Well Spring is just around the corner and surprise, surprise, the success and controversy surrounding theelectronic cigarette(as written about in Part 2 of this series of articles) rumbles on and on.

As an observer it is fascinating to see so much staunch opposition to a product that has the potential to rid the world of smoking related cancers! No its not yet been tested or approved by the world health organisations, no there is not yet a piece of paper that declares the electronic cigarette "safe" but surely something with this much promise should be being embraced by one and all and the powers that be should be frantically busy with the testing so the world at large can either welcome a hero or dismiss another false dawn.

Meanwhile, Joe Public continues to flock towards the electronic cigarette like penguins to an iceberg. As awareness of the product grows, more and more people are willing and eager to give it a try. What does this show? Personally I think it proves just how desperate most smokers are to quit smoking .

I don't really think the fact that an electronic cigarette looks remarkably like a real cigarette has anything other than an initial "wow" factor. Ill health and a despondency with some of the other "quit smoking" products available, combined with a real urgency to stop smoking is lighting the way for these e cigs.

Let's have another look at some of the claims made by the electronic cigarette companies:

• Can be up to 80% cheaper than smoking real cigarettes
• No lighting, no burning, no tar and no real smoke (only vapour)
• No cancerous substances (during the burning of tobacco there are approx. 40 cancerous substances)
• No need for ashtrays, no cigarette butts, no horrible smells and no air pollution (no CO2)
• Due to the various strengths of the renewable cartridges, nicotine strength can be gradually lowered to ease nicotine addiction.

There are more claimed benefits than those mentioned above but it's clear looking at some of these why the electronic cigarette is proving to be such an attractive proposition for smokers. Also the ways these items are packaged and distributed by some companies make it easy for non smokers to make purchases as gifts for smoking relatives and friends.

Ultimately until there is some official feedback and decisions made by the health organisations other then mere speculation, then it's very much a case of making personal decisions regarding the electronic cigarette but one thing is for sure we are going to hear a lot more about them yet.