5. Safety of Ruyan® e-cigarette smoke for bystanders.
Method.
Analysis of published data on nicotine absorption, and informal comments of bystanders, and observation of e-cigarette smoking indoors.
Results.
Cigarette smoke is a mixture of sidestream smoke and exhaled mainstream smoke. In constrast, the e-cigarette generates no sidestream smoke from its (artificially lit) tip. Any exhaled PG mist visibly dissipates to vapor within seconds. Non-smoking bystanders do not find the mist unpleasant. The mist is odorless, and those close by quickly realize it does not have the odor of smoke or the irritating quality of tobacco cigarette smoke.
Comments
. Inhaled nicotine in cigarette smoke is over 98% absorbed 6, and so the exhaled mist of the e-cigarette is composed of propylene glycol, and probably contains almost no nicotine; and no CO. (see Figure 3.5) Lacking any active ingredient or any gaseous products of combustion, the PG mist or smoke is not harmful to bystanders. The smoke or mist is not tobacco smoke, and not from combustion no flame is lit and is not defined as environmental tobacco smoke. E-cigarette smoking would be permitted under New Zealands Smoke-free Environments Act 1990.33
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