US OKs 'heat-not burn' tobacco device

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the sale of a "heat-not-burn" tobacco device, but warned it had not declared it safe to use.

IQOS is manufactured by Philip Morris International and differs from e-cigarettes, because it uses tobacco rather than flavored liquid nicotine. The new device is designed to heat disposable tobacco sticks to produce a nicotine-rich aerosol that provides the taste of tobacco without releasing the dangerous chemicals created by lighting traditional cigarettes.

"While the authorization of new tobacco products doesn't mean they are safe, the review process makes certain that the marketing of the products is appropriate for the protection of the public health, taking into account the risks and benefits to the population as a whole," said Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products.

The FDA said that it would continue to scrutinize the device. Philip Morris first marketed the device in 2014 and it quickly became popular in Japan. The device is now available in 47 countries.

However, a study published in ERJ Open Research found that heat-not-burn devices are apparently no safer than ordinary cigarettes and therefore may not be a healthier substitute for cigarettes.

While more research is needed, preliminary evidence suggests they "are not less toxic than conventional cigarettes", Dr Pawan Sharma, a researcher at the Wollcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, said in a research paper.

"What we do know is that damage to lung cells can destroy lung tissue leading to fatal diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and pneumonia, and can increase the risk of developing asthma, so we should not assume that these devices are a safer option," he said.

scottreeves@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily Global 05/03/2019 page4)