Apr 14, 2023

The significant harms that cigarette smoking can cause are well known, but did you know that the greatest risks of smoking come from burning tobacco? Reducing the risk IQOS poses compared to cigarettes can be an important factor in an adult smoker's decision to quit smoking cigarettes.

 

 

What Does Harm Reduction Mean?

 

Simply put, harm reduction is about reducing damaging factors. In terms of smoking, switching from cigarettes to IQOS heated tobacco can reduce risks, even if it doesn't eliminate them. 

That's because IQOS emits 95% fewer harmful chemicals and produces no smoke compared to cigarettes*.   

 

Important information: IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine, which is addictive.

 

*”95% fewer” represents the average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette. It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. See Important Information on IQOS.com

 

 

What Are the Health Risks of Cigarettes?

 

It is well known that cigarettes are very harmful. The toxic chemicals such as carbon monoxide and tar that are produced when tobacco is  burned can cause serious harm to health. Therefore, harm reduction can be of great importance to adults who would otherwise continue to smoke. With IQOS heated tobacco, adult consumers can choose a stimulant that poses fewer risks than continuing to smoke.*  
Important Information: IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine which is addictive. 

 

*Based on the totality of evidence available for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke.

 

 

How Does Heated Tobacco Work?

 

In cigarettes, the tobacco is burnt at very high temperatures, while IQOS instead heats the tobacco which prevents combustion.  This means that no smoke is produced. Instead, a tobacco vapor is produced that contains on average 95% fewer harmful chemicals than cigarette smoke and thus poses less of a health risk than continued smoking.*

Important Information: IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine which is addictive. 

 

*”95% fewer” represents the average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette. It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. 
See Important Information on IQOS.com 

 

 

Is Heated Tobacco Less Harmful Than Cigarettes?

 

Many adult smokers believe that nicotine is the cause of smoking-related harm. In reality, it is the combustion of the tobacco that poses a significant risk, as harmful chemicals are emitted with the smoke. Because IQOS heats the tobacco instead of burning it, it releases 95% fewer harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes*.   
Important information: this does not necessarily equate to a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS is not risk-free. 
At IQOS, we are committed to a future without cigarettes; with less harmful options for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke. However, the best recommendation for your health is to stop using nicotine entirely.

 

*”95% fewer” 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

 

 

Examples of Harm Reduction Effects When Using IQOS Heated Tobacco Products

 

- IQOS does not produce tar because it heats tobacco instead of burning it. It produces an aerosol residue that is fundamentally different from tar and consists of far fewer harmful chemicals.* IQOS emits an average of 95% fewer harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes. 
- IQOS produces no ash

The tobacco heated by IQOS not only reduces the content of harmful chemicals, but also has no negative impact on indoor air quality**. Since there is no passive smoke and hardly any odor, the people around you are less exposed.

Important information: This does not mean a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS is not risk free and provides nicotine which is addictive. 

 

*Average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette. It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. 
**PMI study conducted under ISO standards simulating real-world scenarios and based on threshold limits established by existing air quality guidelines. 

 

 

Shop IQOS heated tobacco devices.

 

 

This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.