The History of Vaping - Tracing Back to 1963

(photo taken from abc News website)

A few months ago, if I smell a whiff of sweet fruity scent, I would have thought that someone sitting nearby must be eating candy. But today, things are a whole lot different. There is no way to run no way to hide because they are EVERYWHERE including indoor dining area. Well, relax, I was just exaggerating to get the mood started. This sweet smelling vapor is not toxic gas, but something people call 'vape', or electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), which has recently swept through Malaysia especially among young people. I have heard of the term 'e-cigarette' long time ago but had not actually seen one, until this year when I saw some guys puffing away at the shopping centre.

Working with a vape company, Herbert A. Gilbert has launched 1963®.

(photo taken from Ashtray Blog) 

1963: Smokeless Non-tobacco Cigarette

In school, we were taught that e-cigarette is used to 'cure' nicotine addiction, so that smokers can stop smoking and harming their health. And I thought that was the original intention of this invention too until I read an interview with the inventor of the e-cigarette, Herbert A Gilbert. Herbert thought that the smoke produced as a result of combustion was not something pleasant to be taken into our lungs, so he invented the other version of cigarette that did not require burning, just flavoured water vapour powered by battery as heat source. The first smokeless non-tobacco cigarette patent was filed as early as in 1963 but no manufacturer was willing to produce this product because at that time tobacco cigarette was selling like hot cakes and those companies want to protect their market, there was no need for an alternative that might give consumers an implication that tobacco cigarette is not healthy.

1964 - 1999: less response from public

According to the Google patent, from year 1964 to present, there is a list of patents referencing the patent filed by Herbert. However, none was successful in causing a hurricane in the tobacco industry as people prefer the conventional ones.

Dr. Norman Jacobson, with the idea from his patient named Phil Ray, invented cigarette called Favor, which was pure nicotine inhalation.

1981: the word 'vaping' & Pure Nicotine Inhalation

Dr, Norman Jacobson, together with Phil Ray had pioneered the word 'vaping' during the late 1970's or early 1980's. The other thing that interests me is, they invented 'fake' cigarette in which people inhale pure nicotine from the cigarette-like tube, where the liquid nicotine was stored. This means smokers who intended to quit smoking can get satisfaction from nicotine consumption and nothing else. This product was marketed for one to two years, but eventually failed because it was difficult to contain liquid nicotine, which is very volatile.

Hon Lik, co-founder of Ruyan (in Mandarin means 'resemble smoke'), a company manufacturing e-cigarette for more than 10 years.

2003: Modern Electronic Cigarette

After 40 years, a pharmacist in China named Hon Lik who had troubles quitting smoking, invented the modern e-cigarette after getting inspiration in a dream (this is a true story!). His intention in creating this product is to solve this very common social problem, smoking (ahem, that means what our teachers told us was right!). However, things does not go as smooth as he thought. He face lots of challenges from big tobacco companies who sees him as a competitor while the health authorities are suspicious of the safety of this product. Despite of the claims saying e-cigarette brings negative impact to human health, Hon Lik said that every component of e-cigarette can be controlled, including the vape content. So as long as strict standards are imposed, e-cigarette will be safer and safer to use. His aim is to replace the conventional tobacco cigarette with e-cigarette, just like how digital camera taken over analogue camera.

2004: went on market in China

2005: exported Europe

2006: exported to United States

Starting 2008: the year things began to change

E-cigarette has been improvised and improved throughout the years. More and more companies started to introduce e-cigarette in Europe and United States. At the same year, the force against e-cigarette had risen. World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report saying that there is no prove regarding the safety of e-cigarette usage while United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stopped the shipment of e-cigarette from China. This resulted in a e-cigarette company suing FDA and winning an injunction against them. However, FDA promptly released an advisory press, exposing the harmful ingredients contained in e-cigarette, causing the banning of e-cigarette in a few countries (the list was updated last year in 2014, some information might be outdated).    

So......?

Studies are still being carried out to evaluate the the safety of e-cigarette usage. In my personal opinion, this e-cigarette would be an awesome invention to help breaking the addiction towards smoking and lowering the risk of lung cancer. However, it would be turned into a bad invention if vaping became something trendy to youngsters and there is no legislation that control its usage in Malaysia. The cool design of the e-cigarette and various interesting flavour available are the marketing strategies that attract consumers' attention. Maybe, just like the conventional cigarette, e-cigarette should be prohibited from releasing advertisement and having eye-catching packaging. Or at least, an age-restriction. Since the original purpose of e-cigarette is to curb smoking addiction, in the future, it should be prescribed by doctors.




References:

Mimms, B. & Phippen, B. (2014). The beginners guide to vaping. Retrieved from http://onvaping.com/

Dunworth, J. (2013, October 2). An interview with the inventor of the electronic cigarette, Herbert A. Gilbert [Interview]. Retrieved from Ashtray Blog: http://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/

Sridi, N. (2013, October 7). "I was sure that the electronic cigarette will be welcomed with open arms" [Interview]. Retrieved from Sciences et Avenir website: http://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/

Ridley, M. (2015, 20 June). 'Quitting is suffering': Hon Lik, inventor of the e-cigarette, on why he did it [Article]. Retrieved from The Spectator website: http://www.spectator.co.uk/

Kryworuka, S. (2013, 11 March). An electronic cigarette timeline: a history of the electronic cigarette year by year [Article]. Retrieved from Ashtray Blog: http://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/

Dunworth, J. (2014, June 23). Vaping 1970's style: an interview with one of the pioneers [Interview]. Retrieved from Ashtray Blog: http://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/