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 Unraveling the Surprising History of Vaping Devices Hon Lik invented the e cigarette to quit smoking but now he's a dual user Vaping The Guardian Who Invented Vaping, How Vaping Started: a History Business Insider BBC Radio 4 All Consuming How did e cigarettes and vaping get so popular? E cigs a 'consumer driven' revolution born from a bad dream Reuters