Busting myths about better alternatives to smoking: Top 16 frequently asked questions

No, there are actually a number of differences—and some similarities—between heated tobacco devices (also known as heat-not-burn products), and e-cigarettes (also known as vapes, e-vapor products, and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems). They are all better alternatives to the continued use of cigarettes. But heated tobacco products heat real tobacco within a specific temperature range, generally using an electronic heat-control system to prevent it from burning. E-cigarettes, by contrast, usually vaporize a liquid solution containing nicotine and flavors when a user draws on it.

No, heated tobacco products are different from cigarettes. They heat real tobacco within a specific temperature range, usually using an electronic heat-control system, to prevent it from burning. The user inhales a tobacco vapor, not smoke.

When lit, cigarettes burn tobacco at temperatures above 600°C, flaring to more than 800°C when a smoker takes a puff. In the process, they create smoke, ash, tar, and high levels of harmful chemicals.

By eliminating combustion, scientifically substantiated heated tobacco products, while not risk free, are designed to significantly reduce the levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarette smoke.
See also questions 10 and 16.

No, What may appear to be “smoke” emitting from a vape or heated tobacco product is actually an aerosol, which is a suspension of fine liquid and/or solid particles in a gas (usually air). Heated tobacco products and vapes do not emit smoke, as they have not burned the tobacco.

Cigarettes burn tobacco, which creates smoke, which is also an aerosol. However, the composition of the aerosol in smoke is very different from the aerosol emitted by heated tobacco products and vapes, as smoke contains thousands of chemicals, of which around a hundred have been identified as harmful or potentially harmful. 

Yes, through the work of government regulation and public health campaigns, smoking prevalence declined 4.1 percent in the decade between 2005 and 2015, according to the World Health Organization. Yet despite these efforts, millions of people who understand the risks continue to smoke cigarettes. According to WHO estimates, more than one billion people will still be smoking in 2025, roughly the same number as today. Nine out of 10 smokers will continue to smoke in any given year.

Our advice is that if you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you smoke, quit. If you don’t quit, change.

No, in our heated tobacco products, the nicotine is not added. It is natural component of the tobacco which is heated in our product. No extra nicotine is added.

In our e-cigarettes, the nicotine-forming part is a botanical extract made from tobacco plants which is added to the e-liquid.

PMI has recruited talent from around the world to develop a hub of innovation at its R&D facility in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Since 2008, PMI has published more than 532 publications and book chapters related to its smoke-free products in peer-reviewed scientific journals. It registers all its clinical studies with ClinicalTrials.gov. It also publishes a Scientific Update—a summary of the latest research and developments relating to its better alternatives to smoking.

Tar is not present in the aerosol of PMI's e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products. Since these products do not burn the tobacco, they do not produce tar. Their aerosol residue is fundamentally different from cigarette tar. Importantly though, this does not mean our better alternatives to smoking are risk-free.

Yes. Our nicotine pouches and snus are not risk-free but represent a far better choice for adult smokers than continuing to smoke cigarettes.