Carbon Monoxide Levels: Cigarettes vs Heated Tobacco

Adult smokers may be wondering, is there carbon monoxide in cigarettes? The harmful effects of carbon monoxide in cigarettes can be a significant concern for some smokers. The best decision any smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. However, if you don’t quit, exploring smoke-free alternatives might be more suitable. 

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide, abbreviated as CO, is an odourless, colourless toxic gas. It is produced in large amounts when some things burn, like fuels and wood. While there isn’t carbon monoxide in tobacco, when the substance burns, CO is produced. Carbon monoxide is so harmful that most of us have alarms to warn of its presence in our homes.

Levels of Carbon Monoxide in Cigarettes vs Heated Tobacco Products

Switching from cigarettes to smoke-free products may reduce carbon monoxide levels in your body and reduce the risk of harm from smoking cigarettes. Did you know that smokers are more exposed to carbon monoxide compared to non-smokers? This is because the amount of carbon monoxide cigarettes produce is relatively high. 

What’s Different About Heated Tobacco?

Adult smokers may think that a smoke-free product like heated tobacco might deliver similar carbon monoxide levels as cigarettes because they use tobacco. However, this is not the case for the IQOS tobacco heating system. Cigarettes burn tobacco, which produces the high amount of carbon monoxide in cigarettes. 

IQOS doesn’t burn tobacco, producing on average 98% less carbon monoxide (CO) and significantly lower levels of other harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.* 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This does not mean a 98% reduction in risk, and carbon monoxide is only one of many harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. IQOS is not risk-free, and contains nicotine which is addictive.

* We measured the levels of the 9 harmful chemicals the World Health Organization recommends to reduce in cigarette smoke, which do not include nicotine, and these are reduced on average by 95%. See Important Information on IQOS.com. 

It’s important to note that IQOS is not an alternative to quitting and is not designed as a cessation aid. IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. 

Where Can I Buy Heated Tobacco Products in The UK?

IQOS heated tobacco products are available from the Online IQOS Store or in your local shop

It’s important to note that smoke-free products are not risk-free and provide nicotine, which is addictive. The best decision any adult smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. Smoke-free products are not alternatives to quitting and are not designed as cessation aids.

This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.  

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Learn about heated tobacco
Learn about heated tobacco

What is heated tobacco?

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Try IQOS for £10

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Discover the benefits of IQOS

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