Are Heated Tobacco Products Safer Than Cigarettes?

For many years, cigarettes have been recognized as a leading cause of illness and death from heart disease, lung conditions, and cancer. It turns out that the bulk of the harm isn’t caused by nicotine itself, but by the burning of tobacco.

In recent years, new tobacco products have entered the market that heat the tobacco instead of burning it- giving smokers the feeling of a traditional cigarette while actually using heated tobacco. According to a spokesperson from British American Tobacco (BAT), “Most of the health risks from cigarettes come from burning tobacco, not from nicotine. That’s why our products that heat rather than burn tobacco are considered less harmful- but they are still not risk-free, and they are still addictive.”

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) echoes this point, clarifying that their heated tobacco products are not promoted as a way to quit smoking, but rather as a reduced-risk alternative for smokers looking to cut back. Products from both companies include electronic cigarettes and tobacco-heating devices, aimed especially at heavy smokers trying to gradually reduce their intake.

These devices are often marketed as “the lesser evil,” but not everyone is convinced. In February 2024, the Tobacco Control Committee of the European Respiratory Society issued a position paper stating that although heated tobacco emits fewer harmful substances than traditional cigarettes, it still releases significant levels of carcinogens, respiratory irritants, and similar amounts of nicotine and tar.

Additionally, independent studies have raised questions about the reliability of clinical trials conducted by the tobacco companies themselves. A systematic review from the University of Bath in 2022 found that research from Philip Morris International (PMI) showed a “high risk of bias.”

PMI declined to respond directly to the findings but dismissed the University of Bath research group as “an unreliable and inaccurate source”- without providing any counter-evidence.

In conclusion, if you’re considering buying a tobacco heating device based on claims that it’s “less harmful,” think again. While heating may reduce some risks compared to burning, health authorities warn that even these “new generation” tobacco products still pose serious dangers to your health.