Electronic cigarettes have sparked massive controversy ever since their introduction, but consumers don’t really have a good handle on what the risks and benefits are of this new technology.

E-cigarettes have been alternatively hailed as a potential aid in quitting smoking and slammed as simply reinforcing smoking at a time when it is declining, but so far not much is known about the risks or benefits of e-cigs, according to a Reuters report.

Researchers in Scotland recently conducted a survey of 64 smokers and found that there wasn’t much to indicate whether e-cigarettes are beneficial or harmful, and that is partly because the medical community isn’t sure itself — are e-cigs an effective new tool to combat smoking traditional cigarettes? Or are they just a temptation to resume a bad habit that smokers had worked so hard to get rid of?

The problem is that unlike regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes are new products without a lot of data. It took decades for evidence of the harmfulness of tobacco to build up, and it may be the same case with e-cigs.

They are designed to resemble the real thing, replacing smoke with vapor and even featuring a glowing tip that resembles that of a lit cigarette. It uses a battery for power for its heating element, and has a cartridge that carries nicotine.

Scientists are hopeful that e-cigs are safer because they don’t contain tobacco smoke, which may be the most dangerous part of cigarettes. However, they still have nicotine, which is addictive.

Are e-cigarettes more effective than patches and gum, or are they going to cause a relapse back into smoking? Perhaps only time will tell.