacco or any other harmful toxins, it is allowed to be used in various public areas where normally traditional smoking products would be banned. This includes locations like public transport or at a restaurant.

However, it should be kept in mind that purchasing a shisha pen is still prohibited for people below the age of 18, not recommended for pregnant women or others who are suffering from different kinds of lung or breathing diseases.