Why does IQOS emit less harmful chemicals than cigarettes?

Traditional cigarettes and IQOS share a common element, both are in fact tobacco products. However, they are radically different in the way they work: cigarettes burn tobacco while IQOS heats it. The outcome is self-evident: while cigarettes generate smoke, IQOS produces an aerosol that dissipates more quickly.

With IQOS tobacco is heated rather than burned. While burning takes place at a much higher temperatures, heating the tobacco with IQOS blade devices is performed at a controlled temperature. This produces an aerosol instead of smoke that contains the true flavor of tobacco and nicotine.

This is achieved thanks to IQOS' HeatControl™ Technology, an innovative system that controls the temperature in the device through the heating blade, an element made of ceramic incorporating platinum, gold and silver tracks.

What's in cigarette smoke?

Consuming cigarettes involves burning the tobacco, which generates smoke.

The cigarette smoke contains more than 6000 different chemicals, 1% of which are harmful and related to diseases ¹.

Why IQOS aerosol has less harmful chemicals?

The reason why IQOS aerosol has less harmful chemicals than cigarette smoke lays in heating tobacco instead of burning it (as it happens with cigarettes). Avoiding combustion and replacing it with heating it - at a controlled temperature - produces a vapour of tobacco which is less toxic than cigarette smoke.

Our studies show that IQOS has 95% less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes, which does not necessarily mean a 95% risk reduction ². Other independent studies on IQOS aerosol concluded similar findings, such as British Institute of Public Health report's: "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. (...) " ³.

While replacing smoke with an aerosol, IQOS still delivers the true taste of tobacco and the nicotine that exists naturally in tobacco leaves.

It is important to mention, IQOS is not risk-free: heated tobacco sticks contain nicotine, which is addictive and may cause side-effects similar to those associated with other nicotine-containing products. The best way to reduce tobacco related health risks is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether.

What are the other advantages of IQOS aerosol vs cigarette smoke?

Unlike cigarette smoke, IQOS aerosol has a lighter constitution therefore dissipates more quickly and has a fare less persistent smell making it less bothering for people around you.

With real tobacco, IQOS is the better alternative to adult smokers who want to continue consuming tobacco and/or nicotine products.

^{1 https://www.pmi.com/our-science/the-problem-of-burning}

^{2 Média de redução nos níveis num número alargado de químicos nocivos (excluindo a nicotina) por comparação com o fumo do cigarro de referência (3R4F).}

^{3 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-cigarettes-and-heated-tobacco-products-evidence-review}