By Roland Piquepaille
According to Ananova, a Swiss company has developed a totally new type of smoke-free cigarette. You will be able to use it in non-smoking restaurants, and even in airplanes -- if you care for nicotine. But the PRAVDA, from Russia, adds that the product is far from perfect. It looks like a cigarette, it's used as a cigarette, but it's not a cigarette at all. Each pseudo-cigarette consists of a replaceable 'filter' containing the nicotine, and a heating element working on a battery, recharged by the 'pack' of cigarettes. The company, NicStic, says its product is good for smokers because it doesn't contain any tar, and for non-smokers, because there is obviously not passive smoking effect. It plans to introduce the product in Germany in about a year for a price similar as normal cigarettes. Read more...Site Contributor
If you need to smoke, a smoke-free cigarette sounds like a good option. However, this doesn't cancel out the health effects of smoking at all and quitting smoking might be an even better option. If you learn about the facts of smoking you might find out something you didn't know before that could persuade you to kick the habit. The effects of smoking go way beyond your personal health so looking into a smoke-free life might be a good next step in your life.
Let's start with Ananova.
The smoke and tobacco-free NicStic consists of a heating element and a changeable filter that contains nicotine. It doesn't contain any tobacco but the company claims dragging on it releases a similar taste to cigarettes.
The company hopes smokers will switch to the healthier option, pointing out that nicotine does very little damage whereas tobacco smoke also contains tar, arsenic, cadmium and formaldehyde. It also argues that the NicStic will reduce the health risk and annoyance associated with passive smoking.
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This diagram shows you all the essential elements of a NicStic smoke-free cigarette (Credit: NicStic). On the top right is the cord to the loading station. Just under is the air intake. And on the right, the filter contains the nicotine. |
This picture comes from this page which explains -- in German -- how the NicStic system works. You also can see a picture of the container case, quite different from the one shown by Ananova.
But the PRAVDA is a little bit skeptical.
The product manufactured by the Swiss company NicStic is packaged in small containers that somewhat resemble a cigarette-case. It contains ten disposable mouth-pieces resembling a filter as well as an object that looks like a cigarette. In reality however, this object is a heating element that works from a battery. The cigarette-case itself works as a battery charger.
Before attempting to smoke, one should first assemble the cigarette. After that, the cigarette has to be inserted into a special opening of the cigarette-case filter up. One must then wait another 20 seconds until the battery is fully charged and the heating element reaches certain temperature. It is only then that a person can enjoy his cigarette.
Once your NicStic cigarette is assembled, you'll be able to puff it, without disturbing your neighbors. But I imagine it will be hard to convince a flying attendant that you don't break non-smoking rules.
After an introduction in Germany near the end of 2005, these smoke-free cigarettes might be sold as well in the U.S. According to this document, Metropolitan Worldwide Inc., a Florida based company, has reached an agreement with NicStic AG, a member of the Hermatec Holding Companies in Switzerland, to distribute the smokeless cigarette-alternative.
Please note that the Hermatec group is truly faithful to the Swiss tradition of discretion: it doesn't even have a presence on the Web -- at least, none that I found.
Sources: Ananova, November 1, 2004; PRAVDA, November 1, 2004; and various websites