PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THS IN RELATION TO STANDARD CIGARETTE

Abstract

In order to reduce the harmful effects of cigarette smoke on the health of active and passive smokers, a new tobacco product - Tobacco heating system (THS) has been developed. Heating, rather than burning tobacco reduces the level of harmful and potentially harmful ingredients in the aerosol. New products are compared to cigarettes, because cigarettes are the most represented and most tested tobacco product on the market. This study aimed to compare the new THS product - IQOS (HEETS cartridges) and the Marlboro cigarette from the same manufacturer, which were available on the Serbian market. The physical characteristics of both products, the chemical characteristics of the aerosols and the amount of heavy metals in the aerosol were analyzed using standardized methods. Measurements were made in three replicates. The physical characteristics of the product showed that HEETS was 2.2 times shorter than a cigarette, 1.95 mm smaller in diameter and 25% less in weight than a cigarette. The content of total particulate phase (TPM) was reduced by 72.19%, nicotine by 30.99%, and the amount of TAR by 98.85% in HEETS condensate in relation to cigarette. Aerosol chemical analysis results indicate that the new THS product offers a lower health risk compared to traditional cigarettes consumption.