The science and vision behind IQOS.
IQOS is the combination between science, technology and vision.
Science behind heated tobacco
We believe in science. We believe it can change the lives of millions of adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke. To this effect, we recruited scientists to work on an important idea: developing less harmful products without fire, ash and smoke that cigarette adult smokers can switch to if they don’t quit. Hundreds of scientists and engineers at PMI’s global Research and Development centres in Switzerland and Singapore have developed and evaluated IQOS, an innovative electronic device that heats and not burns tobacco. It produces a tobacco vapour that delivers tobacco taste and nicotine.
Tested to the highest standards.
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 usage is not risk-free, switching completely to IQOS reduces the exposure to harmful chemicals than continuing to smoke cigarettes.
Why heating tobacco is better?
Technology – the world revolves around it. Over the years, it has radically changed our lives for the better. The way we work, the way we communicate, the way we travel. By combining science and technology we developed an alternative experience without fire, ash and smoke to adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke.
IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it for a simple reason: the burning of tobacco emits high amounts of harmful chemicals.
IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION™ technology and IQOS HeatControl™ technology prevent tobacco from burning, which means they significantly reduce the number and level of harmful chemicals emitted compared to cigarette smoke.
Heating technology.
Cigarettes burn tobacco, reaching high temperatures of 600⁰C, and producing ash, tar, and smoke with high number and levels of harmful chemicals. Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of over 6000 chemical substances, around 100 of which have been linked to smoking-related diseases by public health authorities.
IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM™ technology and IQOS HeatControl™ technology heat tobacco to a lower temperature of 350⁰C, ensuring that combustion does not occur. Because there is no combustion, IQOS does not produce smoke. It generates a tobacco vapour that brings you a 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.
* “95% less” represents the average reduction of the 9 chemicals recommended for reduction in cigarette smoke by the World Health Organization, which does not include nicotine. See Important Information on IQOS.com
Cigarettes burn tobacco and produce smoke and ash.
IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it, so it doesn't produce fire, ash or smoke. This makes IQOS a better choice compared to continued smoking.
Important information: IQOS is not risk-free, and provides nicotine which is addictive.
Tobacco vapour vs. smoke.
IQOS tobacco vapour 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.
Cigarette combustion is the main cause of smoking related diseases.
IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it, producing on average 95% less 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 reduction of the 9 chemicals recommended for reduction in cigarette smoke by the World Health Organization, which does not include nicotine. See Important Information on IQOS.com
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 and it drastically reduces levels of harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide, 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.
Switching to IQOS.
Our 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.
Important information: 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.
* 3 month clinical study conducted in US and Japan with 160 adult smokers each, under near real-world conditions.