Smoking its way into the market, electronic cigarettes are a new trend many smokers are turning to. Grant Hepworth is the owner of Smokers Revolution a vape shop located in Lethbridge. Hepworth says e-cigarettes are a better alternative for folks who want to quit smoking.

“We actually use it as substitute… as apposed to having a cigarette, you have this,” said Hepworth.

Karen Goodison, medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services South Zone says there is little information for what goes inside an e-cigarette. She says there is also a lack of information on what the health risks surrounding the device might be.

“We do know, they contain propylene glycol and that’s the same thing they use to create party fog. That sort of dry ice looking fog, and some studies show that they can be a long irritant.” said Goodison

Although researchers are still in the early phases of studies, Goodison says e-cigarettes could be a serious irritant to the body.

Hepworth opened up his shop to educate people on e-Cigarettes. He says that a lot of people claim the product is harmful due to a lack of knowledge.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there and a lot of misconception,” says Hepworth.

Using the product for up to five years, Hepworth says he has conducted a lot of research on the device. He says since people started using e-cigarettes there have been no reported deaths attributed to them.