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.

NAS 2026 | Cliff Douglas: Risk Continuum Should Play a Central Role in Tobacco Policy
NAS 2026 | Cliff Douglas: Risk Continuum Should Play a Central Role in Tobacco Policy
Cliff Douglas, a veteran U.S. tobacco-control and public health policy figure, told NAS 2026 that the “continuum of risk” should play a central role in tobacco policy. He called for clearer market pathways, stronger risk communication, differentiated regulation and enforcement, and said possible FDA reforms to PMTA reviews could be a “welcome correction” if they create a more efficient, predictable route for scientifically substantiated lower-risk products. Read 2Firsts’ on-site coverage.
Sep.26
How Investors Are Repricing the Global Tobacco Industry as Nicotine Markets Shift
How Investors Are Repricing the Global Tobacco Industry as Nicotine Markets Shift
How are investors reassessing the global tobacco industry as nicotine markets evolve? In an interview with 2Firsts, Charlie Chen, Head of Research at CCB International Securities, forecasts annual growth of 30–50% for nicotine pouches, outpacing vaping and heated tobacco. He examines how regulatory enforcement, shifting market shares and new business models are influencing company valuations. The report also explores differences between multinational tobacco groups and Chinese companies, drawing on insights from the New Approaches Summit on profitability, investment strategies and industry consolidation.
Nov.11
Virginia Tobacco Retail Permit Takes Effect October 1, Covering Vapes as More Than 3,000 Businesses Apply in September
Virginia Tobacco Retail Permit Takes Effect October 1, Covering Vapes as More Than 3,000 Businesses Apply in September
Virginia's new retail tobacco permit system took effect October 1, requiring sellers of vapes, nicotine products and related devices and accessories to obtain a Retail Tobacco Permit for each business location. Virginia ABC said more than 3,000 businesses applied in September alone, creating a processing backlog. Qualifying applicants that filed before October 1 may temporarily operate under a Letter of Authorization. The new store-level permit also sits alongside Virginia's existing vape product directory, where sales of unlisted liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products can trigger civil penalties starting at $5,000.
Regulations
Oct.03
Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Vaping prevalence in Great Britain edged down to 9.9% in 2025 from 10.0% in 2024, with the number of adult users holding at approximately 5.4 million for a second consecutive year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). E-cigarette use had risen from 6.4% in 2020 to 10.0% in 2024, when it exceeded cigarette smoking prevalence for the first time. Cigarette smoking continued to decline to 8.7% in 2025, widening the gap to 1.2 percentage points. Daily vaping declined slightly, while usage among adults aged 25–34 increased despite falling rates in other age groups.
DATA
Oct.14
Athletes Back Skoka's $21.5 Million Nicotine Pouch Venture: Can Its Consumer Health Founder Make an FDA-Focused Strategy Pay Off?
Athletes Back Skoka's $21.5 Million Nicotine Pouch Venture: Can Its Consumer Health Founder Make an FDA-Focused Strategy Pay Off?
U.S. nicotine pouch startup Skoka Inc. has raised $21.5 million and committed $15 million to an FDA regulatory and scientific research program. Founder Dan Aziz previously built dietary supplement brand Premama, which was acquired by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories in 2023. Skoka is combining proprietary formulations, ingredient transparency and equity investment from professional athletes. The company submitted a bundled PMTA covering 55 products on October 1, 2026. Aziz said Skoka declined an opportunity to enter retail in 2025, prioritizing product research and regulatory submissions instead. It now targets a U.S. retail launch in 2027, subject to FDA requirements. Its products have not received marketing authorization.
Business
Nov.04
Huabao International Buys Indonesian HNB Manufacturer for RMB 90 Million, Adding OEM/ODM Capacity
Huabao International Buys Indonesian HNB Manufacturer for RMB 90 Million, Adding OEM/ODM Capacity
Huabao International Holdings Limited will acquire 100% of PT Broad Far Indonesia through two wholly owned subsidiaries for approximately RMB 90 million. The Indonesian company manufactures and sells heat-not-burn tobacco sticks and provides OEM/ODM services. The sellers are part of a related-party group controlled by Huabao International Chair and controlling shareholder Zhu Linyao. PT Broad Far Indonesia generated $4.37 million in revenue and $177,000 in profit after tax in the first half of 2026, while net assets stood at about $326,000 at June-end. An independent valuer assessed the company’s equity at approximately RMB 93.06 million. Following completion, the HNB manufacturing operation will be consolidated into Huabao International.
News
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives