Dec 1, 2020

Are you an adult smoker who is considering the switch from cigarette smoking to the IQOS tobacco heating system? In the information age we can find claims that may need to be separated from reality. Here we bust some of the most common myths around IQOS.

1. MYTH: IQOS burns tobacco.

TRUTH: Traditional cigarettes burn tobacco - IQOS heats tobacco. Therefore, unlike cigarettes, IQOS has no risk of burning others around you, pets, clothes, and furniture as there is no lit end.

2. MYTH: Heated tobacco produces smoke.

TRUTH: The IQOS tobacco heating system is the leading smokeless and non-combustible product in our current smoke-free products portfolio. Unlike cigarettes, IQOS is used to heat specially designed tobacco sticks without burning the tobacco; thanks to its heating system, the device does not produce smoke, but rather vapor. This means that IQOS produces less smell than cigarettes. Additionally, when using IQOS, the tobacco vapor dissipates more quickly than cigarette smoke.

3. MYTH: I can use IQOS without nicotine.

TRUTH: IQOS is an electronic device that does not contain tobacco or nicotine. However, IQOS is used with specially designed tobacco sticks that contain nicotine, an addictive substance that occurs naturally in tobacco and is not added artificially to the tobacco units. It’s important to be aware that the use of IQOS is not without risk. The best way to reduce tobacco-related health risks is to stop using tobacco and nicotine products altogether.

4. MYTH: I can use traditional cigarettes with my IQOS device.

TRUTH: You can’t use traditional cigarettes with your IQOS device. Instead, you should use the tobacco sticks which have been specifically designed to be heated, not burned.

5. MYTH: The IQOS tobacco heating system is the same as an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette).

TRUTH: No, IQOS is not an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). IQOS heats tobacco to generate a nicotine-containing vapor while electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) produce a vapor that usually contains nicotine without using tobacco. Both categories are alternatives to smoking which eliminate tobacco combustion when it’s used. However, the difference is that IQOS uses tobacco while electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) do not.

6. MYTH: IQOS is a tool to quit smoking or reduce your tobacco consumption.

TRUTH: No, IQOS is not designed or intended for adult smokers who want to stop consuming tobacco or nicotine. IQOS is a better alternative for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke or consume products with nicotine. But what does IQOS do? It heats tobacco instead of burning it, and in doing so, adult smokers who decide to switch to IQOS can get rid of many of the inconveniences related to traditional cigarettes, such smoke and ash, among others.
If you are wondering if IQOS less toxic than cigarettes, various studies, both done internally as well as independently, show that IQOS emits on average 95% lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.*

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

*Average reduction in the concentration of individual harmful substances (9 out of the so-called "priority toxicants“ identified by the WHO) in IQOS compared to the smoke of a representative selection of cigarettes (3R4F); recorded with the Intense Smoking Regime of Health Canada without taking nicotine into account.

7. MYTH: IQOS stands for ‘I Quit Ordinary Smoking’

TRUTH: It doesn't mean that. Why is it called IQOS? It's not an acronym, but a brand name that was created to express an innovation and technology that, together with advanced science, would signal a turning point.

8. MYTH: IQOS is pronounced as if it were an acronym.

TRUTH: IQOS, how is it pronounced? Its pronounced according to English phonetics (/ˈaɪkoʊs/ EYE-kohs).