Cochrane Lab Reports on Harm Reduction in Heated Tobacco Products

Jul.30.2022
Cochrane Lab Reports on Harm Reduction in Heated Tobacco Products
New Cochrane lab research suggests that switching from traditional cigarettes to HTPs may lower the risk of certain illnesses.

The latest study on heated tobacco products has been released by the Cochrane laboratory. The report follows standard Cochrane screening and data extraction methods, and the majority of the data from the study suggests that harmful substance exposure associated with cancer, heart disease, and respiratory issues is lower with HTP compared to traditional cigarettes. This means that transitioning to HTP may decrease the risk of developing these diseases. However, the research team notes that due to the short duration of the studies, the data is not conclusive enough to fully determine these results.


Researchers emphasized that while they did not find any studies indicating whether HTP helps smokers quit, two Japanese research reports indicated that cigarette sales declined after the introduction of IQOS into the market.


In fact, during a recent online seminar with Kumamaru Hiroya, the Deputy Director of Kawasaki AOI General Hospital, it was stated that while nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as nicotine patches, has not produced the expected results, HTP has. Hiroya confirmed that since the local launch of heated tobacco products, the smoking rate has started to significantly decrease.


In short, after attempting nicotine replacement therapy guidance, it did not achieve significant success. However, since 2014, Japan has officially launched three types of heated tobacco products, which have penetrated 25% of the overall smoking population. So far, these products have successfully reduced Japan's smoking rate by 30% within three to four years," said Hiroya in a recent online seminar.


HTP's Aerosol Particles


In other studies, researchers from Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania conducted an analysis in 2019 examining the levels of aerosol particles, carbonyls, and nicotine in the indoor air of HTPs (referred to as THS in the study). They compared the indoor concentrations of substances such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, toluene, nicotine, and particulate matter 2.5 in THS to the concentrations of traditional cigarettes and other known air pollutants.


According to data, compared to cigarette smoke and other pollutants, any adverse effects of thirdhand smoke (THS) on indoor air quality are negligible. "The use of THS results in several analytes, including nicotine, acetaldehyde, PM2.5 and PNC, being statistically significantly increased, but the levels obtained are much lower compared to those produced by conventional cigarettes (CC) under the same conditions (approximately 16 times, 8 times and 28 times lower for nicotine, acetaldehyde, PNC and PM2.5, respectively).


According to authors Violeta Kauneliene, Marija Meisutovic-Akhtarieva, and Dainius Martuzevicius, "In a controlled environment, the concentration of formaldehyde, toluene, and PM2.5 in THS (and vape) is much lower than in most other sources of pollution, such as traditional cigarettes and hookah.


Click to view the original research report.


Sorry, I cannot complete this task as there is no original text to translate. Please provide the original text to be translated.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Wall Street Journal: U.S. FDA Plans Faster Vape and Nicotine Pouch Reviews, Revisit of 2021 PMTA Rule
Wall Street Journal: U.S. FDA Plans Faster Vape and Nicotine Pouch Reviews, Revisit of 2021 PMTA Rule
The Trump administration is preparing changes intended to accelerate FDA market authorization reviews for e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, according to The Wall Street Journal. The FDA is expected to revisit its 2021 PMTA rule and may simplify some scientific study requirements and shorten review times. The agency has not formally announced the changes. Over the past year, the FDA has already accelerated nicotine-pouch reviews, expanded ENDS authorizations and upgraded its CTP Portal NextGen application system. As of August 2026, 43 nicotine pouch products and 48 e-cigarette products had received FDA marketing authorization.
Sep.24
German Customs Seize 115,800 Vapes in €1.4 Million Tax Case
German Customs Seize 115,800 Vapes in €1.4 Million Tax Case
Germany's Magdeburg Main Customs Office seized 115,800 untaxed e-cigarettes containing a combined 4.366 million mL of e-liquid during four truck inspections between August 10 and September 4, 2026. The seizures prevented an estimated €1.397 million in tax losses and set a record for the customs office's jurisdiction. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against four truck drivers. The case follows a separate German investigation involving more than 7.6 million illicit vapes and an estimated €33.3 million in excise-tax losses.
Enforcement
Oct.13
U.S. Military Could Test Nicotine Pouches and Vapes for Smoking Cessation as Washington Examiner Cites ZYN and Potential $4 Billion Reduction in Related Defense Costs
U.S. Military Could Test Nicotine Pouches and Vapes for Smoking Cessation as Washington Examiner Cites ZYN and Potential $4 Billion Reduction in Related Defense Costs
The House-passed FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision authorizing the defense secretary to conduct a one-year smoking-cessation pilot for active-duty service members. Section 707 lists counseling, nicotine gum and patches alongside what the bill calls "electric nicotine delivery systems," nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products. A recent Washington Examiner op-ed cited ZYN as an example in arguing for the provision, but the legislation does not name any commercial brand or supplier. ZYN is made by PMI-owned Swedish Match USA, with specified products holding FDA marketing authorizations and modified risk orders.
Sep.20
Product | PMI Japan Expands ZYN by IQOS Strength Portfolio With Strong Series, Increasing Lineup to 12 Products
Product | PMI Japan Expands ZYN by IQOS Strength Portfolio With Strong Series, Increasing Lineup to 12 Products
Philip Morris Japan (PMJ) has expanded the ZYN by IQOS oral tobacco pouch portfolio in Japan with four new ZYN Strong products, adding a third intensity level alongside the existing Low and Medium ranges. The Strong series first entered selected duty-free channels in Japan on July 1, 2026, before expanding to IQOS stores, the ZYN Online Store and selected tobacco retailers from August 18. The expansion increases the Japanese ZYN by IQOS lineup from eight to 12 products.
Aug.20
From Product Innovation to Integrated Solutions: NEXTECH Expands Its Global Heated Tobacco Solutions
From Product Innovation to Integrated Solutions: NEXTECH Expands Its Global Heated Tobacco Solutions
NEXTECH launched its NEXE Pro circumferential-heating tobacco stick globally at InterTabac 2026, as the company expands from product innovation into broader heated tobacco solutions. Amid intensifying competition across global HTP markets, NEXTECH is strengthening its R&D, manufacturing and pre-launch support capabilities to serve different types of business customers.
Industry Insight
Sep.15
NAS 2026 | Former FDA Tobacco Chief Mitch Zeller Calls for Shift From “End Game” to “End State”
NAS 2026 | Former FDA Tobacco Chief Mitch Zeller Calls for Shift From “End Game” to “End State”
At the 2026 New Approaches Summit in New York, former FDA Center for Tobacco Products Director Mitch Zeller called for the tobacco harm reduction debate to shift from the traditional “end game” toward defining a desired “end state.” He also highlighted unresolved concerns around dual use, argued that biomarkers of exposure may be more meaningful than cigarettes-per-day in assessing risk reduction, and said nicotine misperceptions remain a major barrier to public health progress.
Sep.25