Heated tobacco product

As early as the 1960s, tobacco companies began developing alternative tobacco products to supplement the cigarette market. a smokeless cigarette launched in 1988 that was widely described as difficult to use. and it was not popular during test marketing in Arizona and Missouri. The product resembled a traditional cigarette and required combustion to move smoldered charcoal past processed tobacco containing more than 50% glycerin to produce an aerosol. after spending $325 million on development, R. J. Reynolds withdrew the Premier following recommendations from the American Medical Association and other organizations that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restrict or classify it as a drug. The Premier concept was later revised and reintroduced as the Eclipse in the mid-1990s. The Eclipse remained available in limited distribution , and was promoted through viral marketing. but the Revo was withdrawn in 2015. In October 1998, Philip Morris launched the Accord in the United States. It was a specialized cigarette designed for use with an electric heating system. Advertisements suggesting reduced risk were drafted but never released. In 2007, Kenneth Podraza, then Vice President of Research and Development at Philip Morris USA, sought endorsement from the Surgeon General of the United States, a product similar to the Accord. The Heatbar failed to generate significant consumer interest, and was discontinued after studies reported its only notable benefit was reduced second-hand smoke. Both the Accord and Heatbar are considered precursors to Philip Morris International's current HTPs. Many early HTPs were not commercially successful and were withdrawn shortly after launch. == Health effects ==

report stated that claims of reduced harm from HTPs were based largely on industry-funded research, and independent evidence to support these claims was lacking. It also reported evidence indicating that HTPs may be as dangerous as traditional cigarettes. In 2016, Action on Smoking and Health (UK) emphasized the need for independent research, citing "the tobacco industry's long record of deceit" regarding the health risks of smoking. , it remained impossible to quantify the health risks of HTP use due to the limited amount of available health data. The short- and long-term adverse effects of HTPs were also unclear. The wide variety of HTP designs poses challenges for researchers, as different products may produce different effects. One study found that about half of users believed HTPs to be safer than traditional cigarettes. Given the wide range of electronic cigarette products in the UK, it remains unclear whether HTPs provide any notable benefit as harm reduction devices. A 2018 Public Health England report stated that HTPs may be significantly safer than traditional cigarettes but less safe than e-cigarettes. A 2017 non-technical summary by the Committee on Toxicity recommended that smokers should completely stop using tobacco, even though HTPs were assessed as being less harmful than smoking conventional cigarettes. Emissions Heated tobacco products expose users and bystanders to an aerosol. The aerosol contains levels of nicotine, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogens comparable to those in regular cigarettes and has been found to contain higher levels of acenaphthene than cigarette smoke. Other substances typically associated with cigarette emissions—such as tar, nicotine, carbonyl compounds (including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde), and nitrosamines—are also found in HTP emissions. A 2017 study found that indoor use of HTPs increased air levels of carbon monoxide and formaldehyde by 10 percent. though HTP use still decreases indoor air quality. A 2018 Public Health England report stated that, compared with cigarettes, HTPs are likely to expose users and bystanders to lower levels of particulate matter and harmful and potentially harmful compounds (HPHCs), though the degree of reduction varies across studies. The report also found that less nicotine is typically inhaled from HTPs than from cigarette smoke, and that exposure to mutagenic and other harmful substances is lower. However, reduced exposure does not necessarily correlate with reduced health risk. In 2017, the Committee on Toxicity reported that HTPs do not reduce exposure to, or the potential for addiction to, nicotine; several inhaled substances remain carcinogenic. There is disagreement over the extent and composition of HTP emissions. A reduced risk to bystanders is expected where HTPs are used instead of cigarettes. Addiction and quitting HTPs contain the highly addictive chemical nicotine. The nicotine content of HTP emissions is similar to that of traditional cigarette smoke, suggesting a comparable potential for addiction and dependence. There is insufficient evidence on whether HTPs are effective for quitting smoking. A 2018 World Health Organization report stated that "[c]onclusions cannot yet be drawn about their ability to assist with quitting smoking (cessation), their potential to attract new youth tobacco users (gateway effect), or the interaction in dual use with other conventional tobacco products and e-cigarettes." The availability of flavours in HTPs may appeal to non-smokers, and evidence indicates that individuals who have never used tobacco products—particularly children and adolescents—may be susceptible to trying HTPs, potentially leading to subsequent traditional cigarette use. A 2015 online survey found that 6.6% of 8,240 respondents had tried an HTP at least once. IQOS devices can record user behaviour. Although Philip Morris International states that data are retrieved only when the device malfunctions, Gregory Connolly of Northeastern University suggested that tobacco companies could develop a "mega database" of smoking habits and potentially adjust puff delivery patterns to increase reinforcement and addiction potential. As of July 2017, HTP awareness and use in the United States remained low; approximately one in twenty adults had heard of HTPs, including one in ten cigarette smokers. Nicotine yield Limited data on HTP users indicate that they tend to take short puffs with very brief intervals between them. Experimental tests also show a higher number of puffs at shorter intervals compared with traditional cigarettes. A 2018 clinical trial found that smokers switching to IQOS demonstrated a tendency to take more frequent puffs at shorter intervals. Pregnancy Pregnant women who wish to quit smoking but are unable to do so often have limited options. Nicotine can cause vasoconstriction of uteroplacental vessels, reducing the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. This may redirect nutrients toward vital organs such as the heart and brain at the expense of other organs, potentially resulting in underdevelopment and functional disorders later in life. Animal studies of maternal nicotine exposure in rats have shown adverse effects on pancreatic development, including reduced endocrine pancreatic islet size and number, decreased expression of certain transcription factors, and reduced levels of hormones such as insulin and glucagon. Affected offspring displayed pancreatic dysfunction and glucose intolerance. Other animal studies have reported insulin resistance in adult offspring following maternal nicotine exposure. Nicotine has also been shown to activate nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain, which influence neural development. In rat models, first-trimester nicotine exposure (2 mg/kg/day) has been associated with structural changes in the hippocampus and somatosensory cortex. == Construction ==

