Understanding IQOS Technology
IQOS, developed by Philip Morris International (PMI), is a prominent example of a Heat-Not-Burn (HNB) tobacco product. It is an electronic device that heats tobacco rather than burning it, distinguishing it from traditional cigarettes and many vaping e-cigarettes that use liquid nicotine.
Operating Principle
The IQOS system primarily consists of a holder (the heating device) and a charger. The core technology involves a precisely controlled heating element, often a ceramic blade or an induction system (in newer models like ILUMA), within the holder. This element heats specially designed tobacco sticks (marketed as HEETS or TEREA, depending on the IQOS device generation) to temperatures below 350°C (662°F). This is significantly lower than the combustion temperatures of over 600°C (1112°F) found in conventional cigarettes. The process generates a nicotine-containing aerosol, not smoke.
- Heating Mechanism: Employs a blade or induction to heat tobacco from the inside.
- Tobacco Sticks: Composed of processed tobacco leaf designed specifically for heating.
- Aerosol Generation: Produces an inhalable aerosol by heating tobacco, avoiding combustion and its associated by-products like ash and tar (as traditionally defined from burning).
Key Characteristics and Components
IQOS devices have several distinct features:
- Device: The holder is the part that heats the tobacco stick. The pocket charger recharges the holder after each use or a set number of uses.
- Tobacco Consumables: These are single-use sticks containing real tobacco. They are inserted into the holder.
- Controlled Temperature: The system is engineered to keep the tobacco below the point of combustion, which is central to its operational premise.
- User Experience: Designed to offer a ritual and taste experience that some adult smokers may find closer to traditional smoking compared to e-cigarettes that vaporize liquids.
Scientific and Regulatory Considerations
IQOS is marketed by PMI as a product that presents less risk of harm for adult smokers who switch completely from combustible cigarettes. Key considerations include:
- Reduced Harmful Constituents: Independent studies and those by the manufacturer indicate that the aerosol from IQOS contains significantly lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) compared to cigarette smoke.
- Not Risk-Free: IQOS is not risk-free. It delivers nicotine, which is addictive. The best course of action for health is to quit or not start using any tobacco or nicotine products.
- Long-term Effects: The long-term health effects of using IQOS are still being studied, as it is a relatively newer category of product.
- Regulatory Status: The regulation of IQOS varies significantly by country. Some health bodies, like the U.S. FDA, have authorized the marketing of certain IQOS products with modified risk claims, while others maintain stricter controls.
In summary, IQOS is an electronic heated tobacco system that offers an alternative to combustible cigarettes by heating, rather than burning, tobacco. It differs from vaping e-cigarettes in its use of actual tobacco leaf and its heating mechanism.
