Tobacco Composition, Nicotine, and Carbonyl Emissions Across IQOS Product Generations: ILUMA/TEREA Compared with IQOS 2.4/HEETS.

Abstract

Introduction: Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are marketed as reduced-exposure alternatives to combustible cigarettes. In its initial iteration, Philip Morris International's IQOS used an electrically powered metal blade to heat a reconstituted tobacco plug (HEETS). The current iteration, the IQOS ILUMA, uses electromagnetic induction to heat a metal element embedded within the tobacco plug (TEREA). This change in heating architecture may involve altered emissions and tobacco filler constituents.

Methods: Mainstream aerosol emissions from Sienna- and Turquoise-flavored TEREA sticks used with the IQOS ILUMA were characterized and compared with those from flavor-matched HEETS sticks used in the IQOS 2.4 device. Aerosols were generated using the Health Canada Intense regimen. Total particulate matter, nicotine, humectants, and carbonyl compounds were quantified. The tobacco plug was also analyzed for moisture, nicotine content and form. Volatile compounds were characterized using non-targeted headspace GC-MS.

Results: TEREA sticks contained significantly more total nicotine and a greater freebase fraction, but significantly lower moisture than HEETS. Despite the greater nicotine content, TEREA yielded significantly lower nicotine and particulate matter emissions for both flavors. Total carbonyl emissions were similar between product lines; however, formaldehyde yields were significantly higher for both TEREA flavors. Non-targeted analysis revealed substantial differences in volatile compounds between TEREA and HEETS.

Conclusions: The IQOS ILUMA differs markedly from earlier blade-heated IQOS systems in constituents and emissions profiles. Across three IQOS generations tested under a fixed puffing protocol, nicotine emissions have systematically declined: TEREA sticks emit nearly 60% less nicotine than first-generation products despite higher tobacco nicotine content.