The U.S. e-cigarette & vape market size was valued at USD 8.98 billion in 2022. It is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.8% from 2023 to 2030. The market growth can be attributed to the increasing awareness of safer tobacco alternatives. Electronic cigarettes and vape mods, an alternative to tobacco products, have been gaining popularity. These sophisticated mechanical devices are designed to deliver the same addictive nicotine in tobacco cigarettes without the harmful effects of tobacco smoke. Users are focusing on adopting personalized vaporizers. These vaporizers provide the best user experience in vaping and effectively cater to the needs of the regular and most active vapers. Health concerns related to smoking have considerably increased in the past few years as individual organizations and governments treat this issue with high priority. Increasing awareness about health concerns is anticipated to propel the market growth over the forecast period.

The usage of e-cigarettes and vape mods is rapidly increasing because these devices do not include tobacco. Most of the U.S. population considers these devices a gateway to quitting smoking. Some of the population is shifting to an e-cigarette and vape mod as an alternative to smoking. Furthermore, these products are being offered in non-nicotine as well as nicotine forms, due to which a substantial portion of the population considers these devices to be a better alternative.

What are E-cigarettes (vapes)?

• E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol. An aerosol is a mix of small particles released in the air. Some people refer to the aerosol from an e-cigarette as “vapor.”
• A person using an e-cigarette inhales this aerosol into their lungs. Bystanders can also breathe in the aerosol when the person using the e-cigarette breathes the aerosol out.
• E-cigarettes typically contain nicotine, the addictive substance in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Some e-cigarettes can also be used to deliver cannabis and other drugs.
• E-cigarettes often come in bright colors. They are also available in flavors that appeal to young people, like fruit, candy, menthol, and mint.
• People often refer to using e-cigarettes as “vaping.”

E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid. There are many types of e-cigarettes, including disposable devices, refillable devices, and devices with pre-filled cartridges or pods.

• Disposable e-cigarettes come pre-filled and may be rechargeable. They are not designed to be refilled.
• Refillable e-cigarettes are rechargeable and have a tank or chamber that is filled with e-liquid. Some refillable devices can be modified to change the amount of aerosol produced or the strength of the delivered substance.
• E-cigarettes with a pre-filled cartridge or pod are rechargeable and intended for reuse.

E-cigarette aerosol is NOT harmless “water vapor.” It can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:

• Nicotine, a highly addictive chemical that can harm adolescent brain development
• Cancer-causing chemicals
• Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead
• Tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
• Volatile organic compounds
• Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease. Some flavorings used in e-cigarettes may be safe to eat but not to inhale because the lungs process substances differently than the gut.

Why are E-cigarettes popular in the US?

The types of e-cigarette products that are available and being sold changes rapidly. Multiple factors affect e-cigarette sales. These include the introduction of new products to the market, local and state policies regarding sales, actions undertaken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and changes in global supply chains.

The following describes changes in e-cigarette unit sales between February 2020 and June 2024, based on 4-week periods. During this time, e-cigarette unit sales increased from 15.7 million units to 21.1 million (34.7% increase). Sales data are from brick-and-mortar retailers only (online and tobacco specialty store sales were unavailable).

• As of June 2024, nearly 6,300 different e-cigarette products are available for purchase in the United States. Disposable e-cigarettes in youth-appealing flavors are the most commonly sold device type.
• In June 2024, 58.1% (12.3 million units) of all e-cigarette sales were disposable e-cigarettes; the rest were prefilled cartridges or pod-based e-cigarette
• Between February 2020 and June 2024, the percentage of disposable e-cigarettes sold more than doubled from 26.0% to 58.1%. In that same time period, the percentage of prefilled cartridges decreased from 73.9% to 41.8%.
• In June 2024, 80.6% (17.0 million units) of e-cigarette sales were for flavors other than tobacco, such as menthol, mint, or other flavors.
• In June 2024, e-cigarette dollar sales totaled $488.9 million.

Health effects of E-cigarettes

E-cigarette aerosol can contain substances that can be harmful or potentially harmful to the body. These include:

• Nicotine, a highly addictive chemical that can harm adolescent brain development
• Cancer-causing chemicals
• Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead
• Tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
• Volatile organic compounds
• Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease. Some flavorings used in e-cigarettes may be safe to eat but not to inhale because the lungs process substances differently than the gut.

E-cigarette aerosol generally contains fewer harmful chemicals than the deadly mix of 7,000 chemicals in smoke from cigarettes. However, this does not make e-cigarettes safe. Scientists are still learning about the immediate and long-term health effects of using e-cigarettes.

Dual use refers to the use of both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes. Dual use is not an effective way to safeguard health. It may result in greater exposure to toxins and worse respiratory health outcomes than using either product alone.

Nicotine is the main addictive substance in tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. With repeated use, a person’s brain gets used to having nicotine. This can make them think they need nicotine just to feel okay. This is part of nicotine addiction.

Signs of nicotine addiction include craving nicotine, being unable to stop using it, and developing a tolerance (needing to use more to feel the same). Nicotine addiction can also affect relationships with family and friends and performance in school, at work, or other activities.

What are popcorn lungs?

“Popcorn lung” is another name for bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), a rare condition that results from damage of the lungs’ small airways. BO was originally discovered when popcorn factory workers started getting sick. The culprit was diacetyl, a food additive used to simulate butter flavor in microwave popcorn.

Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes inflammation and may lead to permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways — popcorn lung — which makes breathing difficult. Popcorn lung has no lasting treatment. There are, however, treatments that manage BO symptoms, such as:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath

Popcorn lung can also be triggered by inhaling other toxic chemicals, including volatile carbonyls like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde – both of which have also been detected in e-cigarette vapours.

There’s no cure for popcorn lung. Once the lungs are damaged, treatment is limited to managing symptoms. This can include bronchodilators, steroids, and in extreme cases, lung transplantation. For this reason, prevention – not treatment – is the best and only defence.

Vaping is especially popular among teenagers and young adults, possibly due to the thousands of flavoured vape products available – from bubblegum to cotton candy to mango ice. But those fruity, candy-like flavours come with a chemical cost.

E-liquids may contain nicotine, but they also include a chemical cocktail designed to appeal to users. Many of these flavouring agents are approved for use in food. That doesn’t mean they’re safe to inhale.

When chemicals are eaten, they go through the digestive system and are processed by the liver before entering the bloodstream. That journey reduces their potential harm. But when chemicals are inhaled, they bypass this filtration system entirely. They go straight into the lungs – and from there, directly into the bloodstream, reaching vital organs like the heart and brain within seconds. That’s what made the original popcorn factory cases so tragic.

Experts estimate there are over 180 different flavouring agents used in e-cigarette products today. When heated, many of these chemicals break down into new compounds – some of which have never been tested for inhalation safety. That’s a major concern.