The science behind IQOS

IQOS is the combination of science and technology.

Science

We believe in science. We recruited scientists to work on an important idea: developing less harmful products that cigarette smokers can switch to if they don’t quit. Hundreds of scientists and engineers at PMI’s global Research and Development centers in Switzerland and Singapore have developed and evaluated IQOS, an innovative electronic device that heats and not burns tobacco.

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. Learn more about some of the key pieces of scientific evidence on IQOS.

Why heating?

By combining science and technology is how we developed an alternative to continued smoking. IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it for a simple reason: the burning of tobacco emits high amounts of harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide. IQOS HeatControl™ Technology prevents tobacco from burning, which means it significantly reduces the number and level of harmful chemicals emitted compared to cigarette smoke.

Important information: This product does not exclude health risks. It produces nicotine, which causes addiction. Only for use by adults.

Heating technology

When a cigarette is lit, the tobacco burns at temperatures of around 800°C.
Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of over 6,000 chemical substances, around 100 of which have been linked to smoking-related diseases. IQOS HeatControl™ Technology heats tobacco to a lower temperature, 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 high-quality tobacco taste experience with 95% less* harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes."
Important information: It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. This product does not exclude health risks. It produces nicotine, which causes addiction. Only for use by adults.
* «95% less» represents the average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette (3R4F).

No Tar

Tar is the residue from smoke after a cigarette has burned. IQOS does not produce tar because it heats tobacco instead of burning it. It generates an aerosol residue that is fundamentally different from “Tar” and its chemical composition is different from cigarette smoke. *
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Although IQOS does not produce tar, IQOS is not risk free, and delivers nicotine which is addictive.
*Average reductions in the levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to cigarette smoke.

Tobacco vapour vs smoke

IQOS tobacco vapour is less harmful than cigarette smoke. To demonstrate this, we conducted a comprehensive assessment programme 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 IQOS aerosol contains on average 95% less harmful chemicals than in cigarette smoke.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. This product does not exclude health risks. It produces nicotine, which causes addiction. Only for use by adults.
* “95% less” represents the average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette (3R4F).

Carbon monoxide

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. IQOS is not risk-free, and delivers nicotine which is addictive.
* Average decrease in the concentration of an amount of harmful chemicals (except nicotine) compared to their concentration in the smoke of a rference cigarette (3R4F).

Science machine

Did you know we’ve created a machine to show the significant differences between smoke produced by burning tobacco in a cigarette compared with the tobacco vapour generated when tobacco is heated in IQOS? Watch the science machine video to see more.

Scientific researches

We have developed a comprehensive step-by-step scientific analysis program. Discover more about our scientific assessment journey.
Learn more
This product does not exclude health risks. It produces nicotine, which causes addiction. Only for use by adults. The best decision any smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether.
This product does not exclude health risks. It produces nicotine, which causes addiction. Only for use by adults (18+).