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The science and vision behind IQOS
IQOS is the combination between science and technology.
Science
We believe science can change the lives of millions of smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke. To this effect, we recruited scientists to work on developing less harmful products that cigarette smokers can switch to if they don’t want to quit. Hundreds of scientists and engineers at PMI’s global Research and Development centers in Switzerland and Singapore have developed and evaluated IQOS, an innovative electronic device that heats and not burns tobacco. It produces a tobacco vapor that delivers tobacco taste and nicotine.
Tested by scientists
IQOS has gone through robust scientific assessments, including, to date, 18 non-clinical and 10 clinical studies involving thousands of participants. The totality of evidence available shows that, while IQOS use is not risk-free, switching completely to IQOS is a better alternative than continuing to smoke cigarettes.
Why is heating better
Technology. By combining science and technology we developed a better alternative to continued smoking. IQOS is changing the way adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke, can enjoy tobacco.
IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it for a simple reason: the burning of tobacco emits high amounts of harmful chemicals. IQOS HeatControl™ Technology prevents tobacco from burning, which means it significantly reduces the number and level of harmful chemicals emitted compared to cigarette smoke.
Heating technology
When a cigarette is lit, the tobacco burns at temperatures of around 600°C. This burning process generates smoke and ash; when a smoker takes a puff, the temperature rises above 800°C at the burning tip.
Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of over 6000 chemical substances, around 100 of which have been to linked smoking-related diseases by public health authorities.
IQOS HeatControl™ Technology heats tobacco to a lower temperature (less than 350°C), ensuring that combustion does not occur. Because there is no combustion, IQOS does not produce smoke. It generates a tobacco vapor that brings you a high-quality tobacco taste experience with 95% less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.
Important information: It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS is not risk-free.
Tobacco vapor vs Smoke
IQOS tobacco vapor is less harmful than cigarette smoke. To demonstrate this, we conducted a comprehensive assessment program that included 10 clinical studies on aerosol chemistry (as well as data from 18 non-clinical studies), and involved thousands of participants in the US, Japan, UK and Poland. Evidence demonstrates that switching completely to IQOS, while not risk-free, presents less risk of harm compared with continuing to smoke cigarettes.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor Air Quality (“IAQ”) refers to the air quality inside buildings, generally based on the principle of ensuring the health and comfort of the occupants. Temperature, humidity and contaminants are some of the factors that can affect the indoor air quality. But, human presence and activities such as cooking, cleaning or smoking have been proven to have considerable impact.
To enhance our knowledge and understanding the impact of IQOS on indoor air quality we conducted studies simulating “real-world” conditions in an environmentally controlled room. Our testing methods are validated, and ISO accredited.
Our study shows that, because IQOS does not burn tobacco and it does not generate smoke. it does not negatively impact indoor air quality. This means that the few compounds we nevertheless detected were found at very low concentrations and far below the maximum exposure levels defined in existing air quality guidelines.
Science machine
We’ve created a machine to show the significant differences between smoke produced by burning tobacco in a cigarette compared to the tobacco vapor generated when tobacco is heated in IQOS. Watch the science machine video to see more.
Switching to IQOS
Os nossos estudos demonstraram que a satisfOur studies show that the satisfaction of those who switched completely to IQOS is comparable to that of those who continued to smoke cigarettes*.
Discover more about our scientific assessment journey.
IQOS is not risk free and delivers nicotine, which is addictive. The best decision any smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether.
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