Heated tobacco products also harmful to health

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are often presented as a less harmful alternative to regular cigarettes. Promotional research by Michele Davigo (Research Institute NUTRIM Maastricht University and RIVM) shows that these products are certainly not harmless. Although the long-term effects are not yet fully known, this research shows that heated tobacco products are harmful to health in the short term. This means that heated tobacco products are not a safe alternative to smoking. 

With heated tobacco products, a tobacco stick is placed in a device and heated. The user inhales the substances in the vapour that is produced in this way. Davigo and his colleagues analysed 74 independent scientific studies published between 2019 and 2024. They examined exactly which substances are released when heated tobacco is used and what the effects are on the heart, blood vessels and lungs. The study results were recently published in the scientific journal Inhalation Toxicology. In addition, the scientists themselves conducted a number of studies to better understand the effects of these products on the respiratory tract and lungs. 

Harmful substances remain present

The study shows that the smoke from heated tobacco products contains fewer known harmful substances than cigarette smoke, such as nicotine. At the same time, users are still exposed to a large number of toxic and carcinogenic substances. Some substances are even present in higher quantities than in regular cigarettes. Specific harmful substances were also found that are not present in the smoke of regular cigarettes.

Effects on the heart and lungs

People who use heated tobacco products show changes in their bodies. For example, there are adverse effects on blood pressure, heart rate and the elasticity of blood vessels. Lung function is also affected, for example by increased resistance in the airways. These effects are less severe than in smokers, but clearly worse than in non-users. According to the researchers, the use of heated tobacco products should therefore be strongly discouraged, just as with regular cigarettes.

Watch the BNN/VARA Kassa episode of 7 February 2026: Onderzoek: Verhitte tabaksproducten óók schadelijk voor de gezondheid - BNNVARA