occurs at approximately 300–700 °C and involves the decomposition of biopolymers, proteins, and other organic materials, generating many of the substances found in smoke. Combustion occurs above 750 °C and results in the formation of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water. The emissions from IQOS HeatSticks and menthol mini-cigarettes contain approximately three times more water and about half as much tar as traditional cigarette smoke. Until 2016, researchers at Philip Morris International described IQOS emissions as "smoke". HTPs generally consist of three components: a processed tobacco stick, a pen-like heater (holder) into which the stick is inserted and warmed by an electrically controlled heating element, and a charger that recharges the heater. Many devices automatically stop heating after six minutes or 14 puffs to limit pyrolytic products and pollutant release by time and puff count. HTPs do not fully combust tobacco and therefore may not generate sidestream smoke, although temperatures reached are sufficient for pyrolysis. Some devices use reactions resembling pyrolysis or combustion, but research has not clearly determined which process occurs. The tobacco stick contains a compressed tobacco film made from a dried tobacco suspension rolled into a thin brown foil, along with several filter elements. This film consists of about 70% tobacco, humectants (such as water and glycerin) to prevent drying and promote aerosol formation, binders, and flavorings. The filter includes two components: a polymer film filter that cools the aerosol and a soft cellulose acetate mouthpiece that replicates the sensory feel of a cigarette. HTPs are battery-powered systems that produce nicotine-containing emissions by heating tobacco. Tobacco sticks are inserted into a heating device and warmed to approximately 250–350 °C (about 500 °F), creating nicotine-containing aerosol inhaled through a mouthpiece with a filter segment. HTPs are considered hybrids between electronic and conventional cigarettes: they heat processed tobacco without reaching combustion to generate aerosol, while using tobacco rather than nicotine liquids. Some devices operate with a time limit that requires users to inhale nicotine within 3.5–10 minutes before the device powers off. This mechanism supports blood-nicotine peaks associated with increased nicotine dependence. Three general types of heated tobacco products have been described. One type heats processed tobacco directly to generate aerosol; another heats processed tobacco but does not itself generate the aerosol; and a third allows processed tobacco to impart flavor to aerosol as it passes over it. Another category is the loose-leaf tobacco vaporizer, which involves placing loose-leaf tobacco into an electrically heated chamber. == Products ==

