The science and vision behind IQOS

The science and vision behind IQOS

IQOS is the combination of science, technology and vision.

Science behind heated tobacco

We believe in science. We believe it can change the lives of millions of smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke. To this effect, 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. It produces a tobacco vapor that delivers tobacco taste and nicotine.

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.

The totality of evidence available shows that, while IQOS use is not risk-free, switching completely to IQOS ILUMA presents less risk to your health than continuing to smoke.*

Important information: IQOS ILUMA is not risk-free, and provides nicotine which is addictive.

* Based on the totality of evidence available for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke. See Important Information on IQOS.am.
When a cigarette is burned, smoke and ash are produced, as well as a large amount of harmful substances. Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of over 6,000 chemical substances, around 100 of which have been linked to smoking-related diseases by public health authorities.
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 substances compared to cigarettes.
Technology – the world revolves around it. Over the years, it has radically changed our lives for the better. The way we work, the way we communicate, the way we travel. By combining science and technology is how we developed a better alternative to continued smoking.

Why heating is better

Technology – the world revolves around it. Over the years, it has radically changed our lives for the better. The way we work, the way we communicate, the way we travel. By combining science and technology is how we developed a better alternative to continued smoking.

IQOS is changing for the better the way adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke, can have tobacco experience.

IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it for a simple reason: the burning of tobacco emits high amounts of harmful substances 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.
IQOS is changing for the better the way adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke, can have tobacco experience.

Heating technology.

Cigarettes burn tobacco, reaching high temperatures, and producing ash, tar, and smoke with high number and levels of harmful chemicals. Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of over 6000 chemical substances, around 100 of which have been linked to smoking-related diseases by public health authorities.

IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM™ technology and IQOS HeatControl™ technology heat tobacco to a lower temperature, ensuring that combustion does not occur. Because there is no combustion, IQOS ILUMA does not produce smoke. IQOS ILUMA emits 95% less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.*
Important information: This does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS ILUMA is not risk-free.
* “95% less” represents the average reduction in levels of the 9 chemicals recommended for reduction in cigarette smoke by the World Health Organization, which do not include nicotine. See Important Information on IQOS.am.
IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM™ technology and IQOS HeatControl™ technology heat 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.
Heating technology.
“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 consists of significantly lower levels of harmful substances.* Switching completely to IQOS is less harmful than continuing to smoke.**

Cigarettes produce tar, IQOS ILUMA doesn’t

“Tar” is the residue from smoke after a cigarette has burned. IQOS ILUMA does not produce tar because it heats tobacco instead of burning it. It generates an aerosol residue that is fundamentally different from “Tar” and consists of significantly lower levels of harmful chemicals.* Switching completely to IQOS is less harmful than continuing to smoke.**
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The absence of tar does not mean that IQOS ILUMA is risk free. IQOS ILUMA provides nicotine which is addictive.
* Reductions in levels of the 9 harmful chemicals the World Health Organization recommends reducing in cigarette smoke, which do not include nicotine.
** Based on the totality of evidence available for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke. See Important Information on IQOS.am.
IQOS tobacco vapour is less harmful than cigarette smoke. To demonstrate this, we conducted a comprehensive assessment program 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 switching completely to IQOS, while not risk-free, presents less risk of harm compared with continuing to smoke cigarettes.*

Tobacco vapour vs smoke

IQOS tobacco vapour is less harmful than cigarette smoke. To demonstrate this, we conducted a comprehensive assessment program 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 switching completely to IQOS, while not risk-free, presents less risk of harm compared with continuing to smoke cigarettes.*

Important information: IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults.
*Based on the totality of evidence available for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke.
IQOS emits less harmful chemicals than cigarettes. Cigarettes burn tobacco, which produces high amounts of carbon monoxide. IQOS ILUMA doesn’t burn tobacco, producing on average 98% less carbon monoxide (CO) and significantly lower levels of other harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.*

IQOS emits less harmful chemicals than cigarettes

Cigarettes burn tobacco, which produces high amounts of carbon monoxide. IQOS ILUMA 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 ILUMA is not risk free and provides nicotine which is addictive.
* We measured the levels of the 9 harmful chemicals the World Health Organization recommends reducing in cigarette smoke, which do not include nicotine, and these are reduced on average by 95%. See Important Information on IQOS.am.

Cigarettes negatively affect the air and others around you – IQOS doesn’t.*

IQOS doesn’t produce smoke or second-hand smoke. Because IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it, it emits significantly less harmful substances compared to cigarettes** for you and those around you.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: IQOS is not risk-free for you or others around you.

*Source: PMI study conducted under ISO standards simulating real-world scenarios and based on threshold limits established by existing air quality guidelines, when used in a setting where regulatory norms of adequate ventilation are respected.
**Average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette.
Air quality
No smoke, less smell, IQOS has significantly less effect on the air and others around you than cigarettes.

Switching to IQOS

Our studies show that the satiety of those who switched completely to IQOS is comparable to that of those who continued to smoke cigarettes.* Discover more about our scientific assessment journey.
Discover the studies
IQOS is not risk-free and delivers nicotine, which is addictive. The best decision any smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether.
* 3-month clinical study conducted in US and Japan with 160 adult smokers each, under near real-world conditions.
Switching to IQOS
Our studies show that the satiety of those who switched completely to IQOS is comparable to that of those who continued to smoke cigarettes.* Discover more about our scientific assessment journey.
Turn your friendly environment smoke-free
IQOS Products
Explore IQOS products
IQOS Products
14 days with IQOS
IQOS Trial
Turn your friendly environment smoke-free
Inform a friend*
This product is not risk free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults.