Vapeboss – Alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches comparatively have a lower health risk profile than conventional cigarettes. This has been proven by the results of a scientific literature review by the School of Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology (SF-ITB).

This study states that alternative tobacco products contain lower harmful and potentially harmful constituents than conventional cigarettes.

Professor of SF-ITB Prof. Dr.rer.nat Rahmana Emran Kartasasmita, M.Si., explained that the scientific literature review titled "Risk Assessment of Tobacco Heated System (THS) Products Based on Data and Literature Review" aims to calculate the estimated risk level of heated tobacco products.

The study is based on standard methods used by global organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA).

The risk assessment process was carried out in several stages, starting with a search of independent literature and scientific publications.

"The objective is to find qualitative and quantitative data related to various compounds in heated tobacco products and cigarettes as a comparison, as well as their carcinogenicity classification by referring to IARC (The International Agency for Research on Cancer)," said Prof. Emran.

In the next stage, the SF-ITB team conducted a search for hazard characterization data for compounds with threshold values (non-carcinogenic and non-genotoxic carcinogenic) and without safety threshold values (genotoxic carcinogenic), calculated exposure assessment with worst-case scenarios, and followed by risk characterization for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic substances.

Prof. Emran said the results show that although not entirely risk-free, heated tobacco products have a lower risk profile than conventional cigarettes. In addition, the harmful and potentially harmful constituents in question are acrolein, benzene, nicotine, and 1,3-butadiene.

"Logically, with heating, there should be fewer harmful and potentially harmful components formed, qualitatively, in terms of type, and quantitatively in terms of levels," said Prof. Emran.

The results of this SF-ITB study are also consistent with scientific studies conducted by various credible health organizations worldwide, including Public Health England and the UK Committee on Toxicology (COT), part of the Food Standards Agency, which concluded that heated tobacco products have a 90-95 percent lower risk profile compared to conventional cigarettes.

"Later, this scientific study can provide comprehensive information for the public, especially adult smokers, to reduce smoking prevalence so that public health improves," he concluded.

Source: VOI