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HPHCs is the abbreviation for Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents, and is the term used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Cigarette smoke contains more than 6,000 chemicals. About 100 of these chemicals have been identified as causes or potential causes for smoking-related diseases. Find out what's the difference between the smoke of a cigarette and the aerosol from our heated tobacco product.

We’ve found ways to address the issue of burning by developing PMI's portfolio of smoke-free products that are a better choice for smokers.


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Our Science

PMI’s approach to tobacco harm reduction

The best choice for any smoker is to quit products containing nicotine and tobacco altogether. Smoke-free products are for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke.

Our Science

The difference between cigarette smoke and our heated tobacco aerosol?

A cigarette burns tobacco, our heated tobacco product heats it. This fundamental difference results in significantly reduced levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents found in the aerosol it produces.

Our Science

Assessing tobacco harm reduction

5 min read

PMI rigorously assesses its smoke-free products to evaluate their harm-reduction potential compared with continued cigarette smoking.