but not as much nicotine compared with a tank-style e-cigarette. HTPs are designed to be similar to their combustible counterparts by replicating the oral inhalation and exhalation, taste, rapid systemic delivery of nicotine, hand-to-mouth feel and throat hit sensations (depending on the temperature) when smoking traditional cigarettes. and is more compact than the original Firefly vaporizer. It uses a patented heating technology that heats the device up to the desired temperature (between 200 and 500 °F) with each puff rather than a preset temperature setting from the beginning. glo In 2016, British American Tobacco launched a battery-powered heated product called glo in Japan before selling it in South Korea, Switzerland, Russia, and Ukraine. Bonnie Herzog, a senior analyst at Wells Fargo Securities, stated that the proposed acquisition of R. J. Reynolds by British American Tobacco in 2016 would let them catch up with the competition. glo is marketed as being easier to operate than IQOS. The glo iFuse debuted in Romania in 2015, Although it is marketed as a novel product, it is very similar to the Accord released by the same company in 1998; however, the IQOS sticks have more nicotine, more tar, and less tobacco. Initially launched in 2014 in Nagoya, Japan, and Milan, Italy, IQOS is being introduced to other countries, and , it is available in 49 countries. In October 2018, PMI introduced a less expensive version of IQOS called IQOS 3 in Tokyo, Japan. The IQOS 3 Multi was also launched and is capable of multiple consecutive uses. The IQOS consists of a charger around the size of a mobile phone and a pen-like holder. The disposable tobacco stick, also known as a HeatStick, is described as a mini-cigarette. The stick is inserted into the holder which then heats it to temperatures of up to 350 °C, and the amount of nicotine provided may be a little strong for light cigarette smokers. Users have reported less smell and odor on clothing. The physical effects on users are not yet known, and there is limited research on the topic. The emissions of IQOS are considered to be smoke by independent researchers and were called smoke by Phillip Morris researchers until 2016. The emissions generated by IQOS contain the same harmful constituents as tobacco cigarette smoke, including volatile organic compounds at comparable levels to cigarette smoke, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, IQOS is "harmful to health, but probably less harmful than smoking tobacco cigarettes". In 2016, PMI submitted a multi-million page application to the US FDA for IQOS to be authorized as a modified risk tobacco product. In March 2017, PMI submitted a premarket tobacco product application regarding its IQOS product to the FDA. In December 2017, Reuters published documents and testimonies of former employees detailing irregularities in the clinical trials conducted by PMI for the approval of the IQOS product by the FDA. The advisory panel appointed by the FDA reviewed Philip Morris International's application in January 2018. The FDA granted permission to PMI to sell IQOS in the US on 30 April 2019, which also requires the company to follow strict marketing restrictions. On 7 July 2020, the FDA announced its ruling 456, which granted an "exposure modification" order that allows PMI to market IQOS in the United States. iSmoke OneHitter The iSmoke OneHitter by iSmoke can be used as a loose-leaf tobacco vaporizer or for use with waxy oils. and was launched in 2015. It has a chamber that can be filled with up to 800 milligrams of tobacco. IUOC 2 The 2 is marketed by Shenzhen Yukan Technology Co., Limited, of China. lil The lil is an HTP that heats a cigarette stick with a circular blade that was launched by the Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corporation on 20 November 2017. According to the company, a two-hour battery charge lasts for up to 20 cigarette sticks, its refills are cheaper than the IQOS and glo, and will fit in the IQOS product, though they do not recommend doing so for safety reasons. Mok In May 2019, China Tobacco debuted the Mok in South Korea. Pax vaporizers In 2010, the company Ploom (later rebranded as Pax Labs) launched a butane-powered product used to heat tobacco or botanical products. Later models replaced the butane heating with an electric system. The Pax 2 vaporizer uses loose plant material such as tobacco or cannabis and remains cool to the touch while the oven heats to one of four temperatures (up to 455 °F). The Pax 3 takes 15 seconds to heat up and can be used to heat cannabis flowers. Ploom vaporizers In January 2016, Japan Tobacco released Ploom, which has been withdrawn from the US. The brand remained with Japan Tobacco and the product has been replaced with Ploom Tech, where an aerosol passes through a capsule of granulated tobacco leaves. The Ploom brand uses aluminum capsules called Vapodes, where tobacco can heat up to 180 °C. Sales expanded throughout Japan in 2017. Japan Tobacco intended to spend $500 million to increase their heated tobacco manufacturing capacity by late 2018. Studies have not been conducted on Japan Tobacco International's Ploom product . Pulze Pulze is a heated tobacco device developed by Imperial Brands. The system is designed to heat specially designed tobacco sticks, known as iD, without burning them, generating an aerosol that contains nicotine. Pulze operates with two heating settings: an “Intense” mode, which reaches temperatures of up to approximately 345 °C, and a “Gentle” mode, which operates at approximately 315 °C, both below the combustion threshold of tobacco. The Pulze device, together with the iD sticks, was first introduced in 2021 through a pilot launch in the Czech Republic. In 2023, Imperial Brands introduced Pulze 2.0, an updated version of the device without an external charging case and with increased battery capacity, initially available in selected European markets, including Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic and Greece. In 2024, the company introduced iSENZIA, nicotine sticks made from tea leaves that do not contain tobacco and are designed for use with the Pulze device. On 18 September 2025, Imperial Brands announced the launch of Pulze 3.0, with updates to the design, internal technology and usability. TEEPS In December 2017, PMI launched TEEPS in the Dominican Republic. Instead of an electrically controlled heating system, it uses a carbon heat source that, once lit, passes heat to a processed tobacco plug. Cigoo In September 2020, Yunnan Xike Science & Technology Co., Ltd. launched Cigoo; according to the company, it is a heated herbal product which releases nicotine and aroma aerosol at 300 °C, similar to mainstream HTPs. == Comparison to mainstream smoke of traditional cigarettes ==

