IMHO, ecigarettes are not a %100 safe solution. Anything dealing with chemicals has some side effects and dangers associated with it. However, I do believe it is a much safer alternative to smoking.
EVERY legitimate research I have seen regarding ecigarettes state that it is a safer alternative. Even research done by the FDA has shown that they are a much safer alternative to cigarettes. The one report where they studied ecigs were based on cigalikes, and out of those, I believe 4 out of the 10 contained one carcinogenic material ALMOST to the level of a regular cigarette. That report was done years ago, and the ecig industry changes VERY quickly, and mostly for the good.
Media tends to focus on shock and awe.. and they will hover around anything wrong. Media is designed to catch your attention by stating something almost as a warning label. It's their job to make you look at their article. When you read or look at any media, look closely at the words. look for the words "may, might, could, can, and if"...those are variables. Your best bet is to not look at media, but look at scientific results. The truth is, the FDA has not done extensive research on Ecigarettes. Their official statement is "they don't know". (source:
Electronic Cigarettes (e-Cigarettes) )
Now, because they don't know, that leaves the media open to quote anyone. People see vapor, and assume it's smoke, so they want it regulated like cigarettes. The Ecig community is wanting research done.. We want people to know how safe it is. from my own personal experience, I was smoking for 20 years. I remember wanting to quit when I would wake up, feel a tightening in my chest, I remember the wheezing, and coughing, the constant battle with phlem. I have been vaping for two years... and I can't recall the last time I had a tightening of my chest... my taste has come back, No phlem unless I am sick, and I feel like I have more energy. That's my own views, and I don't know of anyone who has been a vaper for 1+ years who has experienced these. I used to smoke in my car, and I remember seeing the thin brown film over everything and thinking what my lungs would be like... I vape in my car, and I get no such film.
I looked at the ingredients of Ejuice... Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, Nicotine, and Food flavoring, The first three are not carcinogens, and the flavoring, well, that depends on the flavor.
Do I think Ecigs are %100 safe... no. Maybe more on the lines of %95 safe (guestimation)... that's compared to breathing fresh air. I %100 think it's safer than cigarettes. It's all about harm reduction. Should I think they should be regulated? Only as much as food products are regulated. Should they be taxed like cigarettes, no. (the tax was supposed to fund anti smoking campaigns, because smoking caused cancer.. I don't think Ecigs have that problem).
I probably will be a vaper for a while. I might give it up, I might not. Right now, it's become a hobby. In my opinion, it's a fairly safe hobby, much like cars or motorcycles. Would a cyclist give up motorcycling because it's dangerous compared to flying or walking?