The term “vapor” is commonly used by consumers to refer to the aerosol generated from better alternatives to smoking, such as heated tobacco products or e-vapor products (also known as vapes or e-cigarettes).
Cigarettes generate a smoke aerosol that is the result of tobacco combustion, and this aerosol contains solid particles.
However, heated tobacco products and vapes are fundamentally different from cigarettes. These better alternatives to smoking release a vapor that—unlike smoke (which is created when a cigarette is burned)—does not contain solid particles. The vapor is created by either by heating tobacco or an e-liquid (also known as vape juice). The vapor produced contains significantly lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to what is produced by a burning cigarette.*
*Importantly, smoke-free products are addictive and are not risk-free, but they represent a much better choice for adults than continued smoking.