The table below shows the contents of selected analytes in the mainstream aerosol of a heated tobacco product compared to the mainstream smoke of traditional cigarettes. The highest and lowest values in two different types of tobacco sticks and traditional cigarettes were given by Mallock et al. and Counts et al. respectively. Column 5 shows the reduction of the analytes in the mainstream aerosol of the heated tobacco product compared to traditional cigarettes by percentage. Tobacco stick, i.e. for heated tobacco products: a tobacco stick; for traditional cigarette: a cigarette.All values were generated using the Health Canada Intense (HCI) puffing conditions.TPM = total particulate matter, and NFDPM = nicotine-free dried particulate matter. == Prevalence ==

] , HTPs are being introduced in markets around the world, , the IQOS is the most popular product, , the industry has been rapidly introducing new heated tobacco products. and several brands have been marketed there since 2014. The share of the market in South Korea for heated tobacco products has surged at least five-fold during the last two years leading up to 2019. As of early 2018, these products are not sold in France. == Marketing ==

in Kōtōdai-kōen Park.|alt=Temporary smoking room and a sales promotion of glo at the 2016 Sendai Pageant of Starlight in Kōtōdai-kōen Park. The term "heat-not-burn" refers to tobacco heated (at ~350 °C) by an electrically powered element or carbon instead of being fully combusted (at ~800 °C). The IQOS product has been advertised as emitting "no smoke". This advertisement claim is not a replacement for science. Internal documents and statements by PMI researchers have contradicted PMI's claims about reduced harm in regard to the IQOS product. Since 2017, PMI has been promoting its IQOS product in Europe and Asia, Outside of an IQOS retail shop in Canada, marketing included a display sign with the message, "Building a Smoke-Free Future". Philip Morris International intends to convert its customers in Japan to using heated tobacco products. There has been significant controversy surrounding the marketing and use of these products. The tobacco companies are using a series of claims in the marketing of HTPs. == Regulation ==

HTPs are subject to different regulations than traditional cigarettes. For example, some smoking bans do not extend to include them, Tobacco companies have used these products to seek exemptions and relaxations of existing tobacco control policies, In the United States, these products fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA as amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2016. In the same year, Action on Smoking and Health stated in 2016 that "unless and until independent evidence shows that IQOS and similar products are substantially less harmful than smoking then these products should be regulated in the same way as other tobacco products." Tobacco control activist Stanton Glantz stated that the FDA should halt new tobacco products until tobacco companies stop selling traditional cigarettes. It is recommended that indoor-smoking bans for traditional cigarettes be extended to heated tobacco products. HTPs are not restricted for sale in Israel by the Ministry of Health. The Justice Ministry in Israel agreed with the view of three voluntary organizations that the IQOS is a tobacco product, and that it should be regulated in the same manner as tobacco products. In Israel the IQOS is taxed at the same rate as traditional cigarettes. Ploom, IQOS, and glo fall under the Tobacco Business Act as tobacco products in Japan because they consist of tobacco leaf. Ploom and IQOS are governed by the Tobacco Industries Act regulations as tobacco products in Japan. The Liberal Democratic Party will deliberate over increasing the tax rate for heated tobacco products in April 2018. Electronic tobacco products using dry material are regulated as e-cigarettes in South Korea by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which are regulated differently than traditional cigarettes for tax reasons. Emerging tobacco products are banned in Singapore by the Ministry of Health. China plans to pass legislation to ban the sale of these products to minors, as of 2019. After IQOS launched a marketing campaign in New Zealand in December 2016, the country's Ministry of Health stated in 2017 that the refill sticks are not legal for sale in New Zealand under the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990. A representative for the company in New Zealand stated that IQOS products comply with the Smoke-Free Environments Act. Three meetings between Ministry of Health officials and people from the tobacco industry were held from 30 May 2017 through 2 June 2017 to "discuss regulation of new tobacco and nicotine-delivery products". In August 2017, the government stated they would initiate a review process before products are sold for heated tobacco products such as IQOS. In 2018, PMI and the Ministry of Health were in a legal dispute over the legality of selling IQOS in New Zealand, before a New Zealand court decided in March that the HEETs sticks used in the IQOS product are legal to sell in the country. Individuals can import heated tobacco products to New Zealand for personal use. , 49 countries have permitted the sale of IQOS. == Notes ==