Carbon Monoxide Levels: Cigarettes vs heated tobacco

The harmful effects of carbon monoxide can be a significant concern for some adult smokers. The best decision any smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether in order to reduce the health risks of tobacco and nicotine use. For those who would otherwise continue to smoke cigarettes or use other nicotine products, exploring smoke-free alternatives might be more suitable. This article addresses the carbon monoxide levels within both cigarettes and IQOS heated tobacco products.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide, abbreviated as CO, is an odorless, colourless toxic gas. It is produced in large amounts when some things burn, like fuels, wood, or the tobacco in cigarettes; and it is so famously harmful that most of us have alarms to warn of its presence in our homes.

When CO is inhaled, it is absorbed through your lungs into your bloodstream and reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to your body, affecting your brain, heart and muscles.

Carbon Monoxide Levels in Cigarettes vs Heated Tobacco Products

Did you know that smokers are more exposed to carbon monoxide compared to non-smokers? This is because cigarettes produce high amounts of carbon monoxide.

What’s different about heated tobacco? The assumption is generally that a smoke-free product like heated tobacco must deliver similar carbon monoxide levels compared to cigarettes because they use tobacco. However, this is not the case for the IQOS tobacco heating system. Cigarettes burn tobacco, which produces high amounts of carbon monoxide. IQOS doesn’t burn tobacco, producing on average 98% less carbon monoxide (CO) and significantly lower levels of other harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.*

Important information: This does not mean a 98% reduction in risk, and carbon monoxide is only one of many harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. IQOS is not risk-free, and contains nicotine which is addictive.

*We measured the levels of the 9 harmful chemicals the World Health Organization recommends to reduce in cigarette smoke, which do not include nicotine, and these are reduced on average by 95%. See Important Information.

It’s important to note that IQOS products aren’t risk-free, and the best choice for smokers concerned about the health risks of smoking is to quit tobacco or nicotine use altogether.

IQOS is only made for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products.