Why is the American Lung Association concerned with e-cigarettes? Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes or e-cigs, are battery-powered vaporizers that stimulate tobacco smoking via vapor that resembles smoke.When they first premiered on commercials, they were originally marketed as an aid for quitting smoking.But, there has been a long debate as to if this is true. Many studies trying to prove whether or not e-cigs can help you quit smoking and if they are safer than smoking regular cigarettes.Why is the American Lung Association concerned with e-cigarettes?Assistant Vice President of National Advocacy for the American Lung Association, Erika Sward, shares everything you need to know about electronic cigarettes and if they are a safer alternative to smoking regular cigarettes.