A study in South Korea provides insights into why many smokers are turning to heated tobacco products (HTPs), a smoke-free alternative to traditional cigarettes. The research could influence future tobacco regulation.
HTPs are designed to heat tobacco instead of burning it, reducing the levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.
The US Food and Drug Administration said it is the mix of chemicals in tobacco smoke, rather than nicotine, that leads to serious health issues. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco, HTPs heat the tobacco below the combustion point, producing a nicotine-containing vapor rather than smoke. The technology offers an alternative for adult smokers who might otherwise continue using conventional cigarettes.
Researchers from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade found that HTPs might assist smokers in quitting, challenging the notion that these products are a gateway to smoking. The rapid adoption of HTPs in South Korea offers a unique opportunity to explore the motivations behind this switch, potentially informing tobacco policy.
The study surveyed 4,514 adults and found that 99.4 percent of HTP users either switched from traditional cigarettes or were dual users, with only 0.6 percent being new smokers. The findings were supported by data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Anton Israel, president of the Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines, said the Korean study shows how technology can reduce the risks associated with nicotine use. “Nicotine isn’t the problem; it’s the way it’s delivered through combustion,” he said.
In contrast to traditional cigarettes, HTPs do not produce smoke and ash-containing toxicants, potentially reducing the health risks associated with smoking.
In the Philippines, nearly a million former smokers have transitioned away from traditional smoking with the help of smoke-free products. The country enacted legislation to regulate these innovative products to ensure they remain inaccessible to minors.
Smoking-related diseases are responsible for over 8 million deaths annually. Studies indicate that smoke-free products emit aerosols or vapors with 95 percent fewer harmful chemicals than traditional cigarette smoke. Israel noted that products like HTPs, vapes, and oral nicotine pouches allow smokers to drastically reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals.
The Korean study also concluded that adolescents are more likely to start smoking with traditional cigarettes than with HTPs. Among the study’s participants, 2,356 were non-smokers, 1,316 were traditional cigarette smokers, and 842 were HTP users.
The study also highlighted that adult females, individuals with higher education levels, those with children, office workers, and those with heightened health concerns were more likely to switch from traditional cigarettes to HTPs.
Adult females aged 20 to 39 were particularly inclined to switch, regardless of income, while males over 40 were more likely to adopt HTPs if they had higher incomes.
Since the introduction of heated tobacco products in Korea in 2017, the HTP market share has grown significantly—from 2.2 percent of total tobacco sales in the first year to 12 percent in the first half of 2021.
The shift from traditional cigarettes could have public health benefits, as scientific studies suggest that the harmful effects of smoking primarily stem from the combustion process, which HTPs avoid.
