It was only a matter of time before the cigarette had an electronic upgrade. Unfortunately, the new e-cigarettes have the same health fears attached to them as the traditional tobacco version.

Electronic cigarettes have become a boom industry in the UK as the battery powered steel ciggie becomes the smokers’ popular way of circumventing the smoking ban in public places.

The steel tube, made to look like a real cigarette, contains no tobacco, tar or carbon monoxide. Instead, a shot of nicotine contained in replaceable cartridges delivers a hit of heated addictive mist similar to smoking.

The current advertising claims that e-cigarettes are one hundred times healthier than real cigarettes but warnings over the health implications have come from the World Health Organisation who say lack of trials and test have been inadequate.

“If the marketers of the electronic cigarette want to help smokers quit, then they need to conduct clinical studies and toxicity analyses and operate within the proper regulatory framework,” said Douglas Bettcher, director of WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative.

“Until they do that, WHO cannot consider the electronic cigarette to be an appropriate nicotine replacement therapy.”

Smokers are being encouraged to use the tested nicotine replacement therapies rather than e-cigarettes. Anti smoking group ‘Ash’ are one campaigner who are concerned by the new product.

“In principle we think it’s a good idea for smokers to switch to safer forms of nicotine, but at the moment we don’t know enough about this product,” said Deborah Arnott, director of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash).

“Quality control in China [where they are manufactured] is not the highest, and our advice is it’s best to use nicotine products like gums and patches. The electronic cigarettes fall into a regulatory gap and they haven’t been chemically tested.”

E-cigarette manufacturers have come out fighting, defending their products as a healthy alternative to tobacco.

“It’s a healthier way of smoking. You don’t get any of the stuff that’s in regular tobacco,” said Jason Cropper, managing director of the Electronic Cigarette Company.

“It’s better if people aren’t using nicotine in any form, but they’re an alternative to using a tobacco-based product and my opinion is they’re massively less harmful.

“I bet my life they’re 100 times healthier than using a tobacco-based cigarette.”

“Apart from the nicotine, the samples tested appear to be free from other harmful toxins.”

“I believe this product is a life-saver. Ultimately it will become the nicotine replacement therapy of choice.”

A good choice for people wanting to give up nicotine is to seek out alternative and complementary methods for quitting smoking. Non-invasive, drug-free options and methods are available with alternative medicine and complementary therapies such as acupuncture and hypnotherapy.