cynthia cabrera is the executive director for the "smoke free alternative trade association" called sfata, a vaping lobby group. >> we need to dispel the idea that these vapor products are the same as combusted tobacco product because they are not, so we need to look at anytime that anyone is using a vapor product, they are not smoking and that's a win for everybody. >> these electronic cigarettes, they don't contain the over 7,000 plus chemicals that conventional cigarettes have, and that's always a plus. but on the flip side they do have their own set of compounds that you're being exposed to. >> unfortunately we're going to have to wait for the longevity studies, but if i had to say what is more dangerous, honestly they're equal, to me they're equal. >> the food and drug administration, which regulates tobacco, is still reviewing vaping regulations. travis padgett has been smoking since high school, today he vapes to cut down on tobacco use. >> for me it was kinda sorta of a different way for me to get my nicotine. >> now a micro biology major at uc riverside, travis, is vaping for sci