Harrisburg: E-cigarettes are less addictive than cigarettes for former smokers, researchers have proved.

The research sheds new light on how nicotine addiction works.

However, experts warn the long terms health risk of e-cigarettes are still unknown.

‘We found that e-cigarettes appear to be less addictive than tobacco cigarettes in a large sample of long-term users,’ said Jonathan Foulds, professor of public health sciences and psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine.

The popularity of e-cigarettes, which typically deliver nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin and flavorings through inhaled vapor, has increased in the past five years.

There are currently more than 400 brands of ‘e-cigs’ available.

E-cigs contain far fewer cancer-causing and other toxic substances than cigarettes, however their long-term effects on health and nicotine dependence are unknown.

To study e-cigarette dependence, the researchers developed an online survey, including questions designed to assess previous dependence on cigarettes and almost identical questions to assess current dependence on e-cigs.

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