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Are Electronic Cigarettes Safe?

Discussion in 'Consumer Concerns' started by Timmers, Feb 20, 2014.

  1. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I quit smoking over two years ago mainly through cost concerns (£75 or P5500 a week) and since then I've been using an E cigarette (£8 a week) which I enjoy very much. I use it in the office or on the shop floor and nobody seems to be bothered, and I also use it at the local hostelry. I am seeing more and more in the news that they are being banned in certain countries and in certain pub chains and train companies etc.

    I would be interested to know your views on E Cigarettes.
  2. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    I know that a lot of airlines banned their use on board planes. i think the main concern ids the chemicals used and possible long term affects
  3. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I personally think they should be banned on-board aircraft and restaurants too as just seeing the vapour gives the perception of smoking. I remember Ryanair was selling them but they would sell anything as you probably know. There are four ingredients in the e liquid, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, aqueous glycerine and of course nicotine which is the addictive part of it. Basically the vapour from e cigarettes is disco smoke.

    Real cigarettes burn tobacco which gives off smoke and contains around 4000 chemicals so I am hoping and guessing that e cigarettes are at least safer than their tobacco counterpart.

    The UK will be regulating them in 2 years time, in my opinion so they can get a little of the tax back that they are losing on cigarette sales.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I cannot understand e-cigarettes, the idea seems similar to people sniffing glue from a plastic bag.

    Never been a smoker myself, but to be honest the repressive smoking bans in the UK (and parts of the EU) make me realise how much I enjoyed passive smoking.

    Late night, sitting at the bar, other people smoking can generate a good relaxed atmosphere, intellectual conversation, perhaps the aroma of a high class cigar being smoked by a successful businessman...
  5. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    There are two kinds of e-cigarette sold here. One looks like a real cigarette and has a glowing red tip and has a couple of small lithium batteries and a non-refillable cartridge. The other type doesn't resemble a real cigarette, has a rechargeable battery and is refilled from a small bottle of "e-juice" which is available in a range of flavours and strengths. I don't know about elsewhere in the country but here in Davao, e-cigs are treated the same as normal cigarettes and banned from all public access buildings and parks.
  6. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    I used to like the smell of a pipe. That what you mean?

    My ex wife used to smoke 40 a day. Could have done with E Cigs coming in a decade or two ago. Though maybe not if they are just as harmful.
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2014
  7. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    The disco smoke comment interested me. While doing my offshore survival refresher (FOET) in Norwich last year you have to do the search through smoke filled rooms. Well in the begining as some on here will know they used to light fire and you'd go in with BA sets on. This was deemed to dangerous by HSE and was then replaced by "disco smoke" and the students wear a smoke hood. This has now been deemed too dangerous to the instructors as there are cancer worries concerned with its use. Now you go into the room with a smokehood on and a stiker over the visor!! Over zealous or are more studies required into long time affects?
  8. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I did a offshore refresher too last year at Fleetwood, they wont be able to use anything at all in a while to simulate smoke, we will just have to shut our eyes and wave our arms about like a madman LOL I found the best part of that course is when they simulated setting fire to a chip pan then added water, really shows how explosive and dangerous fire can be. I work with large gas reciprocating compressors when offshore and I always worry a little about the chances of an accident occurring. I think its a Roy Orbison job if there was to be a gas explosion on a rig. There were some guys on another BA course there and they appeared to be going into rooms with real smoke going off the smell, think they were actually firemen though. I have worked in a lot of fire stations and fire training sites and the fire fighters now have so many safety rules I'm surprised they can fight a fire. Its all safety, but as you know, it can be a little over the top.

    By the way, some rigs will let you take the e cig on, some wont. I smoke real cigarettes when offshore then revert back to e cigs without any problems when I get to the beach. Best thing about smoking offshore is that the cigarettes are duty free.

    Don't you half feel a prat when you're doing that smoke exercise, its like patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time. :)
  9. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    LOL Stu. How does that work? Does the sticker represent the smoke? What about the heat? I did mine last in 2005. But I do remember the days when they lit a real fire...
    • Like Like x 1
  10. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Indeed.

    I used to enjoy the firefighting bit. Not so keen on the HUET. :eek:
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2014
  11. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    They just put a sticker over the visor now to simulate a black out. My advanced 4 day fire fighting as a cadet was good. 2 storey metal box in south shields, multi real fires. Still got burns on my wrists from shifting oil drums that where red hot!! Good fun. The acutal chances of a gas explosion on rigs is fairly small these days as long as the procedures and safety systems are in place and used. If gas gets to the surface on ours after getting past mud wieght, the BOP, divertor then there is a 2 stage fully automated ESD (emergency Shut Down) system controled from here on the bridge to shut systems down and contain / vent the gas. We can smoke in designated areas on here but lighters are banned, safety matches only.
  12. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    Sticker just blacks out your vision. There are no fires these days for a lot of the offshore stuff but I believe there is for marine crew courses due to our trianing in the past for our tickets. In Petans years ago they used to throw a small camping gaz bottle on a fire just to show you what happens!! Great fun.

    The only problem I have on these courses and don't take this the wrong way is the amount of non marine crew types floundering around on them!! Wish I could get on a course that was just marine crew then it'd be in and out and home in time for tea and biscuits. Obviously its purely down to the amount of training we do over the years and we're just a bit more competent at it.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    The biggest problem I have is not being able to open my in water, stings like hell. Apart from that its just mild panic when your upside down and trying to punch the window out. Must say its a lot wasier these days with the re-breather.
  14. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Indeed
    I agree with you there. As effectively the non marine crew types wouldnt be involved with fighting the fire in practice and will more than likely be at their muster stations while the marine crew put the fire out. That right?
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2014
  15. Aromulus
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    Aromulus The Don Staff Member

    Correctamundo, in my instance , anyway............. I was one of the elected few to lower the old DSB rafts at my muster stations, wether with RCCL or Cunard.
  16. Anon04576
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    Anon04576 Well-Known Member


    Erring on the side of caution I think due to the fact that no long term studies on the potential harmful effects have yet to be measured.
  17. Aromulus
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    Aromulus The Don Staff Member

    You can disguise under all the camouflage you want, but at the end of the day, whatever it is that one breathes in, ain't pure air and as such it doesn't belong in your lungs....

    I was a smoker.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  18. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    Yep, obviously everyone needs trainings to "experience" the conditions and kit etc I just sometimes wish that they would separate us into marine and non-marine courses. As generally the only "marine" type on these courses I normally get picked on to demonstrate stuff like setting off extinguishers etc. Where it'd be more use to the "non-marine" types to do it as they in all likelyhood have never set one off. This is certainly more true when courses are done outside the UK.
  19. subseastu
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    subseastu I'm Bruce Wayne Lifetime Member

    I agree with Dom, if it ain't air it shouldn't be in there. i say this as an occassional smoker myself.
  20. Drunken Max
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    Drunken Max Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I was okay with them but then had to endure someone blowing fragrant smoke in my face while I tried to eat a rare steak when overseas so now not so much. I'm an ex heavy smoker but not for over 20 years. I do not mind cigarette smoke in the right places at all and certainly do not discriminate against smokers. Anything with a lithium battery is a potential bomb also so beware of the quality of the device. Make sure you get CE marking or whatever stands for a mark of quality

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