E cigarettes, invented in China in 2003 as a smoking alternative, are safer than combustible cigarettes but not risk free, exposing users to nicotine and other chemicals that can harm the heart, lungs, and Electronic cigarette Wikipedia The untold story of the first E Cigarette inventor Pouch Patrol Vaping: How E cigs Work (Infographic) Live Science The first smoker to try a nicotine vape ("e cigarette") was Hon Lik. He invented it to help himself quit smoking. He has vaped for 20 years, and is now 70 years old. BBC Radio 4 All Consuming How did e cigarettes and vaping get so popular?