A new trend is gaining momentum across the country: vaping. In only eight years, the market for e-cigarettes in the U.S. has ballooned to $2.5 billion in annual sales as of 2015. Vaping is growing exponentially and giving smoking a run for its money. With nearly 2.5 million Americans choosing e-cigarettes or “e-cigs” over traditional cigarettes, there’s a reason for the hype.

1. No Secondhand Smoke — Or Any Smoke At All
When you inhale on a vapor cigarette, you’re only breathing in water vapor, nicotine, and whatever flavoring you’ve chosen in your vaping cartridge. When exposed to secondhand smoke by coworkers or family members, nonsmokers’ chances of lung cancer increase by 20-30%. Because vapor cigarettes emit water vapor instead of smoke, vaping is less harmful to yourself and to others.

2. No Carcinogens
Nearly nine million people in the U.S. have a serious illness due to smoking cigarettes, including lung cancer and heart disease. There are 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, 69 of which are carcinogens, or cancer causing agents. Unlike traditional cigarettes, vaporizers are completely free of harmful carcinogens including arsenic, methanol, acetone, vinyl chloride, and tar.

3. Easier to Quit
In one study, participants who wanted to quit smoking were 60% more likely to succeed if they used e-cigarettes or vaporizers compared to those using nicotine patch or gum methods. Because vape cartridges come in a range of nicotine quantities, e-cigs can be used to help quitters wean themselves off nicotine. Vaping cartridges containing “low” doses of nicotine are available with a nicotine concentration of only 6 to 8 mg/ml. In fact, e-liquids containing low to zero strength currently outsell medium-to-high strength vaping cartridges by over 2-to-1.

4. More Environmentally Sound
According to Keep America Beautiful, cigarette butts account for 65% of all littered items in the U.S., and traditional cigarettes are a major contributor to air pollution. Because there’s no smoke involved in vaping and because many vaping cartridges are reusable, rechargeable, and recyclable, you can feel better about your environmental impact.

5. More Options
The biggest advantage of vaping over smoking is the customization available. Now you’re in control of the amount of nicotine and the flavor found in each vaping cartridge. The New York Times reported that over 7,000 e-liquid flavors are available already with more being released every month. Whether you’re looking for something fruity, sweet, or savory, there’s a flavor for everyone.