Many people assume that it’s the nicotine that makes cigarette smoking harmful. In fact, other chemicals in smoke, such as benzo[a]pyrene, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and benzene, are the primary causes of smoking-related diseases.
...it is primarily the toxins and carcinogens in tobacco smoke – not the nicotine – that cause illness and death.U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)*
* NICE Public Health Guidance: Tobacco Harm Reduction Approaches to Smoking (2013)
What is the role of nicotine in smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes ?
Nicotine is one of the reasons that people smoke, along with taste and ritual. In order for smokers to switch from cigarettes to smoke-free alternatives,
these products need to contain nicotine.
That’s precisely why we are focused on developing products that offer a flavorful, nicotine-containing vapor – but with far lower levels of the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
Are we saying that these products
are safe? No. What we are saying is that these products are better alternatives to smoking. The best option for health remains not to start, or to quit.
Find out more
The problem with burning tobacco
3 min readWhat makes burning tobacco so harmful and how can this harm be reduced with smoke-free alternatives.
What’s the difference between heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes?
2 min readHeated tobacco products and e-cigarettes (vapes) both deliver nicotine without burning tobacco.
Demand for better alternatives to smoking
4 min readMany adult smokers are looking to replace cigarettes. Better alternatives to smoking include products that deliver nicotine by heating tobacco or an e-liquid, as well as nicotine pouches and snus.
Is nicotine harmless?
No. While nicotine is addictive, it is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. Nicotine is highly toxic when ingested or absorbed in high doses (beyond those found in smoking or vaping),
and it can increase a person’s heart rate and blood pressure.
Certain people – including pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with heart disease, severe high blood pressure, or diabetes – should not use products
that contain nicotine. Youth should not use or have access to tobacco or nicotine-containing products.
Read more on our science
Our transformation
Our new interactive guide charts PMI’s science and technology-led transformation to deliver a smoke-free future
Assessing tobacco harm reduction
5 min readPMI rigorously assesses its smoke-free products to evaluate their harm-reduction potential compared with continued cigarette smoking.
Delivering a smoke-free future
2 min readHow long will PMI be in the cigarette business?