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. IQOS is a better choice than continued smoking.​

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: 3-month clinical studies conducted in US and Japan with 160 adult smokers each under real conditions (ambulatory).