Over 30 independent studies on IQOS aerosol and what they say
More than 8 million people worldwide use IQOS, a product that allows tobacco consumption in a different way to cigarettes.
Due to its innovative technology, IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it. Derived from the absence of combustion, IQOS also appears as an alternative with a lower risk of harmfulness: the investigation conducted up to now shows that IQOS emits 95% fewer chemicals than cigarettes [1]. These are data not only from our research, but also from various studies conducted by independent laboratories and government research institutes that confirm some elements of our scientific research.
What do independent studies say about IQOS?
Discover part of the current scientific evidence from over 30 independent studies conducted by independent laboratories and government institutes around the world.
- United Kingdom, British Institute of Public Health report, 2018
"Compared to cigarette smoke, heated tobacco products are likely to expose their users and third parties to lower levels of particulate matter and harmful or potentially harmful constituents. (...) "
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- United Kingdom Toxicology Committee, 2017
"[It is] likely that there is a reduced risk, if not zero risk, for the health of smokers who switch completely to heat-without-burning tobacco products."
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- Netherlands: National Institute of Public Health and Environment, 2018
"The use of sticks of IQOS-heated tobacco is harmful to health, but probably less harmful than smoking cigarettes."
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- TPSAC Scientific Advisory Committee on Tobacco Products, 2018
"The TPSAC agreed, by an 8-1 vote, that "Scientific research has shown that completely switching from cigarettes to IQOS significantly reduces the body's exposure to harmful or potentially harmful chemicals."
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- American Agency for Food and Drug Safety, Food and Drug Administration, Pre-marketing authorization for tobacco products (2019) ( Pre-market tobacco product application - PTMA), 2019
"Following a rigorous science-based review through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway, the agency determined that authorizing these products for the U.S. market is appropriate for the protection of the public health because, among several key considerations, the products produce fewer or lower levels of some toxins than combustible cigarettes."
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- Japan National Institute of Public Health, 2017
"Several harmful compounds (nicotine, condensate, carbon monoxide, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines) in smoke and IQOS consumables were compared with those of conventional combustion cigarettes. Nicotine concentrations in IQOS tobacco consumables and smoke are almost the same as in conventional combustion cigarettes, while the concentration of tobacco-specific nitrosamines is one fifth and of CO is one-hundredth of conventional combustion cigarettes."
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- Germany: Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), 2018
"It is confirmed here that the 80-99% reductions in toxic agents are substantial (...)".
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Independent studies certify important elements that have emerged from our research, in particular regarding the observation of significantly lower levels of harmful constituents in the IQOS aerosol when compared to cigarettes. Although not risk-free, IQOS may present a lower risk of harmfulness when compared to cigarettes.
As with our own inquiry into aerosol constituents and their health impact - it is important that any independent research be conducted with an appropriate degree of scientific rigour. The methods and equipment used must be fit for purpose and validated; the experimental results must be interpreted and reported in an accurate and non-misleading manner.
Heated tobacco vs cigarettes
Cigarette smoking requires combustion - cigarette tobacco is burned at a much higher temperature and produces smoke that contains high levels of harmful chemicals. IQOS, in contrast, is a product in the "heat-without-burn" category, i.e. it does not burn, but only heats tobacco to much lower temperatures. Since there is no combustion, the levels of harmful chemicals present in the IQOS aerosol are significantly reduced compared to cigarette smoke.
The key element of IQOS lies in its HeatControl™ technology, which, via a heating blade at the core of the device is electronically controlled, heats the tobacco just enough to release a nicotine-containing tobacco vapour. That aerosol dissipates faster than cigarette smoke, and allows the user to experience tobacco consumption that is without combustion and therefore smokeless. The idea of warming up tobacco is not new; what is really revolutionary is the tobacco warming system referred to - the result of 10 years of in-depth research and development in creating a truly innovative product that is a better option for smokers.
Also derived from the absence of combustion, IQOS stains the teeth less [2].
Is IQOS safe?
IQOS is not a risk-free product, as it uses nicotine-containing tobacco sticks, a substance that is addictive despite the fact that its aerosol, as demonstrated by the reported studies, has lower toxicity than cigarettes. Some of these studies go even further by finding that reducing toxic constituents in the aerosol may pose a lower risk of harm than cigarettes [3].
Thus, and based on the scientific evidence available in the independent reports, considering that IQOS produces 95% fewer harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes [4], completely switching from cigarettes to IQOS presents a lower risk of harmfulness compared to cigarettes. Although the use of IQOS is not risk free, it has a lower risk of harmfulness compared with risks of continuing to smoke cigarettes.
However, it should be stressed that IQOS is neither a non-smoking product nor a means to quit smoking and nicotine, but only a better alternative for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke. The best option for health is not to start, and for those who have, to completely stop using tobacco and / or nicotine products.
Quit smoking, the best option. IQOS, the best alternative
If you are an adult smoker concerned about your health, quitting is always your best option. But some smokers want to continue consuming tobacco and / or nicotine products. As demonstrated to date by the independent studies referred to in this article, among others, IQOS is a better alternative than continuing to smoke cigarettes.
[1] This does not necessarily mean a 95% risk reduction. IQOS is not a risk-free product. It refers to the average reductions in the concentrations of a wide range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to those found in the smoke of reference cigarette (3R4F).
[3] Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and Environment, 2018, https://www.rivm.nl/zoeken?search = IQOS
[4] This does not necessarily mean a 95% risk reduction. IQOS is not a risk-free product. It refers to the average reductions in the concentrations of a wide range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to those found in the smoke of a reference cigarette (3R4F).