Tobacco has always been a controversial topic, and the one thing that’s for sure is that there are two sides to this debate.
We’re not here to take sides, but we do want to help you understand exactly what these heated tobacco products are, how they differ from cigarettes, and what the research currently says about their safety.
What Are Heated Tobacco Products?
Heated tobacco products are a relatively new type of product in the tobacco industry. They work by heating the tobacco instead of burning it, like in cigarettes and cigars. This results in a lower temperature (around 60-70°C) compared to cigarettes (up to 900°C). Additionally, heated tobacco products reduce smoke by 90% compared to cigarettes.
There are also e-cigarettes, which are different than heated tobacco products because they don’t contain any actual tobacco at all. E-cigarettes produce vapour through e-liquids (also called e-juice or vape juice), which may or may not contain nicotine depending on the user’s preference.
Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are electronic devices that heat tobacco rather than burning it. They do not create smoke and reduce the production of harmful chemicals compared with cigarettes.
The most common type of HTP is the tobacco heating system (THS). THS heats specially designed tobacco sticks to a temperature below combustion, creating an aerosol that delivers nicotine, as well as flavoring and other additives, to the user. The other kind of HTP is the heated cigarette. Heated cigarettes use a regular cigarette but heat it from the inside rather than burning it.
Are Heated Tobacco Products Safe?
HTPs have been shown to reduce exposure to harmful levels of toxicants compared with conventional cigarettes. However, they are still nicotine delivery devices, and there is no safe level of nicotine consumption. With long-term use, there may be health risks because these products have only been on the market for a few years.
Because we do not yet know whether these products are safer than cigarettes, they should not be promoted as a way to quit smoking in the United States until approved by the Food and Drug Administration as cessation tools.
Most conventional cigarettes have more than 7,000 chemicals in them, 70 of which are known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). There’s no question about it: The best thing you can do for your health is never smoke or stop smoking if you currently do. People who switch from regular cigarettes to vapes don’t eliminate their exposure to toxic chemicals, but they do lower their exposure significantly.
At Vapourcore, we stock a range of popular heated tobacco including IQOS Heets.