Smoke, fire and mirrors: The e-cigarette debate

Abstract

Can a rechargeable battery, linked to an atomiser and cartridge of liquid nicotine, 'massively' reduce the individual and population risks of traditional cigarette smoking? Or is the increasingly ubiquitous e-cigarette a dubious, poorly-controlled 'aid to quitting', resulting in actual dual use with unacceptably high toxin levels? The jury is out scientifically, with South African role players on either side producing evidence for and against the device.