User:Emimolina/sandbox

It’s always interesting to get the National Geographic’s take on a matter. And, if NG is weighing in their opinion on a particular subject, it must be pretty groundbreaking. Back in April they published an article comparing traditional tobacco cigarettes to their electronic counterparts, citing the environment and health as the main focus. They also mentioned their usefulness in assisting smokers in harnessing their habits with a more healthful option. The article was entirely in favor of e-cigarettes, and they even went so far as to generously slip in a plug for South Beach Smoke! Since the inception of e-cigs, and their immediate growth, their obvious environmental benefits have not been ignored or have gone unnoticed. In fact, for many people, this is just one more reason to smoke them as opposed to tobacco cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes do not contribute to the overwhelming mass of pollution that cigarette butts create. The problem of this pollution is extremely widespread, and can have lingering effects long after the butts have decomposed. All the chemicals that are put into the filters, in the process of decomposing, become a hazard to animals, as well as leaching into the ground, water systems, and soil. There have been countless occasions of butts ending up in the ocean, where they can lay the same destruction. Also on the subject of decomposing, cigarette butts do not break down quickly; and can take as little as 18 months, to 10 years to fully decay. National Geographic addressed the controversy that surrounds e-smokes, and they really question the reports of their lack of regulation and therefore, lack of safety. With the many electronic cigarette customer reviews, and success stories, it can really be hard to decipher what is true and what isn’t. Nat Geo doesn’t vouch for their safety directly, but they do make very clear, common sense points that if smoke is the most dangerous part of a cigarette, a smokeless cigarette is inherently safer. Some anti-e-cig advocates claim that electronic cigarettes will encourage children and young people to pick up the habit because of the stylish looks and delicious flavorings. However, unlike tobacco, e-cigarettes are never marketed to young people, and they are a lot harder to purchase than tobacco cigarettes. For the most part, they aren’t sold in retail stores, and definitely not in every local convenience store, supermarket, gas station, or drug store.