Nicotine consumption without smoking cigarettes

Nicotine is a substance that occurs naturally in tobacco plants, as well as - in significantly smaller quantities - in fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, eggplants, green peppers and potatoes.

Many believe that nicotine is the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. Although nicotine is addictive, studies and public health authorities have confirmed that it is not the case; rather, the primary cause of smoking-related diseases (such as cancers and heart disease) comes from the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke.

When a cigarette is lit, the tip of it burns - or, combusts - at temperatures at or above 600 °C, which causes a chemical reaction to occur. Combustion produces over 6,000 chemicals, and many of them are causing smoking-related diseases. This means that nicotine, while addictive, is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases, it is combustion that causes them.

For those adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking, there are other smoke-free products available. These are smoke-free alternatives, which contain nicotine.

What smoking alternatives are available?

Adult smokers today have the option of exploring different alternatives than smoking cigarettes. E-cigarettes and vapes are well-known alternatives that eliminate combustion. There is also another type of product, called "heat-not-burn" devices or heated tobacco products.

IQOS, is a heated tobacco option on the market, IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it, therefore IQOS is a better choice than continuing to smoke cigarettes. Unlike cigarettes, IQOS does not produce smoke, but rather, a tobacco vapor. IQOS device is developed to only use with a special tobacco stick, called HEETS, which contains real tobacco. IQOS emits 95% less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.*

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

What are the different alternatives to smoking, which contain nicotine?

IQOS is one alternative that allows adult smokers to replace cigarettes. Switching completely to IQOS is less harmful than continuing to smoke. **

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

Our studies show that HEETS™ provide cigarette-like nicotine satisfactions. *** It is important to highlight that IQOS product features are valid only when a HEETS stick is used with an IQOS device. Type and quantity of emitted chemicals when our products are used with other devices or other sticks are unknown.


*“95% less” represents the average reduction in levels of the 9 chemicals recommended for reduction in cigarette smoke by the World Health Organization, which do not include nicotine. See Important Information.
**Source: Based on the totality of evidence available for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke. See Important Information.
*** Source: 3-month clinical studies conducted in US and Japan with 160 adult smokers each under real conditions (ambulatory).