Nov 27, 2023

The significant harm that smoking cigarettes can cause is well-known, but did you know the biggest risks of tobacco/smoking come from when a cigarette is burnt. 

 

What Does Harm Reduction Mean?

 

Simply put, harm reduction involves reducing damaging factors that may pose a risk. In relation to smoking, although it is not completely risk-free, switching to IQOS tobacco heating device from cigarettes may reduce the risks of smoking. This is because there is no combustion. 

 

What Are the Health Risks of Cigarettes?

 

Cigarettes are widely known to be harmful. The toxic chemicals, such as carbon monoxide and tar, that come from burning cigarettes can cause serious damage to your health. That’s why harm reduction can be an important factor for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke. 

 

How Does Tobacco Heating Work?

 

Cigarettes burn tobacco at very high temperatures. IQOS device optimally heats tobacco at lower temperatures, avoiding combustion. This means no smoke is created. Instead, there is a tobacco vapor that contains on average 95% lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes*, so switching completely to IQOS presents less risk to your health than continuing to smoke.**

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine which is addictive. 

* Reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette. 
** Based on the totality of evidence available for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke.

 

IQOS tobacco heating devices of earlier generation use a ceramic blade to optimally heat the tobacco. Their HeatControl technology controls the temperature, ensuring there is no combustion.
The latest IQOS device, IQOS ILUMA, uses SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM™ bladeless technology, which enables a new way to heat not burn tobacco.

 

Can Tobacco Heating Be Less Harmful Than Cigarettes?

 

Burning of tobacco is what creates significant risk because harmful chemicals are released in the smoke.
Smoke is the main cause of smoking-related diseases. Nicotine is not the main cause of smoking-related diseases. Nicotine is addictive, but it is the other chemicals emitted when a cigarette burns which are the main cause of smoking-related diseases. Because IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it, you get real tobacco taste. IQOS emits on average 95% lower levels harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.*

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS is not risk-free.

*"95% less" represents the average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette. See "Important information" on IQOS.com.